County Building Permits

Santa Barbara County Building Permit Guide

Building permit information for unincorporated Santa Barbara County and all incorporated cities. Find your jurisdiction's permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements.

California Updated March 2026

Important: Santa Barbara County issues building permits only for properties in unincorporated areas of the county. If your property is inside an incorporated city, select your city below - that city's building department handles your permits, not the county.

Unincorporated Santa Barbara County

Permit authority
Planning & Development, Building & Safety Division
Online portal
Accela Citizen Access
Permit centers
123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101; 624 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455
Governing body
Santa Barbara County Planning & Development under the County of Santa Barbara

Cities in Santa Barbara County

Select your city for local permit authority, portal links, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Buellton Permit guide → Carpinteria Permit guide → Goleta Permit guide → Guadalupe Permit guide → Lompoc Permit guide → Santa Barbara Permit guide → Santa Maria Permit guide → Solvang Permit guide →

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change - confirm current requirements directly with the relevant city or county department before applying.

Related California Resources

License Requirements Verify your contractor's CSLB license → Contract Template Free homeowner-contractor agreement →

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Santa Barbara County can be complicated.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authorities listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.