The Santa Barbara Riviera is widely regarded as one of the city's most iconic and desirable neighborhoods, known for its dramatic topography, stunning view corridors, Mediterranean character, and close proximity to downtown Santa Barbara, the harbor and beaches. Often compared to the hillsides of the French and Italian Riviera, the neighborhood offers a unique blend of elevated privacy, architectural beauty, and coastal living. Winding roads, lush landscaping, and hillside estates create a setting unlike anywhere else on the Central Coast. 40 Rincon Vista offers a rare opportunity to build a custom home on one of Santa Barbara's most sought-after Riviera view parcels. Perched above the city, the property captures breathtaking panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean, harbor, coastline, Channel islands, and sparkling city lights below. The elevated setting also showcases spectacular sunrise and mesmerizing sunset views, with ever changing colors illuminating the sky and coastline from dawn to dusk. These jaw dropping views are constantly changing and never get old, offering a dynamic landscape that remains captivating day after day. This exceptional homesite combines serenity and scenery while remaining just minutes from beaches, restaurants, shopping, theaters, hiking trails, and the Funk Zone. The elevated position offers the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind residence designed to maximize the sweeping views and Santa Barbara's year-round coastal climate. Vacant Riviera land opportunities of this caliber are increasingly rare, making 40 Rincon Vista an outstanding offering for an owner-user, developer, or investor seeking to create something truly special in one of Santa Barbara's premier hillside neighborhoods. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a Riviera view parcel where significant preliminary design and planning work has already been undertaken to solicit project feasibility. Conceptual architectural studies and recent pre-application discussions with the City suggest a thoughtful path toward future development, while still allowing a new owner the flexibility to tailor a project to their own vision and preferences.
Vacant landProperty Type
6,534 sq ftLot Size
$259Price/Sq.Ft.
Listed by Jon Mahoney•DRE #01269717• Keller Williams Realty Santa Barbara
Riviera, located between Downtown Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Mountains, is a hillside and coastal Santa Barbara neighborhood with terraced streets and ocean-view overlooks. The character concentrates around the El Encanto area on Mission Ridge Road, where a quiet, resort-like pocket meets winding lanes and garden courtyards. Spanish Colonial Revival estates and midcentury view homes line the slopes above Alameda Padre Serra, with palms and stone walls shaping the streetscape. The Riviera Theatre and the Santa Barbara Bowl act as cultural anchors for film nights and live music. Mission Canyon’s trailheads and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden add a nature-forward rhythm to the neighborhood.
Provided by Walk Score and Local Logic
Property details
Exterior
Exterior features
Ocean view
City view
Scenic/setting view
Directions: Las Alturas to Rincon Vista
Home design
Single-family residential property
Cross street: Las Alturas
Utilities
Underground utilities
Sale and tax history for 40 Rincon Vista Rd
Sale History
Tax History
Date
Event
Price
SBMLS #26-1759
Jul 29, 2026
Contingent
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May 28, 2026
Listed
$1,695,000
As the MLS and public records start to fill up, we'll list the details here.
Public record
Public record
Zoning
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Style
Vacant Land
County
Santa Barbara County
APN
019-282-018
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Last updated by owner on May 28, 2026.
RS-15
One-Family Residence Zone
This zone is intended to provide areas for single-unit housing on individual lots at appropriate low densities of one unit per legal lot with allowances for an Accessory Dwelling Unit or Two-Unit Residential Development when certain standards are met. Designators (e.g. -25, -15) refer to minimum lot size in thousands of square ft or, in the case of RS-1A, acres. The regulations for the RS Zone are intended to limit activities which would be inharmonious with or injurious to the preservation and character of a residential environment. Nonresidential uses are limited to those that support daily life of neighborhoods and complement surrounding residential development. Nonresidential uses are strictly limited in order to mitigate impacts associated with nonresidential uses such as: traffic, increased parking demand, light, glare, and noise.
Permitted uses
Include but are not limited to:
Agriculture
Livestock production
Garden center
Housing-Group
Housing-Single unit
Housing-Multiple units
Housing-Senior
Climate risks
1/10 Flood Factor
Minimal risk of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
3/10 Fire Factor
0.62% chance of being in a wildfire in next 30 years
6/10 Heat Factor
8 days above 84° expected this year, 21 days in 30 years
1/10 Wind Factor
Minimal risk of severe winds over next 30 years
8/10 Air Factor
13 unhealthy days expected this year, 13 days in 30 years
Provided by First Street
Historical weather
Santa Barbara, CA • 93103
Average low and high temperatures (°F)
66
49
67
50
67
52
67
50
68
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69
57
74
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73
60
72
56
65
51
66
50
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Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sun exposure
90/ 100
Exceptional sunlight
Sunscore
There appears to be minimal shading by surrounding buildings, terrain, and vegetation.
8.8 hrs
7 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 40 Rincon Vista Rd
$1,583,464
$112K under list price of $1.70M
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $2.1M to $3.2M.