Local zoning · Camarillo

Camarillo — Design Review

Design Review under the Camarillo local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Design review in Camarillo is implemented through a mix of objective design standards for residential projects, plot‑plan and planned‑development review for larger or nonconforming proposals, and administrative pathways (director decisions, referrals to an architectural review committee, and planning‑commission action) for modifications and design exceptions. The zoning ordinance (Title 19) sets objective design requirements for new residential structures (§ 19.41.010) and establishes the procedures for plan/plot plan review, planned development permits, and modification approvals (§ 19.21.195; § 19.32.280; § 19.68.030).

Note: this page focuses strictly on what Camarillo’s zoning ordinance (Title 19) says about design/architectural/site plan review. It does not cover building code (Title 24) technical approvals or state housing law processes.

Design review (this page’s topic) is handled within the broader Camarillo Zoning framework and commonly integrates information on parking, setbacks/development standards, landscaping, and overlay rules—see the related Camarillo pages for those topics. The city also has objective ADU design rules administered separately; see the Camarillo ADUs page for ministerial ADU standards. Links to these internal resources are placed at the first natural mention of each topic above.

How Camarillo organizes design review (legal hooks & routes)

Objective residential design standards are codified in Chapter 19.41 (intent and standards) — see § 19.41.010 for purpose and the standards sections that follow. These establish objective criteria for new residential structures and accessory buildings.
For non‑residential, mixed‑use, and larger multi‑building projects, design is reviewed as part of a plot plan / planned development permit process; required materials and findings are set out in § 19.21.195, § 19.21.200–210, and the planned development chapters (e.g., 19.16, 19.21, 19.26, 19.32).
The director of community development has administrative authority for some zone clearances / minor modifications and may refer design change requests to the architectural review committee or planning commission; these procedures are described in § 19.68.030 (procedures for modifications, referral and appeal pathways).
Parking plans and parking‑lot design are handled via Chapter 19.44 and must be submitted as part of plot plan or parking‑area applications (§ 19.44.280).
Landscaping and screening requirements are referenced across zones and require plans and compliance with the city’s landscape guidelines (§ 19.21.195 submittal items; Chapter 19.38 and Chapter 14.14 Water Efficient Landscapes).

District-by-district breakdown

Each subsection below covers the Camarillo zones where design review is typically applied, with the purpose, typical permitted uses (high level), key dimensional or design standards you must know for design review, and where that zone commonly applies.

R-1 (One‑Family Residential Zone)

Purpose: Provide for single‑family homes and customary accessory buildings; design review is primarily through objective residential standards and zoning clearances. § 19.14.010.
Typical permitted uses: one‑family dwellings, accessory buildings, limited agricultural uses and home occupations listed in the zone chapter. § 19.14.020.
Key dimensional standards commonly enforced during design review:
- Minimum lot area / frontage: by subzone (e.g., R-1 baseline 7,000 sf / 70 ft; R-1-10 = 10,000 sf / 80 ft). § 19.14.050.
- Front setback: 20 ft (minimum) — see § 19.14.070 for yard rules.
- Side yards / rear yards: one‑story side yard 5 ft; two‑story side yard 10 ft; rear yard 20 ft. § 19.14.070.
Where it applies: conventional single‑family neighborhoods; new residential proposals will be reviewed against Chapter 19.41 objective residential standards as well as the R‑1 chapter.

R-E (Rural Exclusive Residential Zone)

Purpose: Large‑lot residential / rural uses; zoning clearances require plot plans with colors, materials and architectural design described. § 19.12.040.
Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwellings on larger lots; limited agricultural and accessory uses listed in the chapter. § 19.12.050–060.
Key dimensional standards commonly enforced:
- Minimum lot area: 10,000 sf baseline; many subzone suffixes (R‑E‑10, R‑E‑20, etc.) with larger minimums (table at § 19.12.060).
- Front yard: 20 ft minimum (landscaped and maintained). § 19.12.080(A).
- Building height: normally 35 ft (exceptions by CUP). § 19.12.110.
Where it applies: rural fringes and low‑density areas; the chapter requires a zoning clearance with architectural samples and elevations before building. § 19.12.040.

RPD (Residential Planned Development Zone)

Purpose: Allow modern site planning, unit clustering, and planned developments reviewed by planning commission; design review occurs through the planned development permit process. § 19.16.010.
Typical permitted uses: one‑family detached dwellings, clustered multi‑unit layouts, limited accessory uses (see § 19.16.020).
Key design standards enforced during review:
- Plot plans must show property lines, open spaces, building locations, elevations, parking, landscaping, and materials. § 19.16.260 and § 19.16.190‑210 (procedures & findings).
- Findings for approval focus on compatibility, public welfare, and suitable open space. § 19.16.300.
Where it applies: multi‑lot residential developments where the developer seeks departures from base R‑1 standards in exchange for planned amenities.

CCM (Camarillo Commons Mixed‑Use Zone)

Purpose: Redevelopment, pedestrian‑oriented commercial with upper‑story residential; design standards are prescriptive in the chapter (façade materials, roof type, eaves, window treatments) and affect by‑right vs. planned projects. § 19.21.010; design details in § 19.21.*.
Typical permitted uses: commercial/retail, offices, upper‑story residences (many uses require a planned development permit). § 19.21.020; § 19.21.025.
Key design standards:
- Building heights: minimum 25 ft / two stories, with upper limits 40–45 ft depending on street adjacency. § 19.21.130.
- Façade & materials rules: by‑right projects must meet paint, roof pitch/material, eave, material‑mix, window surround, and Spanish/Mission style element rules (see design standards language). § 19.21. V (Design Standards).
- Planned development submittal: elevations, colors/materials samples, landscaping, parking, and plot plans required under § 19.21.195.
Where it applies: the Camarillo Commons area and sites identified on the official zoning map; many redevelopment projects are subject to these prescriptive design standards.

CMU (Village Commercial Mixed‑Use)

Purpose: Manage Old Town / village commercial character; new development requires a planned development permit (plot plan and elevations) and planning commission review. § 19.23.010–020.
Typical permitted uses: a long list of commercial retail and service uses permitted by planned development permit subject to compliance with development standards. § 19.23.025–065.
Key design elements: yard/height minima determined by planning commission but minimums are listed (front yard may be zero up to property line in some cases; rear yard 10 ft; special rules for architectural features). § 19.23.080.

CPD (Commercial Planned Development) and other commercial/industrial zones (P‑O, R‑C, M‑1)

Purpose: Many commercial zones require development plans / planned development permits and the planning commission evaluates design, compatibility, screening, and required public improvements. See § 19.26.060–070 for CPD rules and § 19.22 for P‑O plan review.
Typical review triggers: any new building, change in use requiring a plot plan, or planned development in these zones triggers design review through the development plan / planned development process and the commission’s findings. § 19.26.200; § 19.22.020.

COT (Camarillo Old Town Zone)

Purpose: Protect and preserve Old Town character; new developments are required to obtain a planned development permit and must conform to Old Town design guidance. § 19.25.010.
Typical permitted uses: retail, food service (including outdoor dining when appropriate), offices and other Old Town‑appropriate uses listed in § 19.25.020.
Key design triggers: planned development permit with plot plan and elevations; additional city design guidelines may be adopted to guide the planning commission. § 19.25.010; planned development submittal requirements apply.

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant design standards / items

Topic / Decision point	What matters for review	Code Reference
Objective residential design standards	New residential structures must meet Chapter 19.41 objective standards (forms/materials/compatibility).	§ 19.41.010
Director / administrative referrals	Director can classify modifications and refer architectural design changes to the architectural review committee or planning commission; director decisions may be appealed.	§ 19.68.030
R‑1 lot/yard standards	Subzone lot area/frontage table; front setback 20 ft; one‑story side yard 5 ft, two‑story 10 ft; rear 20 ft.	§ 19.14.050; § 19.14.070
R‑E plan/zoning clearance	Zoning clearance required; must submit colors, textures, materials, elevations and site/plot plan.	§ 19.12.040
CCM by‑right design rules	By‑right projects must meet specific paint/roof/material/eave/window rules and Spanish/Mission style element requirements.	§ 19.21. V (Design Standards)
Parking plan requirement	Off‑street parking design and plot plan required; parking areas must meet Chapter 19.44 and plot plans are required with development applications.	§ 19.44.280; Chapter 19.44

Information Gaps (what I could not confirm exactly from the retrieved materials)

The exported snippets include a “Director Review” text for residential design exceptions (Ord. No. 2030 language) but a codified § number for that specific Director Review paragraph was not visible in the provided excerpts. The ordinance citation (Ord. No. 2030, § 4(Exh. A), 5‑14‑2025) appears in the text but the exact codified § (for example 19.41.xxx) that contains the Director Review paragraph is not shown in the materials I retrieved. Verify with the jurisdiction or the full online code if you need the exact codified subsection for the Director Review language.
Any local adopted design guidelines (graphic manual or designer’s handbook) referenced in some zone chapters are indicated as “may be adopted” or referenced, but the actual separate guideline documents were not included in the retrieved files. Verify whether the city has adopted separate design guidelines for Old Town, Camarillo Commons, or specific overlays. See the chapter references for where guidelines would be applied.

Checklist — what an applicant should include for design review in Camarillo

Scaled plot plan showing property lines, building footprints, setbacks/yards, parking, drive aisles, landscape areas, and adjacent streets (required for planned development, zone clearances). § 19.21.195; § 19.16.260.
Building elevations (all elevations) plus color and material samples — explicitly required for planned development and R‑E zoning clearances. § 19.21.195; § 19.12.040.
Landscape plan and irrigation details complying with the city’s landscape/irrigation guidelines and Chapter 14.14; street trees where required. § 19.21.195; Chapter 19.38; Chapter 14.14.
Parking plan consistent with Chapter 19.44; parking lot plot plan if proposing an off‑street parking area. § 19.44.280.
Grading/site drainage plans, utility coordination, stormwater BMPs and other public‑works submittals for projects requiring a planned development permit (see public works list). § 19.21.195; public works submittal items.
If requesting deviations from objective standards, submit a written justification tied to the findings the director or planning commission must make (compatibility, design quality, public welfare). See modification and exception processes at § 19.68.020–030.
Pay applicable fees and provide notice/owner lists where required for applications subject to planning commission review. See planned development application items and notice rules. § 19.21.195; § 19.32.280–290.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Whether a proposed residential design qualifies for a director‑level exception	The code text in practice allows administrative approval of some alternative residential designs, but the exact codified subsection number for the Director Review language was not clearly visible in the export. Relying on this route without confirmation risks processing delay or denial.	Verify the exact codified subsection and the director’s current written procedures; confirm required findings and submittal checklist (Ord. No. 2030 language appears in the file export but the precise § number is not shown).
Whether an exterior design change will be treated as an administrative minor modification or a major modification	Classification determines whether a hearing/notice and planning commission review is required. § 19.68.020–030 set out categories but director discretion and referral practices can vary.	Ask staff for an early determination letter/classification under § 19.68.030(A) and whether the architectural review committee will see the project.
Applicability of CCM prescriptive style rules to a by‑right vs. PD project	CCM chapter contains by‑right design rules (paint palette, roof pitch, materials) for certain projects; failing to meet them can convert a ministerial approval into a discretionary PD review. § 19.21. V (Design Standards).	Confirm on a pre‑application whether the project is “by‑right” under CCM standards or requires planned development review; request staff interpretation.
Which design standards are “objective” vs. “subjective” for ministerial ADU review	ADUs have statutorily mandated ministerial treatment but the city’s ADU design standards are listed as objective design standards — confirm which standards are treated as ministerial. § 19.56.070–090.	For ADUs, verify which local items must be met ministerially and which will trigger discretionary review. See § 19.56.070 for design items.
Overlay or specific‑plan design rules not included in export	Many zone chapters refer to specific plans or guidelines (Old Town, Camarillo Commons) that may include additional design manuals. If you rely only on Title 19 you may miss overlay requirements.	Check the city’s official zoning map and the Camarillo Overlay Districts resources and request any adopted design guidelines from planning staff.

Plain-English summary

If you're building or changing a building in Camarillo, your plans will be checked against zone‑specific design rules (for example R‑1, R‑E, CCM, CMU) and the city’s objective residential standards; small changes may be decided by staff, bigger or nonstandard projects go to the planning commission, and there's a formal referral and appeal path if design changes are disputed. Key things to prepare are a full plot plan, elevations and material/color samples, a landscape plan, and the parking plan — those are the documents that trigger design review and show compliance with the listed chapters (e.g., § 19.21.195, § 19.41.010, § 19.68.030).

Source References

Title 19 — ZONING (print export). Camarillo Municipal Code (selected excerpts used in this page). Key cited sections: § 19.41.010 (Design standards for residential structures) ; § 19.68.030 (Applicable procedures for modifications / referrals) ; § 19.21.195 (CCM planned development submittal items) ; § 19.12.040 (R‑E zoning clearance materials) ; § 19.14.050/070 (R‑1 lots & yard standards) ; Chapter 19.44 / § 19.44.280 (parking plot plans) ; § 19.23.010–080 (CMU Old Town) ; § 19.26.070–200 (CPD standards and PD permit submittal) .
Ordinance reference for recent residential design and ministerial subdivision language: Ord. No. 2030, § 4(Exh. A), 5‑14‑2025 (appears in the export for Director Review and Chapter 19.41 language). Not all exports showed an explicit codified subsection for the Director Review paragraph; verify with the city code web site for the exact subsection number.

(If you want the official live code pages or the city’s design guideline PDFs, request those or confirm with the City of Camarillo planning department; the snippets above are from the uploaded Title 19 export.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 5) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (Section 18.68.020) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
CMC § 21155 (Section 21155) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (Chapter 19.62.) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (Section 19.22.200.) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (Chapter 19.18) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (Title 19) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (Chapter 14.14) Medium relevance
CBC § 19.44.150 (Section 19.44.150) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Camarillo code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need design review in Camarillo for a new single‑family home?

If your project is a new single‑family residence it will be checked against the city's objective residential design standards (Chapter 19.41) and your zone’s yard/lot standards (e.g., R‑1 rules), and a zoning clearance or plot plan with elevations and materials will be required; the relevant legal hooks include § 19.41.010 (design standards) and the R‑1 or R‑E zone submittal rules (for example § 19.14.020–070; § 19.12.040).

When will the director handle a design exception versus the planning commission?

The code allows the director to process administrative permit adjustments and minor modifications and to refer architectural design changes to the architectural review committee or planning commission; the procedures for classification and referral are in § 19.68.030. If the director classifies a request as a major modification it must go to the body that originally approved the permit (often the planning commission).

What materials must I submit for plot‑plan or planned‑development design review?

Planned development and plot‑plan applications typically require a scaled plot plan, building elevations (with materials & colors), parking and circulation plans, and a landscape/irrigation plan; see the PD application list at § 19.21.195 and related PD chapters for specific items.

Are there objective rules for ADU design or is it discretionary?

ADUs have locally adopted objective design standards administered ministerially. Camarillo’s ADU chapter lists objective items (roof/color/material parity with the primary dwelling, parking exemptions, etc.) in § 19.56.070–090, which are applied administratively.

What triggers referral to the architectural review committee?

When the director classifies a modification as involving architectural design or otherwise determines it requires committee input, the director may refer the request to the architectural review committee of the planning commission for review and determination; that referral authority and appeal rights are in § 19.68.030(B)–(E).

How does the CCM (Camarillo Commons) zone control building appearance?

The CCM chapter contains prescriptive design standards (paint palette, roof pitch/material, eave sizes, material mix, window treatments and required Spanish/Mission elements for selected styles) that by‑right projects must meet; see the CCM design provisions in § 19.21 (design standards subsection). Failure to meet those by‑right rules typically means discretionary planned‑development review is required.

If staff denies a director decision on design, can I appeal?

Yes. The code provides appeal routes: an applicant may appeal a director decision to the planning commission; an applicant may appeal an architectural review committee decision to the planning commission; and the city council may review planning commission decisions under the city’s appeal/order of review rules in the applicable zone chapters and § 19.68.030 and related sections.

Does Camarillo require a parking plan with design review?

Yes — parking design is part of plot plan/planned development submittals and off‑street parking must meet Chapter 19.44 requirements; parking lot plot plans are required when proposing off‑street parking and are reviewed as part of the development application (§ 19.44.280).

Can I propose materials that differ from the code’s suggested palette for CCM?

By‑right CCM projects must meet the specified paint/materials/roofing rules in the CCM design standards. If you propose alternate materials you should expect the proposal to be treated as a modification or a planned development request and subject to discretionary review; confirm with staff early because § 19.21 contains the required material and style rules.

Where are the objective residential design standards written?

The objective residential design purpose and standards are contained in Chapter 19.41, including the statute establishing the objective framework at § 19.41.010; that chapter is intended to streamline objective review while still requiring compatibility, quality and community character be considered.

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