Title 30 of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code shall be known and cited as "The Zoning Ordinance," "Santa Barbara Zoning Ordinance," "Zoning Ordinance of the City of Santa Barbara," or "Zoning Ordinance." The Santa Barbara Zoning Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the authority contained in Section 65850 of the California Government Code.
The purpose of the Zoning Ordinance is to implement the City's General Plan and to serve the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, and general welfare; provide the economic and social advantages resulting from an orderly planned use of land resources; and to encourage, guide, and provide a definite plan for the future growth and development of the City. More specifically, the Zoning Ordinance is adopted to achieve the following objectives:
A. 
To provide a guide for the physical development of the City in a manner as to achieve the arrangement of land uses depicted in the Santa Barbara General Plan, consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan.
B. 
To foster a harmonious, convenient and workable relationship among land uses and ensure compatible infill development, consistent with the General Plan.
C. 
To support economic development.
D. 
To allow for development of housing to meet the needs of all segments of the community.
E. 
To encourage the preservation of buildings of architectural or historical significance, consistent with the General Plan.
F. 
To promote the stability of existing land uses consistent with the General Plan, protecting them from inharmonious influences and harmful intrusions.
G. 
To foster the provision of adequate off-street parking and off-street loading facilities, bicycle facilities and pedestrian amenities, and support a multi-modal transportation system.
H. 
To facilitate the appropriate location of community facilities, institutions and parks and recreational areas.
I. 
To safeguard and enhance the appearance of the City.
J. 
To define duties and powers of administrative bodies and officers responsible for implementation of the Zoning Ordinance.
A. 
Organization of Regulations. The Zoning Ordinance consists of five divisions:
1. 
Division I: Introductory Provisions
2. 
Division II: Zone Regulations
a. 
Part 1: Base Zones
b. 
Part 2: Overlay Zones
c. 
Part 3: Specific Plan Zones
3. 
Division III: Citywide Regulations
4. 
Division IV: Administration and Permits
5. 
Division V: General Terms
B. 
Types of Regulations. Four types of zoning regulations control the use and development of property:
1. 
Land Use Regulations. These regulations specify land uses permitted, conditionally permitted or specifically prohibited in each zone, and include special requirements, if any, applicable to specific uses. Land use regulations for base zones, overlay zones, and specific plan zones are in Division II of the Zoning Ordinance. Certain regulations, applicable citywide, and performance standards which govern special uses, are in Division III.
2. 
Development Regulations. These regulations control the height, bulk, and location of structures on development sites. Development regulations for base zones, overlay zones, and specific plan zones are in Division II of the Zoning Ordinance. Certain development regulations, applicable citywide are in Division III.
3. 
Administrative Regulations. These regulations contain detailed procedures for the administration of the Zoning Ordinance, and include common procedures, processes and standards for discretionary entitlement applications and other permits. Administrative regulations are in Division IV.
4. 
General Terms and Use Classifications. Division V provides a list of use classifications and a list of terms and definitions used in the Zoning Ordinance.
A. 
General Rules for Applicability of Zoning Regulations.
1. 
Applicability to Property. The Zoning Ordinance shall apply, to the extent permitted by law, to all property within the corporate limits of the City of Santa Barbara and to property for which applications for annexation and/or subdivisions have been submitted to the City of Santa Barbara, including all uses, structures and land owned by any private person, firm, corporation or organization, or the City of Santa Barbara or other local, State or federal agencies. Any governmental agency shall be exempt from the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance only to the extent that such property may not be lawfully regulated by the City of Santa Barbara.
2. 
Compliance with Regulations. No land shall be used, and no structure shall be constructed, occupied, enlarged, altered, demolished or moved in any zone, except in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.
a. 
No structure shall be erected, moved, altered, added to or enlarged, nor shall any land, building, structure or premises be used, designed, or intended to be used, for any purpose or in any manner other than is permitted in the zones in which such land, building, structure or premises are located.
b. 
No structure shall be erected, moved, reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit established for the zone in which such structure is located.
c. 
No structure shall be erected nor shall any existing structure be moved, altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall any required open areas be encroached upon or reduced in any manner except in conformity with the regulations provided in the Zoning Ordinance.
d. 
No setback, open yard, or other open space provided about any structure for the purpose of complying with these regulations shall, by reason of change in ownership or otherwise, be considered as providing a setback, open yard, or open space for any other structure.
B. 
Relation to Other Regulations. The regulations of the Zoning Ordinance and requirements or conditions imposed pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance shall not supersede any other regulations or requirements adopted or imposed by the Santa Barbara City Council, the State of California, or any federal agency that has jurisdiction by law over uses and development authorized by the Zoning Ordinance. All uses and development authorized by the Zoning Ordinance shall comply with all other such regulations and requirements. Where conflict occurs between the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance and the City Charter or any other City ordinance, chapter, resolution, guideline or regulation, the more restrictive provisions shall control, unless otherwise specified.
1. 
Permit Streamlining Act. It is the intent of the Zoning Ordinance that all actions taken by the decision-making body pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance that are solely adjudicatory in nature be within a time frame consistent with the provisions of Government Code Section 65920 et. seq. (the Permit Streamlining Act). Nothing in the Zoning Ordinance shall be interpreted as imposing time limits on actions taken by the decision-making body pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance that are legislative in nature or that require both adjudicatory and legislative judgments.
2. 
Relation to Private Agreements. The Zoning Ordinance shall not enforce or interfere with or annul any recorded easement, covenant, or other agreement now in effect, provided that where the Zoning Ordinance imposes greater restriction than imposed by an easement, covenant, or agreement, the Zoning Ordinance shall control.
3. 
Relation to Prior Ordinances. The provisions of this title shall supersede all prior Ordinances codified in Title 28 of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code and any amendments. No provision of this title shall validate any land use or structure established, constructed or maintained in violation of prior Ordinances, unless such validation is specifically authorized by this title and is in conformance with all other regulations.
4. 
Application During Local Emergency. The City Council may authorize a deviation from a provision of this title during a local emergency declared and ratified under the Santa Barbara Municipal Code. The City Council may authorize a deviation by resolution without notice or public hearing.
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this title is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this title. The Santa Barbara City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this title and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof, regardless of the fact that any or one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
The City Council shall establish by resolution, and may amend and revise from time to time, fees for processing the discretionary entitlement applications and other permits authorized or required by this title. All fees shall be paid at the time an application is filed, and no processing shall commence until the fees are paid in full.