Which code is current (checked 1 Nov 2026): California enforces the 2025 California Electrical Code, based on the 2023 NEC, since 1 Jan 2026; Santa Barbara County adopted the 2025 state codes in Nov 2025 with local amendments. The 2026 NEC is published but not yet adopted in California; the next California code (2028 edition, based on the 2026 NEC) is set for 1 Jan 2029. Section numbers in this guide follow the 2023 NEC, so some change in the 2026 NEC. Always confirm with County Building & Safety.
Montecito is unincorporated County land: permits come from County Planning and Development, fire review from the Montecito Fire Protection District, power from Southern California Edison. The City of Santa Barbara has its own rules that do not apply here. Anything marked verify is unconfirmed: call County Building and Safety before you rely on it.
Permits and inspections
- confirmed Montecito is unincorporated; County of Santa Barbara Planning & Development Building & Safety issues electrical permits, not the City of Santa Barbara. source ↗
- confirmed County Board acted 11/4 and 11/18/2025 on Chapter 10 amendments adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Codes with local amendments (File 25-00960). source ↗
- confirmed Chapter 10 has Art. III Primary Electrical Code, Art. VI Energy, Art. IX Green Building, Art. XVI expedited rooftop solar, Art. XIX WUI; Ch. 15A floodplain, Ch. 31 pools, Ch. 34 underground utility districts, Ch. 40 night noise. source ↗
- verify County electrical permit exemption list and owner-builder specifics not verified; City of SB exemption list must not be used for Montecito.
- confirmed All building permits require inspections; types vary by scope. source ↗
- verify Detailed rough/underground/service/final sequence and inspector emphasis items not verified.
- confirmed Electrical permit required for roof-mounted PV; County Standard Electrical Plan or full one-line with CEC 690/705 labeling; main plus inverter breakers not over 120% of bus rating. source ↗
- confirmed Montecito Fire District reviews rooftop PV; roof plan must show access point, pathways, fire classification, labels. source ↗
- confirmed Bulletin lists PV plan check $58.33 + issuance $246.32 = $304.65 (undated bulletin; may be outdated). source ↗
- confirmed Existing residences need sprinklers throughout if aggregate work exceeds 50% of floor area or 1,000 sq ft; concurrent permits are aggregated. source ↗
- verify County-to-SCE release/meter set sequence for Montecito not verified.
- confirmed County normally requires 50 ft creek setback for new homes; 2018 like-for-like rebuild program allowed building-permit-only rebuilds raised or up to 10% taller. source ↗
- confirmed Southern Montecito lies in the Coastal Zone (boundary roughly Mesa Rd, Wyant/Mimosa Rd, Anapola Rd); LCP supersedes other policies there. Verify by parcel. source ↗
- verify Whether electrical work needs a coastal development permit or exemption is not verified.
- verify County Code Ch. 31 Swimming Pools exists; local NEC 680 handling not verified. source ↗
General
- verify Content of County local electrical amendments (Chapter 10 Art. III) not verified. source ↗
- confirmed Ordinance 2025-02 adopted Nov 17, 2025: 2025 CFC, 2025 WUI Code, Development Standards by reference; repeals Ord 2022-01. source ↗
- confirmed Gates need auxiliary backup power and District-approved key switch or box; at least 30 ft from road and open inward. source ↗
- confirmed Residential address numbers min 4 in, visible from street, contrasting color. source ↗
- verify MFPD ordinance adds no separate residential smoke alarm rules; state CRC applies (section numbers not verified here). source ↗
- verify Parcel-specific FHSZ designation and Chapter 7A electrical-adjacent impacts not verified.
- confirmed SCE serves Montecito and southern Santa Barbara County (PSPS notices cover Montecito); not PG&E. source ↗
- confirmed Community Plan LU-M-2.3 prioritizes undergrounding on San Ysidro, East Valley, Lower Hot Springs, Olive Mill roads and requires ambient-level magnetic fields. source ↗
- confirmed City of Santa Barbara bans gas infrastructure in new buildings (adopted July 2021, applications after 1 Jan 2022). City only; not Montecito. source ↗
- confirmed Board voted 3-2 in Sept 2024 to have staff draft an energy reach ordinance favoring all-electric new construction; no adopted ordinance found. source ↗
- verify Whether the County energy reach ordinance has since been adopted is unknown.
- confirmed Mechanical/electrical equipment must be integrated into design; AC, condensers, pool equipment sited/buffered for noise; freestanding solar fully screened. source ↗
- verify Local emphasis on water heater/battery seismic bracing not verified (state rules apply).
Service and utility
- confirmed Zone Zero (first 5 ft) being phased in for existing homes as of Aug 2026; no firm compliance date in source; MFPD inspections are free. source ↗
- confirmed SCE reports average 30 business days (max 45) for main panel upgrades under its control; application review averages 10 business days (max 45). source ↗
- confirmed 2016 MBAR guidelines do not address meters, generators, EV chargers or undergrounding; numeric lighting limits (lumens, CCT) not found. source ↗
- confirmed County adopted updated FEMA flood maps for Montecito on June 19, 2018 after the Jan 2018 debris flow. source ↗
- verify Local required elevation of electrical equipment in flood zones (County Ch. 15A) not verified. source ↗
Panel and service
- confirmed Batteries must appear on one-line diagram with location and venting shown. source ↗
- confirmed Back-fed panels need permanent 'Caution-Alternate Power Source' sign with 1 in letters; power-disabling switches labeled; permanent generators may need Fire Code Official approval (CFC 1203.1.3.2). source ↗
- confirmed Fire alarm control panels need 30x36x78 in clear working space. source ↗
- verify Local EV-ready and PV amendments beyond state baseline not verified; County has Energy (Art. VI) and Green Building (Art. IX) articles. source ↗
Solar and batteries
- confirmed Arrays on one side of ridge at least 3 ft from ridge; both sides: 5 ft one side, 3 ft other (CFC 1205.2.1.2 as amended). source ↗
Generators and backup
- verify County Code Ch. 40 Nighttime Noise Restrictions exists; limits and generator fuel/permit rules not verified. source ↗
Exterior lighting
- confirmed Community Plan LU-M-2.2: lighting of structures, roads and properties shall be minimized to protect privacy and semi-rural character. source ↗
- confirmed MBAR guidelines: low-level lighting, minimized site lighting, few driveway entrance fixtures, glare-free landscape lighting, no recreational court lighting in residential areas, no exposed lights or conduit on signs. source ↗