Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
ADUs are the small second homes a homeowner can add: a backyard cottage or a garage conversion. State law forces cities to allow them; cities choose how much further to go on size, parking, fees, and permitting speed. The question is whether Santa Barbara makes them easier to build, keeps its rules, or tightens where the state allows.
- Homeowners: the rules decide what they can build on their own lots and what it costs.
- Renters: ADUs are one of the few housing types that add units inside existing neighborhoods.
- Neighbors: new units appear next door, with parking and privacy questions attached.
- Designers and small builders: the permit path is their market.
THE FULL FRAMING · THE AUDITED WORDING OF RECORD ↓COLLAPSE THE FULL FRAMING ↑
ADUs — backyard cottages, garage conversions, attached units — are one of the few forms of new housing that individual homeowners can build. State law sets a floor for what cities must allow; cities differ in how far they go beyond it on size limits, parking, fees, and permitting speed. The question is whether Santa Barbara should make ADUs easier to build than current local rules allow, keep the rules as they are, or tighten them where state law permits.
Held out of the live set by editorial decision on July 9, 2026, but the question is back before the city: staff has been drafting ADU ordinance amendments under the Housing Element implementation program since April 30, 2026, and Council received the amendment-project framework on June 30, 2026. The editorial status and the world disagree, which is why this issue carries a reactivation flag.
Watching: Zoning ordinance amendments are being drafted with Coastal Commission coordination under the Housing Element implementation program; Council received the project framework June 30, 2026.
WHAT THIS STATE MEANS ↓COLLAPSE ↑
A decision is pending or recurring before some body.
Zoning Ordinance Amendments for Accessory Dwelling Units and Local Coastal Plan Resolution: Adopted on the consent calendar following introduction January 31, 2023. Which of this issue's options the amendments actually delivered — easier, unchanged, or tighter — has not been matched; that editorial check has not been made.
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SHOW THE 10 EARLIER ACTIONS ↓COLLAPSE EARLIER ACTIONS ↑
How this gets decided
ADU rules live in the zoning ordinance (SBMC), amended by City Council vote after Planning Commission review. State ADU law constrains how restrictive the city can be.
DRAFT — current local ADU standards and any recent ordinance amendments to be filled from extracted records before this issue goes live.
Next Council meeting: Tuesday, September 1, 2:00 PM at City Hall, 735 Anacapa St.
To speak, fill out a “Request to Speak” form before public comment begins. Speakers get 3 minutes; general public comment at the start of the 2:00 session runs 30 minutes.
Remote comment is taken via Zoom (raise hand when the item is called); the link and phone number are printed on each meeting's agenda.
Email written comments to Clerk@SantaBarbaraCA.gov before the meeting begins. They go to Council and enter the public record.
Watch live at SantaBarbaraCA.gov/CAP or City TV Channel 18 (English and Spanish); meetings are archived on YouTube.