# 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.

Data as of Oct 11, 2026. Page: https://boardwalkai.com/glossary/design-review/

## What it is

Design review looks at a project's appearance and how it fits the street, separate from whether the use is allowed. It's common downtown, in historic districts, and along main corridors.

## 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

1. The applicant submits building elevations, materials, and a site plan.
2. Staff compare them with the design standards or guidelines.
3. A design review board, historic commission, or the planning commission reviews larger projects.
4. 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.

Rules vary by state, county, and city. These pages describe common practice, not legal advice.

## 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 homes · 160 acres | Approved | Feb 4, 2026 |
| 28-Unit Townhome Community on 1.27 Acres | Sumner, WA | Fulcrum Development | Townhomes | 28 townhomes · 1.27 acres | Recommended | Nov 12, 2025 |
| 66-Unit Senior Apartment Complex Renovation | Fontana, CA | Andresen Architecture Inc. | Residential | 66 units · 2 acres | Seeking approval | Dec 2, 2025 |

Samples show projects filed by companies or public bodies.

## Find it on Boardwalk

Pick Design Review under Application Type on the Boardwalk map. [Start free trial](https://boardwalkai.com/auth/signup/)

## Related terms

- [Site plan](https://boardwalkai.com/glossary/site-plan/): A site plan is a drawing of a project on its lot, showing buildings, parking, access, and landscaping, reviewed against the code.
- [Overlay district](https://boardwalkai.com/glossary/overlay-district/): An overlay district adds rules on top of the base zoning in a mapped area, such as design standards downtown.
- [Conditional use permit](https://boardwalkai.com/glossary/conditional-use-permit/): A conditional use permit allows a use that the zoning permits only after case-by-case review, often with conditions attached.

## 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.

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## How to cite

Source: Boardwalk, "Design review", boardwalkai.com/glossary/design-review/, data as of Oct 11, 2026.

How we count: https://boardwalkai.com/coverage/#how-we-count