Request a Consultation — Santa Barbara, Montecito & Hope Ranch
Tell us about your project in your own words. This form requests a conversation — it does not book an appointment, produce a quote, or start any work. Prefer to talk now? Call the office at (818) 975-3783.
Sources verified 2026-10-23. Your submission is stored as a private record governed by row-level security — never published, never shared.
Questions a first conversation should answer
- Which authority actually governs my parcel — the City of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, or both an agency and a private association?
- What should I prepare before the first conversation so it is productive — survey, existing plans, a planner export, photos?
- At what point do I need an architect, a structural or civil engineer, and a general contractor — and in what order?
- What are the realistic decision points where scope, budget or timeline can change materially?
- What documentation will reviewers expect at each step, and what can I start gathering now?
When each professional gets involved
Architect / designer
Early for custom homes and major remodels — concept, design-review materials and the permit drawing set.
Structural or civil engineer
When foundations, slopes, retaining work, drainage or seismic questions are in play — common on hillside and coastal sites.
General contractor / design-build studio
To turn an approved or approvable design into a buildable, priced scope — and to flag constructability issues before permits.
Before you send: checkpoints
- You know which request kind fits: a feasibility conversation, or a review of a scope you have already defined.
- Your message describes the property and goals in your own words — no account, no file upload, no commitment.
- You understand this form requests a conversation. It does not book an appointment, produce a quote, or start any work.
- If your project is in Hope Ranch, you know association architectural review is a private process separate from the County permit.
- You have read the privacy policy and actively confirmed the contact request below.
What this form does not do
- No appointment is booked by this form. Scheduling happens in a real conversation after we reply.
- No price, quote or estimate is produced. Budget bands, if you share one, are context only.
- No plan or file upload exists here. If drawings become relevant, we arrange a secure way to share them after first contact.
- No permit eligibility, approval odds or timeline guarantee is stated or implied.
- Your submission is stored as a private record governed by row-level security; it is never published or shared with third parties.
Official sources
- City of Santa Barbara — Apply for a permit
The City's official permit portal entry point (City Accela). City projects only.
- Santa Barbara County — Accela portal (SBCO)
County permit applications and records for unincorporated areas, including Montecito and Hope Ranch. Not the City system.
- Montecito Land Use & Development Code
The County ordinance governing Montecito land use outside the coastal zone.
- Hope Ranch Park Homes Association — architectural application
The private association review that applies to relevant exterior changes in Hope Ranch, separate from any public permit.
- CSLB — Check a contractor license
Verify any contractor's California license status, classification and bond before signing anything.
Prepare before we talk
- Estate Project Planner — structure your goals, jurisdiction and open questions in seven steps.
- Construction Brief Generator — turn your planning into a professional PDF brief you can share.
- Permit Navigator — confirm whether the City, the County, or a private association governs your parcel.