The unincorporated County spans the coast, the South Coast hills, the Santa Ynez Valley, and North County. Each sub-area has its own review board, its own character, and its own regulatory overlays.
Schedule Your Free Site Visit →Santa Barbara County’s unincorporated land ranges from coastal bluffs to ranch land to the wine country. Projects are reviewed by the County Planning & Development department, with design guidance from the South Board of Architectural Review, the Central Board of Architectural Review, or the Montecito BAR depending on location.
The County touches CEQA more often than the cities — larger parcels, environmental sensitivity, ag resources, and endangered species habitat show up regularly. We know when a categorical exemption will hold, when to expect an MND, and how to sequence studies so projects do not stall.
County coastal permits, appealable vs. non-appealable jurisdiction, Coastal Commission coordination. Bluff setbacks, visual resource protection, ESHA issues.
Projects on Ag Preserve parcels — compatible uses, non-renewal strategies, cancellation applications when required.
Setbacks, grading, septic, well, and fire access on rural and agricultural zoned parcels. Resource capacity studies when needed.
Initial studies, mitigated negative declarations, and coordination with technical consultants (biology, archaeology, traffic).
Design review for County projects outside Montecito. Preliminary and final approvals, conditions of approval, and appeals.
Certificates of compliance, lot line adjustments, tentative parcel maps, and subdivision coordination through County P&D and Surveyor.
Let us walk the property and map your path to approval.