A. 
The regulations described in this chapter shall apply in the R-2 Two-Family Residence Zone of the City unless otherwise expressly provided in this title.
B. 
The R-2 Zone is a restricted residential district of medium density in which the principal use of the land is for two-family dwellings, together with recreational, religious and educational facilities required to serve the community. The regulations for this zone are designed and intended to establish, maintain and protect the essential characteristics of the zone, to develop and sustain a suitable environment for family life, and to prohibit activities of a commercial nature and those which would tend to be inharmonious with or injurious to the preservation of a residential environment.
C. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the term "lot" shall be used as defined in Chapter 27.02.
(Ord. 2585, 1957; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 5271, 2003)
The land uses permitted in the R-2 Zone shall be as follows:
A. 
One- and two-family dwellings;
B. 
Any use permitted in the R-1 Zone and subject to the restrictions, limitations and conditions contained therein as an expressly permitted land use in the R-2 Zone except that the construction and use of a parcel for more than one dwelling unit (including buildings and uses accessory thereto) shall be subject to the specific restrictions of the R-2 Zone as established in this chapter.
C. 
Buildings and uses accessory to the residential uses allowed under subsections A and B above.
(Ord. 2585, 1957; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 4912, 1995; Ord. 5271, 2003)
No building in the R-2 Zone shall exceed a height of 30 feet nor exceed the height limitations imposed for the protection and enhancement of solar access by Chapter 28.11 of this Code.
(Ord. 3587, 1973; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 4426, 1986)
The following setback, open yard, and private outdoor living space requirements shall be observed on all lots within the R-2 Zone:
A. 
Front setback. A front setback of not less than the indicated distance shall be provided between the front lot line and all buildings, structures, and parking on the lot as follows:
1. 
Ground floor of any building or structure: 15 feet.
2. 
Upper story portion of a multiple story building or structure: 20 feet.
3. 
Garage or carport with an opening that does not face an adjacent street or uncovered parking that does not back out onto the street: 15 feet.
4. 
Garage or carport with an opening that faces an adjacent street or uncovered parking that backs out onto the street: 20 feet.
B. 
Interior setback. An interior setback of not less than the indicated distance shall be provided between the interior lot line and all buildings, structures, and parking on the lot as follows:
1. 
Buildings and structures other than covered parking: six feet.
2. 
Covered or uncovered parking: three feet.
C. 
Open yard and private outdoor living space. An open yard shall be provided on all lots within this zone. The required open yard shall observe the following general rules regarding dimension, location, and configuration, except as such general rules may be altered by any applicable additional rules or exceptions specified within this subsection:
1. 
General Rules. In this zone, open yards shall conform to the following dimension, location, and configuration requirements:
a. 
Minimum Size. Total area of at least 1,250 square feet of lot area.
b. 
Minimum Dimensions. The open yard may be provided in one area or in multiple areas; however, each area of open yard shall be at least 20 feet long and 20 feet wide measured in perpendicular directions.
c. 
Common Area or Assigned. The open yard may be provided as a common open yard or as private open yard assigned to individual units.
d. 
Location and Configuration. The open yard may consist of any combination of ground level areas such as patios, ground floor decks, pathways, landscaped areas, natural areas, flat areas, or hillsides, so long as the overall size and dimensions of the open yard area meet the requirements specified in these general rules and the open yard is not located in any of the following locations:
i. 
Any portion of the front setback; however, up to 850 square feet of the open yard may be provided in the remaining front yard;
ii. 
Any areas designated for use by motor vehicles, including, but not limited to, driveways and parking areas; or
iii. 
On decks, patios, terraces, or similar improvements where the maximum height of the improvement above existing or finished grade, whichever is lower, is greater than 36 inches.
2. 
Additional Open Yard and Private Outdoor Living Space Requirements for Lots Developed with Four or More Dwelling Units.
a. 
Common Open Yard. On lots developed with four or more dwelling units, a common open yard shall be provided that meets the size, dimensional, and location requirements specified in the general rules.
b. 
Private Outdoor Living Space. In addition to the required common open yard, lots developed with four or more dwelling units shall provide private outdoor living space for each dwelling unit of not less than the size specified below based on the number of bedrooms in the dwelling unit:
i. 
Studio unit: 100 square feet.
ii. 
One bedroom unit: 120 square feet.
iii. 
Two bedroom unit: 140 square feet.
iv. 
Three-plus bedroom unit: 160 square feet.
The minimum dimensions of the private outdoor living space shall be at least 10 feet long and 10 feet wide measured in perpendicular directions. In addition, private outdoor living space provided pursuant to this paragraph shall observe the requirements specified in paragraphs c, e, f and g of Section 28.21.081.A.1 of this Code.
3. 
Exception to Location Requirement for Lots with Multiple Front Yards. On lots with multiple front yards, the following exception to the location requirement specified in the general rules or any applicable additional requirements is available: an open yard may include area in a secondary front yard as long as the open yard observes a 10-foot setback from the front lot line.
(Ord. 5459, 2008; Ord. 5975, 2020; Ord. 6058 §4, 2022)
It is hereby declared that, under the following conditions, a physical hardship exists on all R-2 Two-Family Residence Zone lots, and that the modifications described below are hereby granted where the stated conditions exist:
A. 
Reduction of front setback. Where the average natural slope of the front half of a lot is more than one-foot rise or fall in five feet horizontal, the required front setback may be reduced to 10 feet.
B. 
Conforming additions. Other provisions of this title notwithstanding, a conforming addition may be made to an existing nonconforming single-family or two-family dwelling where such nonconformity is due to inadequate front setback or interior setback, providing the existing dwelling complied with the setbacks required by this Code at the time of its construction.
C. 
Nonconforming additions. Other provisions of this title notwithstanding, where an existing building has been constructed five feet from an interior property line, a ground level addition to the building may be made or constructed so long as the addition is also constructed no less than five feet from the same interior property line.
(Ord. 3587, 1973; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 5271, 2003; Ord. 5459, 2008)
No main building shall be closer than 15 feet to any other main building on the same lot, except that a one story building shall be no closer than 10 feet to another one story building.
(Ord. 2585, 1957; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 5271, 2003; Ord. 5975, 2020; Ord. 6058 §4, 2022)
A. 
Newly-created lots. Every lot hereafter created in an R-2 Zone shall contain at least 7,000 square feet and 60 feet of frontage on a public street.
B. 
Lots between 6,000 and 6,999 square feet. Existing lots between 6,000 and 6,999 square feet of net lot area, inclusive, may be used as if it had 7,000 square feet of lot area.
C. 
Lots with less than 6,000 square feet. Existing lots of less than 6,000 square feet of net lot area may be used as a building site for a one-family dwelling, provided that all other regulations of the zone prescribed by this title are observed.
D. 
Minimum area per dwelling unit for standard lots. For lots of 7,000 square feet or more, there shall be provided a lot area of 3,500 square feet or more for each dwelling unit hereafter erected.
E. 
R-2 lot slope density. The minimum lot areas specified in this section shall be increased by the following factors where the average slope of the parcels falls within the percent of average slope ranges given:
Factor
Percent of Average Slope
1.5 times minimum lot area
10% to 20%
2.0 times minimum lot area
20% to 30%
3.0 times minimum lot area
over 30%
"Average slope" of a parcel of land or any portion thereof shall be computed by applying the formula (S=0.00229 IL divided by A) to the natural slope of the land, before grading is commenced, as determined from a topographic map conforming to National Mapping Standards and having a scale of not less than one inch equals 200 feet and a contour interval of not less than five feet. The letters in this formula shall have the following significance:
S = The average slope of the land in percent.
I = The contour interval in feet.
L = The combined length of all contours in feet, excluding the length of contours in drainage channels and in natural water courses below the 25-year flood level.
A = The net area of parcel or portion thereof, in acres, after deducting all areas in drainage channels below the 25-year flood level, for which the slope is to be determined.
F. 
Habitable dwelling space—defined. For the purpose of this section, the term "Habitable Dwelling Space" shall be calculated to include all building square footage as measured from the inside of the walls of the building, excluding the square footage of the garage.
(Ord. 2585, 1957; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 3753, 1975; Ord. 4632, 1990; Ord. 5271, 2003; Ord. 5416, 2007; Ord. 5459, 2008; Ord. 5975, 2020; Ord. 6058 §4, 2022)
A. 
Setbacks. Setbacks for all buildings and structures used for nonresidential purposes shall be double the setback requirements for a dwelling as required for the zone in which such building or structure is located.
B. 
Lot coverage. Not more than 25% of the area of a lot may be covered by buildings used for nonresidential purposes.
C. 
Architectural approval. All buildings used for nonresidential purposes shall be subject to the approval of the Architectural Board of Review, or the Historic Landmarks Commission if the property is located within El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District or another landmark district or if the structure is a designated City Landmark.
(Ord. 2585, 1957; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 4851, 1994; Ord. 5459, 2008)
The City Council may impose other requirements as may be deemed necessary to preserve the residential character of the neighborhood including the mailing of notices to property owners and the holding of a public hearing.
(Ord. 2585, 1957; Ord. 3710, 1974)
Signs shall be permitted in this zone only as provided in the Sign Ordinance of the City of Santa Barbara.
(Ord. 3117, 1966; Ord. 3710, 1974)