2024 Zoning Ordinance Update

Zoning Ordinance Update LogoWhat Is the Zoning Ordinance?

The Zoning Ordinance is the "nuts and bolts" of how to develop properties here in the city. The City of Solvang adopted its zoning ordinance after the adoption of its first General Plan which occurred in 1989. The city adopted its first zoning ordinance in 1990.  This zoning ordinance has remained virtually the same since then with minor amendments here and there. For context This zoning ordinance has been through 5 presidential administrations with little to no change.  The City Council adopted the new zoning ordinance on December 9, 2024. The new ordinance went into effect January 8, 2025. All applications submitted after this date must be consistent with the new ordinance. 

Required Consistency with the 2045 Solvang General Plan

The city is required to have its General Plan and Zoning Ordinance be "consistent" which means it needs to have references back to each other including corresponding zones, densities, etc. The City Council adopted the 2045 Solvang General Plan on July 8, 2024. The newly adopted Zoning Ordinance brings consistency with the rules and regulations of the adopted General Plan. 

The General Plan is only the framework utilized for zoning regulations. It is a policy document that lays out a road map for changes needed to the City’s adopted Zoning Ordinance to implement the General Plan.

Framework For Zoning Ordinance Amendments

City staff laid the groundwork for proposed amendments in early 2024, while the preparing for the adoption of the 2045 Solvang General Plan. City Staff held a series of "workshops" with both the Planning Commission and the Design Review Committee on the following dates to discuss proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance:

Based on direction from both these bodies, comments received, and guidance from the adopted General Plan and Housing Element, city staff crafted the zoning ordinance revisions.

Implementing the City Council's Goals for 2024-2026

Three of the City Council’s primary goal for the 2024-2026 fiscal cycle was to 1) Start the process to update outdated codes and ordinances; 2) identify all existing opportunities for affordable housing in the TRC, especially from walkable locations; and 3) streamline the entitlement and building process to make it easier for residents and businesses to improve their properties. The proposed 2024 Zoning Ordinance amendments does just that through the following:

  • Identified as one of the most important economic tools the city has, this will be the first of many code sections to be updated in this initiative to move Solvang Forward.
  • Implement the 2045 General Plan by creating the ability to create housing opportunities in the Village Area, where it has been intended to be created since the previous General Plan update in 2008. City staff has made this a priority to promote infill development, adaptive re-use of buildings here in the village, and implement goals and policies of the 2045 Solvang General Plan and 2031 Housing Element.
  • Streamlining the entitlement process to promote common sense regulations, economic development, and improve communication with the residents, business owners, and other customers. 
  • Regain local control over land use and zoning by creating objective design standards in the Village and Mission areas versus defaulting to state required mandates without input or having Solvang's best interest.

Zoning Map

 You can view the adopted zoning map and look up your address via our online arcgis map.


What are the Zoning Text Amendments?

  • Amend chapter 3 Definitions and update definitions are required by State Law, the General Plan, and Housing Element
  • Create Ag Tourist Uses and Development Standards, which implements the Guest Ranch land use designation.
  • Create a Residential Zoning Districts chapter that includes development standards and use tables. Development standards have been amendment for consistency in reduction of governmental barriers to facilitate housing development, consistent with the adopted Housing Element.
  • Create a Commercial and Zoning Districts chapter that includes development standards and use tables. Development Standards have been amended for consistency with the General Plan to enable mixed-use developments in the Solvang Village, commercial-retail, and enable the ability to complete live/work units in various commercial zones.
  • Create Public/Institutional Zoning district including use tables and Development Standards
  • Create a Park and Open Space districts chapter that include use tables and development standards
  • Create an Overlay Districts chapter to enable implementation of the Community Design element of the General Plan, enable adoptions of Specific Plans, and future Planned Development Overlays. Included in this chapter are Design Districts, for objective standards to the Solvang village and Mission areas for consistency with the 2045 Solvang General Plan. 
  • Create a new Site and General Development Standards chapter that provides site development standards in one location versus being located in various parts of the Zoning Code. Site Development standard revisions include revision to parking standards to modernize parking stall requirements, when parking is required, revision to the height standards to measure heights based on "average natural grade" to protect scenic vistas, requirement to underground utilities for public safety and reduction of fire hazards for new construction, codification of landscape standards, and other site development changes. 
  • Amend various sections of Chapter 12, Supplemental Regulations for consistency with State Law, new uses, streamline various regulations to modernize standards and create objective standards for construction of ADUs.
  • Amend various sections in Chapter 15, Non-conforming structures and uses for better clarification of when uses can terminate.
  • Amend various section of Chapter 16 to streamline permitting procedures based on Council direction, State Law, and the facilitation of housing production.

Adopted Zoning Ordinance

The following links take you to the adopted Zoning Ordinance. 

Chapters with only minor edits (removing of previous zoning names only) include Chapter 13-Signs, Chapter 14 Adult businesses, and Chapter 18 Wireless Telecommunications. Any questions should be directed to city staff at planningdept@cityofsolvang.com