Local zoning · Calabasas
Calabasas — Design Review
Design Review under the Calabasas local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.
Last reviewed: July 1, 2026
Overview
This page explains how design review and related site/architectural review happen under the City of Calabasas land use rules (Title 17). It summarizes who reviews projects, when review is required, the city’s design-guideline authority and the special rules that change review in overlay districts such as the Calabasas Highlands (-CH) and Old Town (CT). For rules about parking, building code compliance, or ADUs see the linked topic pages below. (This page interprets the Calabasas development code; always verify parcel-specific requirements with the city.)
Key references used below include § 17.11.010 (when design review is required), § 17.62.020 (site plan review), § 17.20.070 (design guidelines), and the administrative bodies that perform review such as the ARP and DRC via § 17.70.060 and § 17.70.040.
Note on internal links: the first natural mention of each related topic is hyperlinked to the Calabasas menu pages for that topic — e.g., design review (zoning page), parking, Calabasas Development Standards, Overlay Districts, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.
What the code requires (plain structure)
Design-oriented review in Calabasas is implemented through (1) project-level site plan review under Title 17 and (2) design review processes administered per the Municipal Code (Chapter 2.40) and implemented by the Architectural Review Panel and other review bodies. The development-code triggers and findings for discretionary design review are in Title 17.
The city’s General Urban Design Guidelines are codified to guide review of massing, materials, streetscape, landscaping and hillside treatment; these guidelines are explicitly used by the Architectural Review Panel in reviewing projects (§ 17.20.070). They include design guidance for second stories, freeway-facing sites, business parks, plazas and landscape buffers.
Discretionary project approvals requiring a public hearing (planning commission) use the site plan review findings in § 17.62.020; those findings require compliance with the code, General Plan consistency, CEQA compliance, compatibility in design/scale, adequacy of site, and respect for the natural environment. § 17.62.020 sets triggers and the one-year expiration rule.
The city uses several review bodies: the Development Review Committee (DRC) (§ 17.70.040), the Architectural Review Panel (ARP) (§ 17.70.060 and Chapter 2.40 of the Municipal Code — see “Information Gaps”), the Community Development Director (director), and the Planning Commission depending on the permit and concurrent applications.
District-by-district breakdown (how design review plays out across zoning districts)
Below are the zoning districts used in Title 17 that most commonly interact with design/architectural/site-plan review. For each district I give the purpose, typical permitted uses (high-level) and the decision-relevant dimensional/development standards (as codified). Where the development code points to other chapters (for example landscaping or parking), I cite those cross-references.
Note: the city labels single-family residential as RS in the code (and uses numeric suffixes such as RS-8). The commercial districts include CB, CL, CT, CMU, CR, and special-purpose districts include HM, PD, OS, PF, REC. All of the district standards and the land use permissibility framework are presented in Title 17 (Article II and related chapters).
RS (Residential, single‑family)
- Purpose: preserve low‑rise single‑family neighborhoods and set development envelopes appropriate to lot sizes (suffixed RS‑8, RS‑10, etc.).
- Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwellings, accessory uses (including accessory dwelling units subject to ADU rules). See land‑use table and § 17.11.010 for permitted vs. conditional uses.
- Key standards: front setback 20 ft, side 10 ft, street side 15 ft, rear 20 ft, height limit 35 ft, site coverage 50% (on lots <1/3 acre) (table in Article II). Measure/exception rules are in § 17.20.140 and setback measurement rules in § 17.20.180. Landscaping minimums are in Chapter 17.26.
RR (Rural Residential) and RC (Rural Community)
- Purpose: very low‑density residential or rural community living; special rules for hillside, wildlife and open space compatibility.
- Uses: single‑family and very low intensity accessory uses; outdoor/open‑space uses controlled by the code. See land‑use table.
- Standards: larger lot minimums and higher landscape/pervious area requirements (e.g., RR landscaping ≥70% of site in many cases). See Article II tables and Chapter 17.26.
RM (Multifamily)
- Purpose: medium‑density residential development.
- Uses: multifamily dwellings, particularly where pedestrian amenities and common open space are required.
- Standards: minimum separation between buildings 20 ft, common outdoor space 400 sq ft/unit, specific private open‑space minimums by unit size (§ 17.12.145). Parking and circulation standards in Chapter 17.28 apply.
CB (Commercial, Business) and CL (Commercial, Limited)
- Purpose: business and retail uses oriented to arterial corridors and centers; designed with on‑site landscaping and buffering from residential areas.
- Uses: offices, retail, service uses per the land use table; some uses are conditional. See § 17.11.010 and the land use table.
- Standards: landscaped buffer 15 ft to parking / 30 ft to buildings in CB, site coverage and setbacks vary by commercial district — consult Article II tables and the freeway corridor design guidelines where applicable (§ 17.20.070). Parking rules are in Chapter 17.28.
CT (Commercial Old Town / Old Town Calabasas)
- Purpose: Old Town character area — projects must follow the Old Town Master Plan and Old Town design guidelines. § 17.20.070 references Old Town Calabasas Master Plan and Design Guidelines specifically.
- Uses and standards: the CT district is subject to the Old Town Master Plan and may have district‑specific standards and design themes tied to the Master Plan and Design Guidelines (see § 17.20.070 and Article II).
HM (Hillside/Mountainous) and the Calabasas Highlands (-CH overlay)
- Purpose: limits scale/density and requires special site‑specific review in steep, sensitive lands. The Calabasas Highlands (-CH) overlay applies extra submittal and site‑plan review requirements and special standards.
- Key standards (Calabasas Highlands Table 2‑9): FAR 0.45, max habitable square feet 3,500, height 27 ft (pitched roof) / 24 ft (parapet), front setback 20 ft (primary structure), side 10 ft, rear 15 ft, and stricter site and submittal requirements (topography, grading, biology, hydrology and geology reports listed in the overlay standards). These overlay projects require public hearing and site plan review; some submissions are ministerial only when specifically authorized.
DP (Development Plan overlay)
- Purpose: the -DP overlay lets the city negotiate project‑specific development standards and design outcomes (permit processed under § 17.62.070). Any deviations to setbacks, FAR, parking, and landscaping are handled through the DP process.
(For full district tables, see the Article II tables in Title 17 — the code’s tables list site coverage, floor‑area ratios, setbacks and heights across districts; see the table excerpts in the code.)
Decision‑relevant standards & triggers (short table)
| Topic | Rule summary | Code reference |
|---|---|---|
| When is site plan review required? | New site development; additions >5,000 sq ft in commercial/special purpose districts; new residential, multifamily or mixed‑use projects; certain residential additions depending on size/overlay | § 17.62.020 |
| Design guidance used by reviewers | General Urban Design Guidelines (massing, materials, streetscape, plazas, hillside/ridgeline guidance) — used by ARP | § 17.20.070 |
| Architectural Review authority | ARP established; duties/authority assigned by Chapter 2.40 and implemented through Title 17 review processes | § 17.70.060 and Chapter 2.40 (Municipal Code) — Chapter 2.40 text not in retrieved materials (see gaps) |
| Ministerial design review (small residential) | Ministerial process for up to two residential units (≤800 sq ft each) in RS, RR, RC under Chapter 17.84 — specific eligibility/limitations spelled out | § 17.84.030–050 |
| Calabasas Highlands (-CH) special submittals | CH overlay requires site plan review plus topography, grading, biology, hydrology, geology reports; public hearing required | Calabasas Highlands standards and submittal list — Table 2‑9 and overlay text (see overlay rules) |
| Findings for approval of site plan review | Project complies with code, consistent with General Plan and design themes, CEQA compliance, compatible design/scale, adequate site capacity, respects natural environment | § 17.62.020(E–F) |
Checklist — What an applicant must satisfy for a typical discretionary project
- Confirm whether the proposed activity is subject to site plan review (new residential, multifamily, mixed use, or commercial additions >5,000 sq ft) — see § 17.62.020.
- Determine whether design review (Chapter 2.40 / ARP) applies via the land‑use and specific‑plan references in § 17.11.010.
- Prepare site plans consistent with the General Urban Design Guidelines (massing, façade treatment, pedestrian spaces, landscaping) in § 17.20.070.
- For sites in overlays (e.g., -CH, -DP, -SC), include the overlay‑required technical reports (topography, grading plans, biology/hydrology/geology reports) and the extra findings required by the overlay (§ 17.18.025 / CH standards).
- Follow district‑level development standards (setbacks, heights, site coverage) in Article II and check measurement rules (§ 17.20.140, § 17.20.180).
- Provide landscaping and parking plans that meet Chapter 17.26 and Chapter 17.28 respectively; show compliance with buffering transitions when commercial abuts residential (§ 17.26 and § 17.28).
- Expect review by the DRC/ARP and likely a public hearing before the Commission for discretionary site plan review; check Table 6‑1 for decision authority if the application is filed concurrently with other permits.
Risks & Ambiguities
| Issue | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Is ARP (Chapter 2.40) guidance binding or advisory? | ARP is established to review projects; the code cross‑references the ARP and design guidelines but the precise decision authority and procedural rules live in Chapter 2.40 (Municipal Code). Without the chapter text you cannot confirm whether ARP recommendations are binding or advisory on a given permit. | Verify Chapter 2.40 text and whether the ARP decision is final or advisory for the specific permit type (not found in retrieved materials). |
| Overlay‑specific submittal triggers (CH, Old Topanga, Scenic Corridor) | Overlays impose extra submittal/approval steps; missing a required technical report can stop processing or require a new hearing. | Check the overlay map and overlay section for your parcel; Calabasas Highlands explicitly lists required submittals (topo, grading, biology, geology, hydrology). Verify with the Community Development Director. |
| Ministerial design review eligibility limits | Chapter 17.84 allows a ministerial process for limited small residential projects; the eligibility has several exclusions (historic districts, recent tenant occupancy, state code references). Misunderstanding eligibility can result in an unexpected discretionary process. | Confirm applicability: RS/RR/RC zones only, unit size limits (≤800 sq ft each), excludes historic or tenanted housing per § 17.84. |
| Measurement of height/setbacks in hillsides | Different grade references and city engineer grade modifications change measured heights; in the Highlands overlay the code points to § 17.20.140 for measurement. | For hillside sites, obtain the official grade reference from the city engineer and check § 17.20.140 and the Highlands provisions for how to measure height. |
| Concurrent permits and review authority | When a project is filed with higher‑level permits, the final decision may shift to a higher review authority per Table 6‑1. | Verify Table 6‑1 (review authority) and whether your application is being processed concurrently with other entitlements which will change the hearing/decision body. |
Plain‑English summary
If you are planning a new house, addition, or commercial project in Calabasas, check first whether your plan triggers site plan review (many new homes, additions over certain sizes, most new commercial/special‑purpose work do) — site plan review uses the city’s design guidelines to test massing, materials, landscaping and hillside treatment, and may require a public hearing and technical studies for sensitive areas such as the Calabasas Highlands (§ 17.62.020, § 17.20.070, § 17.18.025).
Information Gaps
- Full text of Municipal Code Chapter 2.40 (Architectural Review Panel) was referenced but not included in the retrieved files — the ARP’s precise procedural rules, quorum, appeal path and whether ARP decisions are advisory vs. final are Not found in retrieved materials. Verify Chapter 2.40 with the city.
- Fee schedules, application forms, submittal checklists and current ARP meeting schedules were not included in the retrieved materials — Verify with the Community Development Department. Not found in retrieved materials.
- Any post‑2018 or post‑2022 amendments beyond the provided extracts (the code extracts show updates through certain ordinances) — check the city website or Municode for the latest ordinance updates. Not found in retrieved materials.
Source References
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Land Use and Development: General design guidelines and urban design rules (see § 17.20.070)
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Site plan review procedures and findings (§ 17.62.020)
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Land use table and requirement that design review be applied where required (§ 17.11.010)
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Administrative responsibility and Architectural Review Panel reference (§ 17.70.040, § 17.70.060)
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Ministerial Design Review chapter for small residential projects (§ 17.84.030–050)
- Calabasas Highlands Overlay (‑CH) development standards and required submittals (Table 2‑9 and overlay text)
- District development standard tables and measurement cross‑references (Article II tables; setback and height measurement cross‑references § 17.20.140, § 17.20.180).
- Landscape and parking cross‑references (Chapter 17.26 and Chapter 17.28).
(Primary source: Calabasas Title 17 document provided in the project files — print export of the Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17, as supplied in the retrieved materials.)
Sources
Retrieved passages
- Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 17.62.030) High relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 17.20.030) High relevance
- CEC § 3 (Section 17.62.020) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code High relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (chapter provides) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 17.20.030) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (Chapter 17.26) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (Article II) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 5020.1) Medium relevance
- CPC § 17.20.150 (Section 17.20.150) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 17.20.100.) Medium relevance
- CMC § 17.12.030 (Chapter 17.26) Medium relevance
- Calabasas Zoning Code (Chapter 17.20) Medium relevance
Cited sections
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Land Use and Development: General design guidelines and urban design rules (see § **17.20.070**) (Title 17)
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Site plan review procedures and findings (§ **17.62.020**) (Title 17)
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Land use table and requirement that design review be applied where required (§ **17.11.010**) (Title 17)
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Administrative responsibility and Architectural Review Panel reference (§ **17.70.040**, § **17.70.060**) (Title 17)
- Calabasas Municipal Code, Title 17 — Ministerial Design Review chapter for small residential projects (§ **17.84.030–050**) (Title 17)
- Calabasas Highlands Overlay (‑CH) development standards and required submittals (Table 2‑9 and overlay text)
- District development standard tables and measurement cross‑references (Article II tables; setback and height measurement cross‑references § **17.20.140**, § **17.20.180**). (Article II)
- Landscape and parking cross‑references (Chapter 17.26 and Chapter 17.28). (Chapter 17.26)
- Calabasas_ZoningCode.md
Frequently asked questions
Do I need design review in Calabasas for a single‑family addition?
If the addition meets the site‑plan review thresholds (e.g., additions over 400 sq ft that are ≥20% of the home's area, or larger thresholds in overlays), then site plan review applies; design review via the ARP or planning process may also be required if the General Plan, a specific plan, or design guidelines require it (§ 17.62.020, § 17.11.010). Verify overlay rules (Old Topanga, Highlands) for lower thresholds.
What are the design guidelines the city uses when reviewing a project?
The city’s General Urban Design Guidelines are in § 17.20.070 and address building size/bulk, façade treatment, pedestrian‑oriented design, freeway corridor guidelines, hillside/ridgeline sensibilities (materials, colors, rooflines), and treatments for second stories. Reviewers (ARP, director, commission) are instructed to use these when evaluating design.
What triggers site plan review in Calabasas?
Site plan review is required for new site development, new residential/multifamily/mixed‑use construction, commercial/special purpose additions >5,000 sq ft, and certain residential additions by square‑foot thresholds and overlays (see § 17.62.020 for the full list).
Does the Calabasas Highlands overlay require extra reports?
Yes — development in the Calabasas Highlands (‑CH) overlay requires additional submittals (topography, grading plan, biology report, hydrology, geology/soils) and public hearing processing as specified in the overlay standards and cross‑references to site plan review rules. Verify the full submittal list in the overlay text.
Who makes the design determinations (ARP vs director vs commission)?
The code establishes a tiered system: the director, DRC, ARP, and Planning Commission all have defined roles. The ARP is established by Chapter 2.40 and used for design review guidance (§ 17.70.060), but the final decision body depends on the permit and concurrent applications (see Table 6‑1/Chapter 17.60 for review authority). Verify Chapter 2.40 for ARP procedure and whether ARP acts advisory or as the decision maker on your permit.
Are there ministerial design review exceptions for small ADUs or second units?
Chapter 17.84 includes a ministerial design review pathway for up to two small residential units (≤800 sq ft each) in RS, RR, RC under strict eligibility rules; ADU rules in Title 17 and state ADU law also apply (local ADU rules referenced in Title 17). Check § 17.84 and the ADU chapter for cross‑references and exemptions.
Where are the setback and height measurement rules I should use for designs?
Setback measurement and exceptions are handled in § 17.20.180 and height measurement rules are in § 17.20.140; district tables in Article II list the base setbacks and height limits used as the starting point for review. For hillside grade modifications the city engineer’s grade and § 17.20.140 controls measurement.
What findings must the planning commission make to approve a site plan review?
Under § 17.62.020(E–F) the review authority must find that the project complies with applicable code provisions, is consistent with the General Plan and any specific plan, is CEQA‑compliant, is compatible in design/scale with surroundings, the site can physically accommodate the project (yards, parking, landscaping), and the design respects the natural environment to the maximum extent feasible.
Can the city alter setbacks or FAR through a development plan?
Yes — the -DP overlay and a Development Plan approval (process under § 17.62.070) permit project‑specific modifications to setbacks, FAR, coverage, heights, landscaping, and parking as part of a negotiated development plan. See the DP rules and § 17.62.070 for the permit process.
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