A. 
Purpose and Intent. The purpose of the design standards of this chapter is to provide the public, building and design professionals, and Review Authorities with objective criteria for eligible residential and mixed-use development in the City. The intent is to provide clear design direction that enhances an area’s unique character and sense of place, respects existing neighborhood compatibility and privacy, and ensures a high-quality living environment.
B. 
Applicability. The provisions of this chapter apply to the following:
1. 
Multiple-unit residential and mixed-use development in all Zone Districts that qualify for streamlined, ministerial processing pursuant to California Government Code Section 65913.4;
2. 
Residential development where at least 20 percent of the residential units are affordable to lower-income households that is either:
a. 
On a vacant parcel that was used in the City’s previous two Housing Elements sites inventories to accommodate lower-income units, or
b. 
On a nonvacant parcel that was used in the City’s previous Housing Element sites inventory to accommodate lower-income units; or
c. 
Sites that are rezoned to RH pursuant to Housing Element 2023-2031 subprogram HE 2.1(a).
3. 
Any other project that qualifies for objective, ministerial review pursuant to State housing law.
4. 
Residential projects that consist of 100 percent affordable housing units for extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income households, except for any unit(s) dedicated to on-site management.
C. 
Consistency with Objective Standards. Projects shall comply with all objective City policies, development standards, and design standards as established in the General Plan and the Goleta Municipal Code.
1. 
Exception. Any concessions, incentives, or waivers of development standards pursuant to Chapter 17.27, Density Bonus and Other Incentives of this Title.
2. 
Conflicting Standards. Projects must meet objective standards in this chapter in addition to all pertinent requirements of the Goleta Municipal Code. If there is any conflict between these objective standards and existing City and/or State objective standards, the more restrictive objective standard applicable to the project shall apply.
D. 
Permit Required. Any eligible project processed pursuant to this chapter shall require a Land Use Permit or a Coastal Development Permit, if located within the Coastal Zone.
E. 
Design Review. Design Review of projects processed pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted by the Director and shall only include consistency with adopted objective design standards.
1. 
Required Findings. Other than those findings required pursuant to Section 17.52.070, Findings for Approval, no additional findings are required. Additionally, no findings for Design Review, including those in Section 17.58.080, shall be required for approval of the project.
(Ord. 22-14 § 4; Ord. 23-05 § 4; Ord. 23-17 § 4; Ord. No. 24-05, 12/3/2024; Ord. 25-10, 12/2/2025)
A. 
Building Placement and Orientation.
1. 
Street Wall. If buildings on adjacent properties establish a contiguous street wall along the primary street frontage, new buildings shall be located to maintain the contiguous street wall, with allowances for variation in facade and entrances which are projected or recessed.
2. 
Visibility of Entrances. On all lots 60 feet or less in width, at least one primary building entrance or individual unit entrance shall be visible from the front or street side lot line. See Section 17.44.030(C).
3. 
-OTH Old Town Heritage Overlay District. Buildings located with street frontage(s) along Hollister Avenue shall comply with the zero setback provisions of Section 17.19.040, Front Setback, Hollister Avenue Frontage, of this Title.
B. 
Vehicular Parking and Access. Vehicular parking and access shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 17.38, Parking and Loading, of this Title. In addition, projects shall provide the following:
1. 
Primary Access. Side street or alley access shall serve as the primary vehicular access to parking areas, if available. If not available, the primary street shall serve vehicular access.
2. 
Number of Access Points.
a. 
Normal Lots. A maximum of one vehicle access point from the street is permitted per 100 feet of street frontage.
b. 
Corner Lots.
i. 
One vehicular access point is permitted per lot where all street frontages are less than 100 linear feet.
ii. 
Two vehicular access points are permitted on lots where at least one street has a frontage of 100 linear feet or more.
FIGURE 17.44.020(B)(2): VEHICULAR ACCESS POINTS
3. 
Parking Location. Parking areas shall not be located within any front or street side setback or between any primary structure and the primary street.
4. 
Loading and Service Areas. In addition to the provisions below, loading and service areas shall comply with the standards of Section 17.38.100, On-Site Loading, as applicable.
a. 
All required loading and service areas shall be located adjacent to a façade other than the primary street frontage.
b. 
Loading and service areas shall be located so as to not disrupt or block the flow of on-site and off-site vehicular traffic.
c. 
Loading and service areas shall not be located adjacent to residential dwelling units or common open space areas.
d. 
Loading and service areas shall be screened from view with walls, solid fencing, and/or landscape privacy screening as described in Section 17.44.020(E).
5. 
Enhanced Paving for Entrance Driveways. Paving treatment using patterned and/or colored pavers, brick, or decorative colored and/or scored concrete shall be used for entrance driveways, a minimum of 12 feet in length, and spanning the width of the entrance driveway.
Figure 17.44.020(B)(5): ENHANCED PAVING FOR ENTRANCE DRIVEWAYS
6. 
Vehicle Light Intrusion. Vehicle headlights shall be obstructed from direct alignment with habitable interior spaces with a minimum three-foot high evergreen shrub or vine and/or features such as fencing or walls.
C. 
Pedestrian Circulation and Access.
1. 
General. The following pedestrian walkways shall be provided and interconnected within the site:
a. 
Pedestrian walkways shall connect residential dwelling units to areas throughout the site, such as vehicle parking areas, bicycle parking areas, common open space, waste and recycling enclosures, and other amenities.
b. 
Pedestrian walkways shall connect public sidewalks, building entrances, and vehicle parking areas.
c. 
Pedestrian walkways shall connect building entrances and vehicle parking areas through the site interior to all transit stops directly adjacent to the site.
2. 
Pedestrian Walkways. Pedestrian walkways shall be provided with a minimum width of four feet along their entire length and shall be designed as follows:
a. 
Through Lot Connection. Through lots located more than 300 feet from a street intersection, measured from the closest point of the lot, shall provide a publicly accessible sidewalk or walkway connecting the two streets.
b. 
Materials. Walkways shall be constructed of firm, stable and slip-resistant materials, such as poured-in-place concrete (including stamped concrete), permeable paving, decomposed granite, or concrete pavers.
c. 
Paving for Pedestrian Crossings. Where an intersection of pedestrian and vehicle access exists, enhanced paving treatment using patterned and/or colored pavers, brick, or decorative colored and scored concrete shall be used. Pedestrian crossings shall feature enhanced paving a minimum width of five feet and span the length of the intersecting drive area.
FIGURE 17.44.020(C)(2): PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS
d. 
-OTH Old Town Heritage Overlay District. Covered pedestrian walkways within the -OTH overlay shall contain a repeating colonnade or arcade element.
e. 
Maintenance. Pedestrian walkways shall be maintained in good condition for the life of the project and shall not be allowed to fall into disrepair so as to constitute a nuisance or hazard to the public.
3. 
Enhanced Paving for Building Entrances. Primary building entrances shall provide decorative and accent paving that contrast in color and texture from the adjacent walkway paving. Grasscrete is prohibited.
D. 
Common and Restricted Open Space. Common and restricted open spaces for multiple-unit developments shall comply with the minimums required by the base Zone District in Chapter 17.07, Residential Districts, Section 17.24.120, Mixed-Use Development, and the Rules of Measurement established in Section 17.03.130, Restricted and Common Open Space, of this Title.
1. 
Common Open Space. Projects shall provide common space according to the standards below. Rooftops shall not be used to satisfy any part of the common open space requirement.
a. 
Number of Common Open Spaces. Projects shall provide common open spaces proportionate to the number of dwelling units as established below:
i. 
One to 25 Dwelling Units. At least one common open space shall be provided.
ii. 
26 to 50 Dwelling Units. At least two common open spaces shall be provided.
iii. 
51 to 75 Dwelling Units. At least three common open spaces shall be provided.
iv. 
76 or More Dwelling Units. At least four common open spaces shall be provided.
b. 
Visibility. Common open space shall be located and arranged to allow a clear line of sight into the space from pedestrian walkways on the interior of the site.
E. 
Landscaping. Landscaping shall be used for all outdoor areas that are not specifically used for parking, driveways, walkways, or open space.
1. 
Additional Landscaping Requirements. Landscaping must comply with Chapter 17.34, Landscaping, including requirements for all requirements of the State and City’s Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (WELO), where applicable.
2. 
Plant Materials. Plant materials are limited to native or non-invasive drought-tolerant species.
3. 
Parking and Loading Area Landscaping. Parking and loading area landscaping must comply with subsection 17.38.110(K), Landscaping.
4. 
Landscape Buffer. A landscape buffer of minimum width of five feet shall be located between all ground-level restricted open spaces and pedestrian walkways. The buffer shall be planted with dense evergreen shrubs and/or vines which grow to or are maintained at a minimum height of four feet.
Figure 17.44.020(E)(4): LANDSCAPE BUFFER
5. 
Pedestrian Walkways. Pedestrian walkways shall be flanked on both sides with landscaping, and may include a mix of turf, groundcover, and shrubs. Both sides of walkways shall provide trees which shall be spaced to shade at least 25 percent of the overall walkway length at maturity.
Figure 17.44.020(E)(5): PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS
6. 
Number of Plants. A minimum of one 15-gallon tree or equivalent box size and 10 five-gallon shrubs shall be planted for every 1,000 square feet of required landscape area.
7. 
Groundcover. Groundcover shall be sized and located to cover at least 75 percent of all landscape areas that are not planted with shrubs or trees within five years of installation.
a. 
While groundcovers and shrubs are establishing, a minimum layer of three-inch bark mulch or decorative gravel shall be placed within all landscape areas to provide 100 percent coverage of such landscape areas.
8. 
Plant Selection. Artificial or synthetic plants, except for turf, are prohibited. Artificial turf is not permitted in front or street side setbacks.
9. 
Solar Access. Landscaping shall not obstruct solar access to adjacent solar collectors for water heating, space heating or cooling, or electricity generation.
10. 
Privacy. Landscape screening shall obscure direct sight lines into dwelling units and restricted open space areas from communal areas such as parking areas, common mailboxes, and pedestrian walkways. Landscape screening may be used in combination with walls, fencing, and/or trellises to screen views.
a. 
Location. Landscape screening shall fit within associated planting areas and canopy sizes must not overlap with building foundations or eaves.
b. 
Plant Selection. Landscape screening shall use evergreen trees, shrubs, and/or vines located and sized to buffer views. Deciduous species, perennials, and grasses or grass-like plants are not permitted for privacy screening.
c. 
Minimum Sizes. Landscape screening and vegetation shall use the following minimum container sizes at time of planting:
i. 
Trees. 15-gallon size.
ii. 
Shrubs. Five-gallon size.
iii. 
Vines. Five-gallon size.
(Ord. 22-14 § 4; Ord. 24-01, 4/16/2024)
A. 
Building Form, Massing, and Articulation.
1. 
Building Form and Vertical Hierarchy. Buildings that are three stories or more in height shall be designed to differentiate between a defined base; a middle or body; and a top, cornice, or parapet cap. Buildings two stories or less shall include a defined base and a top, cornice, or parapet cap. All buildings shall achieve this effect through at least two of the following:
a. 
Color, texture, or material changes.
b. 
Variations, projections, or reveals in the wall plane.
c. 
Variations in fenestration size or pattern.
d. 
Decorative architectural details, such as cornices and columns.
Figure 17.44.030(A)(1): BUILDING FORM AND VERTICAL HIERARCHY
2. 
Wall Plane Variation. Building façades visible from the primary street shall not extend more than 30 feet in length without either an architectural element or a five-foot variation in depth in the wall plane. Building entrances, front porches, upper-story setbacks, projections, and recessions, such as stoops, bay windows, overhangs, and trellises, count towards this requirement.
Figure 17.44.030(A)(2): WALL PLANE VARIATION
3. 
All-Sided Architecture. Buildings shall be designed and articulated with common details, articulation, materials, and elements on all sides.
4. 
Corner Lots. Buildings located on corner lots shall include one or more of the following features on both street-facing façades, located within 25 feet of the corner of the building closest to the intersection:
a. 
An entrance to a ground-floor use or a primary building entrance.
b. 
A different material application, color, or fenestration pattern of windows and doors from the rest of the façade.
c. 
A change in height of at least 18 inches from the height of the abutting façade.
Figure 17.44.030(A)(4): CORNER LOT TREATMENTS
5. 
Roof Line Variation. Roof lines shall not extend more than a length of 40 feet without at least one prominent change as described below:
a. 
Variation in roof form, such as hip, mansard, gable, shed, and flat with parapet.
b. 
Variation in architectural elements, such as parapets or varying cornices.
c. 
Variation of roof height of at least 18 inches (as measured from the highest point of each roof line).
Figure 17.44.030(A)(5): ROOF LINE VARIATION
6. 
Flat Roofs and Parapets.
a. 
Where rooftop equipment is located within 10 feet of a roof edge, a parapet shall be provided that is a minimum of six inches taller than all roof-top equipment.
b. 
Interior side of parapet walls shall not be visible from a common open space or public right-of-way.
c. 
Parapets shall be capped with precast treatment, continuous banding, projecting cornices, dentils, or similar edge treatment.
B. 
Building and Dwelling Unit Entrances. See subsection 17.44.020(B) for orientation of building and dwelling unit entrances within a site.
1. 
Primary Building Entrance.
a. 
Street-Facing Entrance. Buildings located within 20 feet of the primary street right-of-way shall have a ground-level primary building entrance facing the primary street.
b. 
-OTH Old Town Heritage Overlay District. Buildings located along Hollister Avenue shall provide at least one primary building entrance every 50 feet along Hollister Avenue. Primary building entrances shall provide one or more of the following:
i. 
Entrance flanked by columns, decorative fixtures, or other similar elements.
ii. 
Entrance recessed within a large arch or cased decorative opening.
iii. 
Entrance emphasized by a change in roofline of at least 12 inches, or a tower or similar break in the wall façade.
iv. 
Entrance covered by a large portico projecting at least six feet from the wall façade.
v. 
Entrance covered by an awning.
Figure 17.44.030(B)(1)(b): PRIMARY BUILDING ENTRANCES, OLD TOWN HERITAGE OVERLAY DISTRICT
2. 
Individual Dwelling Unit Entrance.
a. 
General Requirement. All individual unit entrances shall have either a projected sheltering element or be recessed from the main façade; the projection or recess shall have a minimum depth of 24 inches.
b. 
Visibility. All individual unit entrances shall be illuminated or shall face towards a common area or public street.
c. 
Street-Facing Unit Entrance. Each dwelling unit located within 20 feet of a primary street right-of-way shall include at least one street-facing porch, balcony, or patio unless a setback of five feet or less is provided.
d. 
Upper-Floor Unit Entrance. Exterior entrances to individual dwelling units on upper floors are permitted. No exterior access corridor located above the ground floor may provide access to five or more upper-floor dwelling units.
3. 
Architectural Treatments. Entrances for buildings and individual dwelling units shall incorporate at least two of the following architectural treatments:
a. 
Feature window details;
b. 
Towers;
c. 
Decorative veneer or siding;
d. 
Porches or stoops; or
e. 
Changes in roof line or wall plane.
Figure 17.44.030(B)(3): ARCHITECTURAL TREATMENTS FOR ENTRANCES
C. 
Windows and Doors.
1. 
Location. Windows and doors shall be located so they do not directly align with windows and doors of adjacent dwelling units.
2. 
Privacy. Where windows are proposed within 10 feet of a window on another building, the design and placement shall avoid unfiltered/direct views into the adjacent site and shall be designed with one or more of the following:
a. 
Use non-transparent or obscured glazing, such as frosted/patterned glass. Reflective glazing is not permitted.
b. 
Provide permanent architectural screens or affixed louvers at windows.
c. 
Offset windows horizontally at least 12 inches from any windows in adjacent buildings (edge to edge), so as not to have a direct line-of-sight into adjacent units.
3. 
Window Treatment.
a. 
Windows shall either be recessed at least three inches from the plane of the surrounding exterior wall or shall have a trim or windowsill at least one-half inch in depth.
b. 
Windows Facing a Public Street. Windows facing a public street shall feature enhanced window treatments, such as decorative architectural brackets, trim, shutters, awnings, and/or trellises.
Figure 17.44.030(C)(3): WINDOW TREATMENT
D. 
Materials and Colors.
1. 
Wall Material. The primary exterior siding material for buildings shall be wood, composite wood, stone, stone veneer, granite, slate, brick, brick veneer, stucco, plaster, fiber cement, vinyl, aluminum, or steel. The use of exposed plywood or glass curtain walls is prohibited.
2. 
Wall Color. The color of exterior walls shall have a light reflectance value of 50 percent or greater.
3. 
Window Consistency. Window frame materials and color shall be used on all elevations.
4. 
Material and Color Transition. Changes in material or color shall occur at inside corners of intersecting walls or at architectural features that break up the wall plane, such as columns.
Figure 17.44.030(D)(4): MATERIAL AND COLOR TRANSITION
5. 
Accent Material. Use of two or more accent materials, such as glass, tile, brick, stone, concrete, or plaster, shall be incorporated to highlight building features.
6. 
Affordable units and market rate units in the same development shall be constructed of the same exterior materials and details such that the units are not distinguishable from one another in quality and detail.
E. 
Parking Structures.
1. 
Wall Plane Variation. Building façades visible from the primary street shall not extend more than 30 feet in length without at least one of the following: a five-foot variation in depth in the wall plane, architectural element, or other prominent feature that provides visual interest.
2. 
Materials and Colors. The parking structure shall utilize the same colors and materials as the primary buildings.
3. 
Articulation. The exterior of the parking structure shall apply at least one of the following as articulation:
a. 
Applied materials, such as brick, stone, and/or siding, which extend at least two inches from the face of the structure to the face of the applied materials. Painted concrete, smooth concrete, or stucco walls shall not be considered sufficient articulation.
b. 
Decorative architectural features, such as cut metal screens, awnings, trellises, louvers, and/or decorative security grills.
4. 
Vertical Plantings. Vertical plantings shall be located between openings, entrances, and architectural accent features. Plantings shall be evergreen vegetation that will grow to a minimum height equivalent to 75 percent of the height of the parking structure; container size shall be selected to achieve a height of at least 50 percent of the height of the parking structure within at least two years from time of installation.
F. 
Garages and Carports.
1. 
Garages.
a. 
Garage doors shall be recessed a minimum of six inches from the surrounding wall plane.
b. 
Garage doors shall not occupy more than 50 percent of the width of any building façade. This limitation does not apply to detached garages located in the rear half of a lot.
c. 
Garages shall feature at least one of the following treatments:
i. 
Garage door windows.
ii. 
Paneled garage door surface.
iii. 
Two different colors.
2. 
Carports. Carports shall incorporate the same colors and materials as the primary residential or mixed-use building design.
(Ord. 22-14 § 4)
A. 
Ground Floor Height. The ground floor of a mixed-use building shall have a minimum floor height of 12 feet, measured from finished ground floor to the bottom of the finished second floor.
B. 
Ground Floor Transparency. Exterior walls facing a public street shall include transparent windows and doors for at least 50 percent of the building wall area located between three and seven feet above the elevation of the sidewalk. Parking garages are not required to meet the ground floor transparency requirement.
Figure 17.44.040(B): GROUND FLOOR TRANSPARENCY
C. 
Street-Facing Setbacks. Street-facing setbacks shall be landscaped and/or prepared for use by pedestrians. The setback area on each lot shall contain at least two amenities per 50 linear feet, such as benches, drinking fountains, shade structure, or other design element (e.g., public art, planters, kiosks, etc.).
D. 
Street-Facing Entrance. Mixed-use buildings located within 20 feet of a primary street right-of-way shall incorporate at least one primary building entrance directly from the public sidewalk or right-of-way. The primary building entrance shall include weather protection that is a minimum six feet wide and four feet deep by recessing the entrance or providing an awning or similar weather protection element.
(Ord. 22-14 § 4)
A. 
Bicycle Parking. Bicycle parking shall comply with the provisions of Section 17.38.090, Bicycle Parking, of this Title.
B. 
Trash, Recycling, and Green Waste Container Enclosures. Enclosures for recycling, green waste, and any other waste containers required by law are required for multiple-unit and mixed-use developments, and shall comply with the provisions of Section 17.24.140, Trash, Recycling, and Green Waste Storage Areas, of this Title. Enclosures shall be located within a building, incorporated into the exterior building design, or located within a detached enclosure designed and placed as follows:
1. 
Location. The enclosure shall be located to the rear or side of the building(s) and located outside of view from a public right-of-way.
2. 
Materials. The enclosure shall incorporate the materials and colors of the primary residential or mixed-use building design.
C. 
Fences and Walls. Fences and walls shall comply with the provisions of Section 17.24.090, Fences, Freestanding Walls, and Hedges, of this Title.
1. 
Fences and walls shall be designed with the same materials and colors as the primary residential or mixed-use building(s).
2. 
Where fences and walls of different materials or finishes intersect, a natural transition or break, such as a column or pilaster, shall be provided.
D. 
Lighting. Lighting shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 17.35, Lighting, of this Title.
E. 
Screening of Mechanical Equipment. Equipment and utilities shall comply with the provisions of Section 17.24.170, Screening of Mechanical Equipment, of this Title.
F. 
Vents and Exhaust. All wall-mounted vent and exhaust elements shall be located at interior corners of building walls or behind building elements that conceal them from public view. All flashing, sheet metal vents, exhaust fans or ventilators, and pipe stacks shall be painted a color to match the adjacent roof or wall material.
(Ord. 22-14 § 4)