Design review
Design review checks how a proposed building looks, including materials, height, massing, and landscaping, against a city's design standards.
Also called architectural review or appearance review.
What it tells you
A project in design review usually has an architect, a building program, and a site, so it is close to permits. Materials and facade details also tell suppliers what the building will need.
How it moves through a city or county
- The applicant submits building elevations, materials, and a site plan.
- Staff compare them with the design standards or guidelines.
- A design review board, historic commission, or the planning commission reviews larger projects.
- Approval, often with changes, comes before building permits.
Some places review only certain districts or building types; others review most commercial and apartment projects. Historic districts usually have their own commission.
Recent design reviews
From public filings in California and Washington.
| Project | Location | Developer | Type | Size | Stage | Latest meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 248-Unit Residential Development on 160 Acres | Banning, CA | Tri Pointe Homes | Single-family | 248 homes160 acres | Approved | |
| 28-Unit Townhome Community on 1.27 Acres | Sumner, WA | Fulcrum Development | Townhomes | 28 townhomes1.27 acres | Recommended | |
| 66-Unit Senior Apartment Complex Renovation | Fontana, CA | Andresen Architecture Inc. | Residential | 66 units2 acres | Seeking approval |
As of How we count
Common questions
- Is design review the same as site plan review?
- Design review and site plan review are related but not the same. Site plan review checks layout, parking, access, and engineering, while design review looks at the building itself; many cities do both at once.
- Can design review stop a project?
- A design review body can deny a design or require changes when it misses the standards. Its power varies: some boards only advise, others decide.
Related terms
Rules vary by state, county, and city. These pages describe common practice, not legal advice.
See buildings in design review near you.
Pick Design Review under Application Type on the Boardwalk map.