San Diego County Municipal Code § 6.8 Residential Structures

∙ Incorporate existing natural features, such as steep slopes, rock outcroppings, vegetation, and major landforms into the overall site design.

∙ Avoid the following:

o Level grading of entire lots without respect for exiting landforms or neighboring developments;

o Removal of oaks and other mature trees without careful consideration;

o Blocking existing scenic views; and

o Diverting natural drainage patterns.

∙ Maintain a linear lot line configuration.

∙ Establish setbacks similar to the existing setbacks of adjacent properties.

∙ Orient entry features such as doors, windows, porches, and patios towards the street and maintain compatibility with the architectural style.

∙ Avoid sight lines into neighboring homes through appropriate placement and location of the home, windows, decks, and patios.

∙ Respect privacy in the placement of the main residence, accessory buildings, and exterior lighting.

∙ Orient multi-family residential structures to create outdoor rooms, such as courtyards, connected by landscaped walkways.

∙ Encourage front porches that are of similar size, location, and orientation to the street.

∙ Locate garages near the rear of the house or sideways to the street.

∙ Utilize simple, symmetrical building facades.

∙ Maintain one to two stories in height.

∙ Set back upper stories to reduce the apparent overall scale of the building.

∙ Avoid blank facades, particularly along major streets.

∙ Incorporate variations in vertical and horizontal planes to reduce scale and massing.