City program

Pre-Approved ADU Plans in Santa Barbara, California

Browse official and accepted pre-approved ADU plans for Santa Barbara, California. Compare plan size, bedrooms, providers, approval status, official source links, permit requirements, and fees.

Program status: source-backed listings Last checked May 4, 2026

Summary

Location
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
Accepted plans
3 accepted plans
Providers
3 providers
Origin programs
1 program
Plan size range
406 to 740 sq ft
Permit sources
7 sources

How to use this page

  1. Pick a plan size and bedroom count.
  2. Check whether the plan originated locally or is accepted from another city/county program.
  3. Open the official source.
  4. Confirm current status with the local building department.
  5. Ask the provider what site-specific work, plan licensing, engineering, and utility review are still required.

Accepted Plans

3 plans

Permit Requirements

13 requirements

Detached

Front yard ADU constraints

Official city source

If new detached ADU in front yard: minimum 20 ft from front lot line (or zone front setback, whichever is greater); one-story and <17 ft height; or above a garage; must be screened.

Last checked
May 4, 2026
Notes
Not listed in source

All

Grading limit

Official city source

No more than 250 cubic yards of grading (cut or fill) under ADU footprint and outside main building footprint in Hillside Design District or on lots with slope ≥ 15%.

Last checked
May 4, 2026
Notes
Not listed in source

Fees

3 fee records

Official Sources

7 sources

Santa Barbara ADU FAQ

6 answers

Does Santa Barbara have accepted or pre-approved ADU plans in this directory?

Yes. The current Santa Barbara, California page lists 3 accepted plans from 3 providers in the source-backed export.

What ADU plan sizes are listed for Santa Barbara?

The listed Santa Barbara plan records range from 406 to 740 sq ft. Use the individual plan cards to confirm bedrooms, bathrooms, plan documents, and provider details because some fields are not listed by every official source.

Where do the Santa Barbara ADU plan records come from?

They are tied to 7 official sources in this page's source set, including City of Santa Barbara, City of Santa Barbara Community Development, and BESHDA / City of Santa Barbara. Each plan, fee, and permit note should still be checked against the linked official source before use.

Can Santa Barbara County or nearby city ADU plans be used in Santa Barbara?

The current Santa Barbara records do not show accepted plans from a separate Santa Barbara County or nearby city program. Treat outside pre-approved plans as unavailable in Santa Barbara unless an official Santa Barbara source says they are accepted.

Do pre-approved ADU plans guarantee permits in Santa Barbara?

No. A source-backed accepted plan can reduce plan review work, but Santa Barbara can still require site-specific review, zoning checks, fees, utility coordination, and current code compliance. This page lists 13 permit requirements to help flag items to verify with the local building department.

Are Santa Barbara ADU permit fees and requirements listed?

This page includes 3 fee records and 13 permit requirements for Santa Barbara. These are source-backed summaries, not a final permit quote or approval checklist.