Building permits and plan check in Buellton
Santa Barbara County handles building permits for the City of Buellton. Here is what we could verify about Santa Barbara County’s permit office, what California law says about plan check, and how to answer a correction letter. Each fact links to its source.
Who handles building permits in Buellton
Building permits for Buellton are handled by Santa Barbara County, so plan check corrections and resubmittals go to Santa Barbara County. (cityofbuellton.com, checked October 31, 2026)
Santa Barbara County permit office
- Building & Safety Division (countyofsb.org, checked October 31, 2026): (805) 568-2000 (formalu-production.herokuapp.com, checked October 31, 2026)
- Address: 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2058 (formalu-production.herokuapp.com, checked October 31, 2026)
- Permit portal
- Building department page
Links and facts checked on October 28, 2026.
See the full Santa Barbara County plan check guide
Contacts at the City of Buellton
- County of Santa Barbara Building and Safety Division: 805-568-3030 (cityofbuellton.com, checked October 31, 2026)
Links and facts checked on October 28, 2026.
Buellton and Santa Barbara County
Buellton is in Santa Barbara County. See the Santa Barbara County guide.
California rules every plan check here follows
These come from California law and state agencies, so they apply in Buellton as well. Each links to its source.
Building code in force
The 2025 edition of Title 24, the California Building Standards Code, has been in effect since January 1, 2026.
Source: California Building Standards Commission, checked October 31, 2026
Energy code
If your permit application was filed on or after January 1, 2026, the project has to meet the 2025 Energy Code.
Source: California Energy Commission, checked October 31, 2026
Energy forms with the application
A building permit application covered by the energy code (Part 6) must include at least one copy of the required energy compliance documents.
Source: California Energy Commission, 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, checked October 31, 2026
Green building code (CALGreen)
The 2025 edition of CALGreen, the state green building code (Part 11), took effect on January 1, 2026.
Source: California Building Standards Commission, checked October 31, 2026
ADU decision deadline
If the city or county has not approved or denied a complete application for an ADU or junior ADU within 60 days, the application is treated as approved (Gov. Code § 66317).
Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, ADU Handbook, checked October 31, 2026
ADU denials must explain the fix
When a city or county denies an ADU or junior ADU application, it must send written comments within 60 days that list each problem and explain how you can correct it.
Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, ADU Handbook, checked October 31, 2026
Building permits for approved housing projects
For housing projects that already have planning approval, the city or county has 15 business days to say whether a building permit application is complete, then 30 or 60 days, depending on how many units are proposed, to decide whether it meets the standards.
Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, Housing Law Fact Sheets, checked October 31, 2026
What a good response to plan check corrections has
General guidance, not the City of Buellton’s own rules. Check its page before you resubmit.
- Answer every comment, in the reviewer’s order and numbering, so nothing is missed.
- Say plainly what you changed for each comment, or why no change is needed.
- Name the sheet and detail where each change is, so the reviewer can find it fast.
- Mark changes on the drawings (clouds or deltas are common) and keep sheet numbers the same.
- Send the response letter, the revised drawings and any new calculations together.
Other California city guides
How we help
Send us the whole correction letter. We draft a response to every comment and list the drawing changes sheet by sheet. Your first letter is free. You review each response, then you sign and submit to the City of Buellton yourself.
Cleared to Build is an independent service. We are not the City of Buellton and are not affiliated with it.
Upload your correction letterOnly one comment to answer? Try the free one-comment tool.
Questions
Who handles building permits in Buellton?
Santa Barbara County does. Send plan check corrections and resubmittals to Santa Barbara County, the way its own pages ask.
Is Cleared to Build part of the City of Buellton or Santa Barbara County?
No. Cleared to Build is an independent service, not affiliated with the City of Buellton, Santa Barbara County or any permitting agency. You submit yourself.