Summary
- Location
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- County-level accepted plans
- 4 accepted plans
- Providers
- 1 provider
- Origin programs
- 1 program
- Plan size range
- 448 to 909 sq ft
- Permit sources
- 10 sources
County context
Santa Barbara County Pre-Approved ADU Plans
Browse official city and county pre-approved ADU plan programs in Santa Barbara County, California.
Program Overview
This Santa Barbara County page summarizes source-backed county context for Santa Barbara County, California. The current export lists 1 city program page in this county and 4 county-level accepted-plan records. County-level plan sources include County of Santa Barbara and County of Santa Barbara Planning & Development. Provider names include County of Santa Barbara (Planning & Development).
County records may apply only in unincorporated areas or county-administered jurisdictions, so verify the official source before relying on a plan for an incorporated city. County fee and permit data includes 4 fee records and 9 permit requirement records. Missing source fields remain Not listed in source, and directory records do not guarantee permit approval.
Included Locations
City
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
3 accepted plans
County-Level Accepted Plans
4 plans Source-backed record Government PDF
- Origin program
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- Accepted location
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- Size
- 448 sq ft
- Bedrooms
- Studio to 1 bed
- Bathrooms
- 1 bath
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
Verify current acceptance, site limits, and permit requirements with the local building department.
Source-backed record Government PDF
- Origin program
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- Accepted location
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- Size
- 672 sq ft
- Bedrooms
- 1 bed
- Bathrooms
- 1 bath
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
Verify current acceptance, site limits, and permit requirements with the local building department.
Source-backed record Government PDF
- Origin program
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- Accepted location
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- Size
- 768 sq ft
- Bedrooms
- 2 to 3 beds
- Bathrooms
- 1 bath
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
Verify current acceptance, site limits, and permit requirements with the local building department.
Source-backed record Government PDF
- Origin program
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- Accepted location
- Santa Barbara County, California, USA
- Size
- 909 sq ft
- Bedrooms
- 2 beds
- Bathrooms
- 1 bath
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
Verify current acceptance, site limits, and permit requirements with the local building department.
Permit Requirements
9 requirementsDetached
Eligibility — geographic
Pre-approved plans usable only in unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County (not within incorporated city limits).
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
All
Coastal Zone
Properties in the Coastal Zone require a Coastal Development Permit even when using a pre-approved plan.
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
Detached
Flood Hazard Area Overlay (FA) — prohibited
Plans CANNOT be used: within 50 ft of top bank of an existing watercourse or FEMA-mapped creek; within 200 ft of top bank of a river; within Special Flood Hazard Area zone VE or the regulatory floodway.
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
Detached
Flood Hazard Area Overlay (FA) — conditional
Plans CAN be used in SFHA zones AE, AO, AH, or A if Base Flood Elevation is at or below ground level AND application includes 'Residential Dwelling & Garage in Special Flood Hazard Areas Submittal Checklist.'
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
Detached
Slope — Plan Set 3
Use of 909 SF Two-Bedroom plan in areas with slope ≥ 10% may require a soils report.
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
Detached
Fire Hazard Severity Zone
ADUs in FHSZ must comply with defensible space and vegetation management. As of January 1, 2026, the Wildland Urban Interface was updated to match the full FHSZ extent.
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
All
Fire Protection Districts
Three fire protection districts serve unincorporated areas with their own development standards and submittal requirements.
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
All
Climate zones
Santa Barbara County contains California Building Climate Zones 4, 5, and 6 — applicants must identify their zone.
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
Detached
Site-specific submittal
Pre-approved plans are partial; a site-specific site plan must be included for a complete application.
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
Fees
4 fee recordsDetached
Plan purchase fee
Free
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- County-produced plans are free to download.
Detached
Plan check fee — Preapproved ADU
Reduced (specific dollar amount not stated on County webpage)
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Not listed in source
Detached
Permit fee — fixed (reported)
$4,200 fixed permitting fee
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Reported by Santa Barbara Independent (2026-04-08), citing Joseph Dargel, Deputy Director of Planning and Development. The Independent compared this with a recent 800 sq ft ADU permit that totaled approximately $7,200 (saving ~$3,000).
Detached
Estimated total savings (design)
Up to $25,000
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
- Notes
- Director of Planning Lisa Plowman estimated savings up to $25,000 vs. paying for a custom new design.
Official Sources
10 sourcesAccessory Dwelling Unit | Santa Barbara County
- Publisher
- County of Santa Barbara
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Building Plans
- Publisher
- County of Santa Barbara Planning & Development
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
County Pre-Approved ADU Plan Set 1 — 448 SF Studio/One Bedroom
- Publisher
- County of Santa Barbara
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
County Pre-Approved ADU Plan Set 2 — 672 SF One Bedroom
- Publisher
- County of Santa Barbara
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
County Pre-Approved ADU Plan Set 3 — 909 SF Two Bedroom
- Publisher
- County of Santa Barbara
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
County Pre-Approved ADU Plan Set 4 — 768 SF Two/Three Bedroom
- Publisher
- County of Santa Barbara
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
ADU/JADU Submittal Requirements Checklist
- Publisher
- County of Santa Barbara
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
Residential Dwelling & Garage in Special Flood Hazard Areas Submittal Checklist
- Publisher
- County of Santa Barbara
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
County Launches Preapproved ADU Plans
- Publisher
- Santa Barbara Independent
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026
County of Santa Barbara to Offer Pre-Approved Plans for ADUs
- Publisher
- Noozhawk
- Last checked
- May 4, 2026