Planning guide · updated October 2026
Building a custom home in Santa Barbara County starts with one question: city or County? From there, design review and fire review usually come before the building permit. Here is how the path works.
1. City or County
Who issues your permit
Inside a city (Solvang, Buellton, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria and others), the city issues planning and building permits. In unincorporated areas such as Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Montecito and Hope Ranch, it is Santa Barbara County Planning & Development.
2. Design review
Boards of Architectural Review
The County has four Boards of Architectural Review (Central, North, South and Montecito), and which one hears a project depends on where the site is. Under the Design Control (D) overlay, Section 35.28.080, structures in the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan area on land zoned with the D overlay need design review, with exceptions such as structures that cannot be seen from public roads (we confirm per lot). The Central County Board of Architectural Review bylaws and guidelines list what the board looks at: site layout, landscape, lighting, materials and colors.
3. Community plans
Local rules on top of County code
Several areas have community plans with their own policies, such as the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan. Montecito and Hope Ranch have their own review layers too; see our Hope Ranch architectural review guide.
4. Cities
Solvang as an example
In Solvang, most projects need a planning entitlement, such as Design Review Committee approval, before the building permit, and the approved entitlement goes into the building plan set. See our Solvang page.
5. Fire
Fire department review
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department reviews access and water supply on new homes, and much of the county’s hill country is mapped on the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. See our fire zone (Chapter 7A) guide.
6. Water and septic
Utilities
In town you will need a will-serve letter from the water and sewer provider. On rural land, the well and septic are permitted by the County (we confirm per lot).
How we help
Building in Santa Barbara County with us
We build custom homes, remodels, additions and ADUs in Santa Barbara County. Harrod Built is a family general contractor (CSLB #986950) based in Paso Robles. Harrod Built is building a home in Goleta right now. We build from your architect’s plans or design-build through sister studio Harrod Drafting & Design. Town pages: Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Solvang, Buellton, Montecito, Hope Ranch, and the Santa Barbara County hub.
Who issues building permits in Santa Ynez or Los Olivos?
Santa Barbara County Planning & Development, because both are unincorporated.
Does my Santa Ynez Valley home need design review?
If the parcel is in the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan area and zoned with the Design Control (D) overlay, usually yes, unless an exception applies, such as a structure not visible from public roads.
Which Board of Architectural Review hears my project?
It depends on location: the County has Central, North, South and Montecito boards.
Who issues permits in Solvang?
The City of Solvang. Many projects need a planning entitlement, such as design review, before the building permit.
Do you build in Santa Barbara County?
Yes. We build custom homes, remodels, additions and ADUs there. Harrod Built is building a home in Goleta right now.
Planning guides
Budget and planning guides
What a custom home costs on the Central Coast
Rough per-square-foot ranges for SLO, Monterey and Santa Barbara counties, and what moves a home between them.
Montecito Board of Architectural Review (MBAR)
What MBAR reviews, conceptual vs preliminary vs final review, what to submit, floor area guidelines, fire and water steps in Montecito.
Building in Hope Ranch: architectural review and County permits
The Association’s ABR stages, floor area, height and view rules, County design review and coastal permits, water, septic and fire access.
Building in a fire hazard severity zone
What Chapter 7A (and the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code) change on the roof, vents, walls, windows, decks and landscape.
ADU rules in Santa Barbara County
Unincorporated County lots: the two ADU paths, size and height, Montecito and coastal permits, water, septic, fire and where state law wins.
Building a custom home in the Santa Ynez Valley
Ranch and ag land, Williamson Act home sites, the design overlay, oaks, creeks, water, septic and fire access.
Santa Barbara Single Family Design Board
When City of Santa Barbara homes need SFDB review, the stages, story poles, neighbors and Final Approval.
Start your project
Building in Santa Barbara County? Tell us about your project.
A few details help us call you back with useful answers about budget, schedule and permits.
805.712.8993michael@harrodbuilt.com
1345 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles, CA 93446
CSLB License #986950
