Clearlake — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Clearlake administers Design Review through Chapter XVIII Zoning Regulations, Article 18-33. Design Review focuses on the visual quality of new development, signs, and other appearance changes across all neighborhoods, implemented through a City-adopted Design Review Manual and a Design Review Committee process. Submittals, procedures, and findings are set by the Zoning Code and by City Council–adopted procedures and manuals referenced in the Code. See the citywide Clearlake Zoning and Clearlake Development Standards pages for the baseline dimensional rules that Design Review will apply or refine.

The single most important Design Review rule: a project that is subject to design review must be found consistent with the City’s Design Review Manual, and conditions may be imposed to ensure consistency (§ 18-33.060; § 18-33.080) .

What Design Review Covers and Who Decides

• The City establishes a Design Review Committee to review new development and signs, with application forms/fees and procedures maintained by resolution (§ 18-33.020; § 18-33.030; § 18-33.050) .
• Design Review findings must state the project is consistent with the City’s Design Review Manual; the Manual is adopted by Council resolution (§ 18-33.060; § 18-33.070) .
• Use permits that involve appearance impacts may also be routed to Design Review (§ 18-33.090) .
• Where both a use permit and Design Review would be required and DRC review is required, only the Design Review application is filed (§ 18-28.070(a)) .

Common citywide Design Review triggers (examples in the Zoning Code)

• Electric vehicle charging stations in any zone are processed through design review, with expedited timing per state law (§ 18-19.230(b)) .
• Small residential solar and small wind energy systems in any zone are processed through design review, with expedited timing/standards per state law (§ 18-19.200(b); § 18-19.210(b)) .
• Signs must be compatible and consistent with the Design Review Manual; comprehensive sign packages may be referred to the Design Review Committee (§ 18-21, including findings requiring consistency with the Design Review Manual) . See Clearlake Signage.
• Satellite dish antennas that would block significant views, and most nonresidential dish installations, are subject to design review (Article 18-19, dish-type antenna standards; exact § Not found in retrieved materials) .
• Permanent cargo containers (as structures) in the IN zone require design review; other cargo-container situations may escalate to design review if standards aren’t met (Article 18-19, cargo containers; exact § Not found in retrieved materials) .
• Outdoor vending machines that cannot meet performance standards require design review approval (Article 18-19, vending machines; exact § Not found in retrieved materials) .
• Accessory structures and guest quarters require review for consistency with the Design Review Manual; the Director may forward applications to the Design Review Committee (Article 18-19, accessory structures and guest quarters; exact § Not found in retrieved materials) .
• For larger planned developments, the City must also find PD projects comply with the City Design Review Manual as part of PD overlay approvals (§ 18-15.060(b)(5)) . See Clearlake Overlay Districts.

Relationship to other reviews

• Housing applications referencing state streamlining and objective standards are routed under Article 18-33 “design procedure,” with ministerial processing where required by state law (§ 18-19.340; § 18-33.040) . See California housing laws.
• Landscaping for qualifying projects must meet the City’s water-efficient landscaping and adopted landscape design standards; these materials typically become part of Design Review plan sets (§ 18-20.130) . See Clearlake Landscaping and Screening.
• Parking layouts (e.g., certain tandem parking in office) may require Design Review Committee input (§ 18-20.100(l)(3)) . See Clearlake Parking.

Citywide Design Review — At-a-Glance Triggers and References

District-by-District: How Design Review Shows Up in Each Zone

The base zoning districts are established in the Zoning Map; see the Clearlake Land Use consistency matrix for how zones align with General Plan designations (§ 18-2.040) .

RR — Rural Residential

• Purpose and typical uses: Single-family homes on large lots (≤1 du/acre); rural character (§ 18-3.010) .
• Key standards: 1.25 ac min lot; yards per § 18-20.040; “other yards” are typically rear 10 ft, side 5 ft (Table 14); height generally by Table 19 but RR has zone-specific admin AUP to 35 ft (§ 18-3.020; § 18-20.040; Table 14; § 18-20.060/Table 19) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Small solar/wind systems, EV chargers (all zones) and any sign needing discretionary review go through Design Review (§ 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230; Article 18-21) .

LDR — Low Density Residential

• Purpose and typical uses: Single-family neighborhoods and compatible infill (§ 18-4.010) .
• Key standards: 8 du/ac max; 5,000 sf min lot; 40% lot coverage; “other yards” typically rear 10 ft, side 5 ft; height per Table 19 (see discrepancy note below) (§ 18-4.020; Table 14; § 18-20.060/Table 19) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Accessory structures and guest quarters reviewed for Design Review Manual consistency; small solar/wind/EV chargers; signage (as applicable) (Article 18-19; § 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230; Article 18-21) .

MDR — Medium Density Residential

• Purpose and typical uses: Medium-density single- and multi-family housing (§ 18-5.010) .
• Key standards: 15 du/ac; 5,000 sf min lot; 60% coverage; “other yards” rear 10 ft, side 5 ft; height listed as 45 ft in § 18-5.020 but Table 19 shows 35 ft (verify) (§ 18-5.020; Table 14; § 18-20.060/Table 19) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Housing processed under Article 18-33’s design procedure using objective standards where applicable; small solar/wind/EV chargers; discretionary signs (§ 18-19.340; § 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230; Article 18-21) .

HDR — High Density Residential

• Purpose and typical uses: Higher-density multifamily near employment/colleges (§ 18-6.010) .
• Key standards: 25 du/ac; 5,000 sf min lot; 60% coverage; “other yards” rear 10 ft, side 5 ft; height listed as 45 ft in § 18-6.020 but Table 19 shows 35 ft (verify) (§ 18-6.020; Table 14; § 18-20.060/Table 19) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Streamlined/ministerial design procedure for qualifying housing; small solar/wind/EV chargers; signs (§ 18-19.340; § 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230; Article 18-21) .

MUX — Mixed-Use

• Purpose and typical uses: Mixed residential and low-impact commercial; live-work; urban infill (§ 18-7.010) .
• Key standards: Up to 25 du/ac (subject to GP); “other yards” per § 18-20.040; base height 35 ft, with potential increases where specific performance standards are met (§ 18-7.020; § 18-20.040; § 18-20.060) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Signs; EV/solar/wind; parking layout details (e.g., tandem in office), and PD overlays where used (§ 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230; § 18-20.100(l)(3); § 18-15.060(b)(5)) .

DC — Downtown Commercial Mixed-Use

• Purpose and typical uses: Downtown retail/service/entertainment with upper-floor housing; pedestrian orientation (§ 18-8.010) .
• Key standards: 25 du/ac; min lot 3,000 sf; height 35 ft (up to 65 ft if all added-height standards are met and not lake side of Lakeshore Dr.); lake-side height limit 25 ft (§ 18-8.020; § 18-20.060) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Comprehensive signs; EV/solar/wind; driveway design may require AUP; tandem parking allowances with DRC review for offices (§ 18-21; § 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230; § 18-8.020(e); § 18-20.100(l)(3)) .

GC — General Commercial

• Purpose and typical uses: Community/regional-serving retail, office, services (§ 18-9.010) .
• Key standards: No density cap; min lot 3,000 sf; height 35 ft up to 50 ft with CUP; lake-side of Lakeshore Dr. capped at 35 ft (§ 18-9.020; § 18-20.060) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Signs; satellite dishes; EV/solar/wind; vending machines if noncompliant; PD overlays when applicable (Article 18-21; Article 18-19; § 18-19.230; § 18-15.060(b)(5)) .

IN — Industrial

• Purpose and typical uses: Industrial/manufacturing and heavy commercial (§ 18-10.010) .
• Key standards: Min lot 3,000 sf; no maximum lot coverage; height 35 ft (may go higher with CUP) (§ 18-10.020; § 18-20.060) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Permanent cargo containers (structures) require design review; satellite dishes; EV/solar/wind; signs (Article 18-19; § 18-19.230; Article 18-21) .

O — Open Space

• Purpose and typical uses: Parks and open space; hazard/resource protection (§ 18-11.010) .
• Key standards: Front 35 ft, side 15 ft (street side 30 ft), rear 20 ft (no rear setback if abutting Clear Lake or Cache Creek); minimum lot area varies by ownership (§ 18-11.020) .
• Design Review touchpoints: Satellite dishes need an Administrative Use Permit and design review in O (§ 18-19, dish standards; exact § Not found) .

Checklist

• Confirm your project is a use allowed in the base zone and any applicable overlay; verify dimensional compliance first (Clearlake Development Standards) (§ 18-2.040; § 18-20) .
• Determine whether your proposal is one of the citywide Design Review triggers (e.g., EV chargers, small solar/wind, permanent cargo containers, comprehensive sign package) and whether any use permit also applies (§ 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230; Article 18-21; Article 18-19 cargo containers) .
• Prepare a Design Review application per the Director’s submittal checklist; pay fees (§ 18-33.020) .
• Show objective compliance with the City’s Design Review Manual; expect conditions to ensure consistency (§ 18-33.060; § 18-33.080) .
• If both a use permit and DRC review would apply, file only the Design Review application (§ 18-28.070(a)) .
• If the project is a qualifying housing development, confirm whether processing is ministerial/streamlined and limited to objective standards (§ 18-33.040; § 18-19.340) .
• Include landscape, signage, and parking plans that meet adopted City standards where applicable (§ 18-20.130; Article 18-21; § 18-20.100) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

In Clearlake, many visible changes—especially EV chargers, residential solar/wind, signs, certain equipment like cargo containers or satellite dishes, and some housing—go through Design Review. You submit plans, staff/DRC check your design against the City’s Design Review Manual, and the City may add conditions to improve compatibility. Start by checking your base-zone rules and overlays, then shape your design to meet the Manual; if Design Review is required alongside a use permit, you’ll usually just file the Design Review application.

Source References

• Zoning Regulations — Article 18-33 Design Review: purpose, procedures, committee, findings, manual, conditions, use-permit interface (§ 18-33.010 to § 18-33.090) .
• Use Permits — filing vs. Design Review (§ 18-28.070(a)) .
• Housing development processing via Article 18-33; objective standards (§ 18-19.340; § 18-33.040) .
• Energy/EV facilities subject to Design Review (§ 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230) .
• Signs — consistency with Design Review Manual; DRC referral (Article 18-21 excerpts) .
• Satellite dishes; vending machines; cargo containers; accessory structures/guest quarters — Article 18-19 excerpts (exact § Not found) .
• Base zones and development standards (RR/LDR/MDR/HDR/MUX/DC/GC/IN/O) (§ 18-3 to § 18-11; § 18-20; Table 14; Table 19) .
• Planned Development overlay finding requiring consistency with the City Design Review Manual (§ 18-15.060(b)(5)) .
• Water-efficient landscaping submittals (§ 18-20.130) .

Information Gaps

• Exact section numbers for several Article 18-19 subsections (satellite dishes, vending machines, cargo containers, accessory structures/guest quarters) — Not found in retrieved materials.
• Which height standard controls for MDR/HDR (45 ft in zone sections vs. 35 ft in Table 19) — Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Current composition of the Design Review Committee (Director vs. at-large citizen per definitions) — Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Whether Clearlake ADUs are ever subject to Design Review — Not found in retrieved materials.

Retrieved passages

• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-19.340.) High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-33.030.) High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Article 18-33) High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 1353.8) High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 66410) High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-28.030) High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (section may) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-18.010) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-20.090.) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 65960) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Article 18-20) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 65915.) High relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (article inclusive) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Article 18-29.) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-28.030) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-20.020) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Article 18-45) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-20.040.) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-20.040.) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-20.020) Medium relevance show source text
• Clearlake Zoning Code (Section 18-20.090.) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Zoning Regulations — Article 18-33 Design Review: purpose, procedures, committee, findings, manual, conditions, use-permit interface (§ 18-33.010 to § 18-33.090) . (Article 18-33)
• Use Permits — filing vs. Design Review (§ 18-28.070(a)) . (§ 18-28.070)
• Housing development processing via Article 18-33; objective standards (§ 18-19.340; § 18-33.040) . (Article 18-33)
• Energy/EV facilities subject to Design Review (§ 18-19.200; § 18-19.210; § 18-19.230) . (§ 18-19.200)
• Signs — consistency with Design Review Manual; DRC referral (Article 18-21 excerpts) . (Article 18-21)
• Satellite dishes; vending machines; cargo containers; accessory structures/guest quarters — Article 18-19 excerpts (exact § Not found) . (Article 18-19)
• Base zones and development standards (RR/LDR/MDR/HDR/MUX/DC/GC/IN/O) (§ 18-3 to § 18-11; § 18-20; Table 14; Table 19) . (§ 18-3)
• Planned Development overlay finding requiring consistency with the City Design Review Manual (§ 18-15.060(b)(5)) . (§ 18-15.060)
• Water-efficient landscaping submittals (§ 18-20.130) . (§ 18-20.130)
• Clearlake_ZoningCode.md