Santa Barbara’s Approach to New Housing Design Standards
Santa Barbara is navigating a delicate balance between meeting state housing mandates and preserving its iconic charm. As California continues to push for increased housing to address the state's growing population, Santa Barbara has proposed new design standards aimed at blending necessary development with the city's unique aesthetic. These standards, which focus on architectural consistency, landscaping, and neighborhood character, are intended to ensure that new housing projects align with the community’s values and history.
“Encouraging the development of capital A affordable housing has been identified as a city priority, unfortunately these ODDS, as currently configured, do not aid us in meeting that priority.”
SB Independent article: Objective Reviews: Defining the Architectural Styles of Santa Barbara
Noozhawk article: Santa Barbara Pitches Design Standards to Balance State Housing Demands With Community’s Charm
Map showing potential architectural zones (Note: Eastside and Westside districts will no longer allow contemporary as an option for objective design review) | Courtesy City of S.B.