The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors — the county’s top elected governing body — spent much of its September 1 meeting on a wide-ranging update to the rules that govern how land can be used and developed across the county. For residents and prospective buyers, changes to these codes shape what can be built, where, and how easily — from backyard units to new coastal homes.
Zoning code overhaul
The centerpiece was a public hearing on amendments to three core rulebooks: the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) — the county’s main zoning rules for unincorporated areas outside city limits — the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO), which governs development in the sensitive coastal zone under state oversight, and the Montecito Land Use and Development Code (MLUDC), a separate set of rules tailored to Montecito’s semi-rural character.
The amendments (filed as Case Nos. 24ORD-00028 and 24ORD-00029) update these codes together, meaning a single hearing could adjust standards for large swaths of the unincorporated county at once. For property owners, that matters because these codes set the ground rules for setbacks, allowed uses, and what kinds of projects need special permits versus what can proceed by right. In Montecito in particular, where lots are larger and building restrictions tighter than in the city of Santa Barbara, even modest rule changes can determine whether a homeowner can add a second unit or expand an existing home without a lengthy hearing.
Because the coastal zone falls under state coastal law, any changes to the CZO typically require a later sign-off from the California Coastal Commission before they take full effect — so residents in beachside and hillside coastal neighborhoods may not see immediate changes even after the board acts.
What else was on the agenda
Several other items on the September 1 agenda touched public safety and county operations rather than housing directly, but they help explain how the board’s time was spent.
Supervisors considered a Pediatric Trauma Care Fund Distribution Agreement with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital — a contract directing county health funds toward emergency care for children. The board was asked to approve, ratify, and authorize its chair to sign the agreement between the County Health Department and the hospital. This item does not affect housing, but it channels county dollars toward local pediatric trauma services.
The board also held a hearing on a proposed Interim Urgency Ordinance — a temporary, fast-acting rule that takes effect immediately — to create buffer zones around firearms retailers as a child-safety measure. An interim urgency ordinance requires a four-fifths vote of the board (at least four of five supervisors) rather than a simple majority, reflecting its emergency status. The measure would direct the Planning and Development Department to draft zoning rules limiting where gun retailers can locate. While framed as a public-safety item, it functions as a land-use restriction, since it would dictate where certain businesses can operate.
Rounding out the agenda, supervisors met privately with labor negotiators over contracts with the Santa Barbara County Fire Fighters, Inc., Local 2046, a firefighters’ union — a routine closed-session personnel matter with no direct housing impact. The board also confirmed it continues to offer both in-person and remote public participation, with meetings held at the County Administration Building’s Board Hearing Room, so residents can weigh in on land-use decisions without traveling in person.
What’s coming up
The zoning code amendments to the LUDC, CZO, and MLUDC remain the item most worth watching for anyone who owns property or hopes to build in the unincorporated county or in Montecito. Because coastal changes require state approval and urgency ordinances can return for follow-up hearings, residents should expect these matters to reappear on future agendas. Anyone affected can track the cases by their file numbers and participate at upcoming Board of Supervisors hearings in person or remotely.