County Adopts Utility-Scale Solar Framework With 16,000-Acre Cap
The Sept. 1 vote sets a 15-acre fast track for farm solar and a 16,000-acre cap for larger commercial projects.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted on Sept. 1 to adopt a revised package of zoning and code changes governing utility-scale solar, setting a 15-acre fast track for on-site agricultural arrays and a 16,000-acre cap for larger commercial projects.
The package, adopted after a months-long public process, creates a tiered system for ground-mounted arrays and battery storage. Under the framework, agricultural solar installations of up to 15 acres can move through an expedited build pathway, while larger tier-2 and tier-3 commercial facilities fall under the countywide acreage cap.
The 16,000-acre figure matches the Planning Commission's recommendation.
The framework is the product of a years-long county effort. The county began the amendments process in 2019 and brought in environmental consultancy ESA in 2023 to prepare the environmental review. The board certified the program environmental impact report as part of the 2026 adoption package.
Where the amendments touch the coastal zone, the changes will also require review by the California Coastal Commission before they take effect there.
The framework is meant to balance two county priorities: supporting agricultural resilience and enabling more local renewable energy, while protecting visual, habitat and community resources.
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