Colfax — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Design review in Colfax is a discretionary zoning review that approves the aesthetics, site layout, and compatibility of new development and many exterior changes before building permits are issued. Triggers, decision standards, and appeal paths are established in Title 17 (Zoning): the permit trigger list is at § 17.32.010(C), the required findings are at § 17.40.070(B), and the design review procedure and authority are summarized in Chapter 17.116.

Note on links in this page: when the text first discusses related topics it links to the city menus where Colfax organizes them — for example the words design review below link to the Colfax zoning menu where these rules belong. See the city's rules about design review in context with parking, development standards, overlay districts, ADUs and the California Building Standards Code.

What triggers a Design Review Permit (DRP)

• A DRP is required before a building permit for most new construction, exterior remodeling, site design and circulation modifications (including parking), landscaping changes, new or modified mechanical equipment, gateway/entrances, driveway relocations, relocating buildings, and demolition of a significant building — see § 17.32.010(C). Single‑family residences are generally exempt from DRP except when they are part of a new residential subdivision or where the title otherwise requires review.

• The specific list of projects that require a DRP is cross‑referenced in Chapter 17.116; Chapter 17.116.030 states “Projects requiring a design review permit are as set forth in subsection 17.32.010C.”

• Some minor work on multi‑family, commercial, and industrial properties can be administratively exempt if the Planning Director finds the change is substantially consistent with adopted design guidelines (examples in § 17.32.010(C)(1)).

Approval authority and process

• The Planning Director handles most applications as an administrative design review (approval, conditional approval, or denial) and has discretion to refer projects to the Planning Commission when, in the Director’s opinion, the project’s location, size, design or community interest warrants a public hearing (§ 17.32.010(C)(2)(a)). The Planning Commission hears DRPs when specifically required (e.g., tied to a rezone, tentative map, conditional use permit, planned development, demolition of a significant building) (§ 17.32.010(C)(2)(b)).

• Findings required to approve a DRP are the findings listed at § 17.40.070(B). For non‑historic zones these include balancing reasonable use while preserving natural features, safe/efficient circulation and parking, and harmonious building design (materials, colors, height, bulk). The Historic Zone has separate findings emphasizing maintenance of small‑town and historic character.

• Administrative modifications after approval (e.g., color changes, plant species substitutions, deviations due to topography/utilities) may be approved by the Planning Director without a new DRP in prescribed circumstances (§ 17.32.010(C)(3) and related text).

District-by-district breakdown

Below are Colfax districts that figure most often in design review decisions. Each district heading summarizes the ordinance purpose, typical uses as referenced in Title 17, key dimensional/development standards where specified in the retrieved materials, and where design review typically applies.

A (Agricultural)

• Purpose: Preserve agricultural uses while allowing compatible development and planned developments where appropriate. Planned developments in A are subject to Planning Commission review and must show uses, dimensions and landscaping per the planned development rules (§ 17.88.030–050).
• Typical permitted uses: Agricultural and limited residential uses (full permitted‑use lists are in Chapters 17.68+ but were not fully returned in the retrieved excerpts). Not found in retrieved materials: a full permitted‑use table for A.
• Key standards: Planned developments allowed with special submittal requirements including architectural drawings and site layout (§ 17.88.030).
• Design Review: Planned developments and most new construction in A will go through DRP when tied to a building permit or PD application per § 17.32.010(C).

R-1 (Single‑Family Residence)

• Purpose: Provide single‑family residential neighborhoods.
• Typical permitted uses: Single‑family dwellings and customary accessory uses; planned developments possible in R‑1 under the planned development chapter (§ 17.88.040).
• Key standards: Specific R‑1 yard/lot/height figures are in Title 17 development standards (not all returned in the retrieved snippets). Not found in retrieved materials: R‑1 numeric table for setbacks/coverage. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Design Review: Single‑family residences are generally exempt from DRP unless part of a new residential subdivision or other exception in Title 17 (§ 17.32.010(C)).

R‑M (Multi‑Family Residence)

• Purpose: Provide for multi‑family housing; planned developments are an option requiring Planning Commission review (§ 17.88.040).
• Typical permitted uses: Multifamily dwellings, accessory uses; full lists in Chapters 17.72 (not reproduced in the retrieved snippets). Not found in retrieved materials: complete permitted‑use list for R‑M.
• Key standards: Development must conform to adopted community design guidelines; DRP applies to many multi‑family exterior changes (§ 17.32.010(C)).

C‑R (Retail Commercial)

• Purpose: Retail and pedestrian‑oriented commercial uses.
• Typical permitted uses: Retail and service commercial (see Chapter 17.76 for full lists — not all items returned). Not found in retrieved materials: full permitted‑use table for C‑R.
• Key dimensional standards: Maximum heights and yard rules in § 17.76.030; for C‑R the code sets a height limit of 30′ and detailed lot area / front/side/rear yard minima for a 5,000 sq ft lot (rear 10 ft; front — none unless abutting a residential district) as shown in the code tables. § 17.76.030(D) contains the tabulated yards.
• Design Review: New commercial construction, facade changes, signage (Chapter 17.112) and site changes generally require DRP; deviations and design details can be conditioned in the DRP (§ 17.32.010(C) & § 17.116).

C‑H (Highway Commercial)

• Purpose: Auto‑oriented commercial along highway corridors.
• Typical permitted uses: Highway‑serving commercial and services (see Chapter 17.76). Not found in retrieved materials: complete permitted‑use list for C‑H.
• Key dimensional standards: Table in § 17.76.030(D): for a 5,000 sq ft lot the maximum lot coverage is 50%, front yard 25 ft, side yard none (unless abutting residential then 20 ft), rear 10 ft (abutting residential then 25 ft). Maximum height for C‑H is 35′ unless modified by approved design review or specific plan (§ 17.76.030(B)).
• Design Review: Projects in C‑H are subject to DRP for site design, landscaping, lighting and screening (see special provisions for self‑storage in Chapter 17.176 for examples of design criteria).

I (Industrial)

• Purpose: Industrial uses with performance standards; must still meet community design guidelines for appearance and buffering (§ 17.80.030(A)).
• Typical permitted uses: Industrial uses as listed in Chapter 17.80 (full list not reproduced in the snippets). Not found in retrieved materials: full permitted‑use table for I.
• Key dimensional standards: No general height limit in industrial districts, except within 100 ft of an adjoining district where the adjacent district’s main building height limit applies (§ 17.80.030(B)). Area/lot/yard requirements are generally not set except where parcels abut other districts (§ 17.80.030(D)).
• Design Review: Industrial projects must comply with applicable design guidelines and DRP is applied where exterior changes are proposed; screening and fencing standards apply to outdoor use areas (§ 17.80.030).

Historic Zone (overlay)

• Purpose: Preserve Colfax’s small‑town, historic character; the Historic Zone has its own findings and stricter design expectations (§ 17.84.020 and the DRP findings for the Historic Zone in § 17.40.070(B)(2)).
• Typical permitted uses: Compatible reuse/rehabilitation of historic structures; specifics depend on overlay maps and related criteria. Not found in retrieved materials: a complete list of permitted uses unique to the Historic Zone.
• Design Review: Projects in the Historic Zone must demonstrate they maintain small‑town character and historic resources; the DRP findings for the Historic Zone are separate from non‑historic areas (§ 17.40.070(B)(2)).

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant items

Checklist (what an applicant must include to avoid intake delays)

• Completed DRP application and payment of applicable fee (fees set by city resolution) — § 17.116.070.
• Project narrative showing how the proposal meets the DRP findings in § 17.40.070(B) (or Historic Zone findings where applicable).
• Scaled site plan, floor plans and elevations showing materials/colors, access, parking layout, bicycle/pedestrian circulation, loading, trash/service locations and lighting (see submittal rules § 17.36.040).
• Landscaping plan and irrigation details where landscaping is altered or added (landscape requirements and thresholds in Ch. 17.122).
• Evidence of consistency with any applicable overlay (Historic Zone, special districts) and community design guidelines — cite the overlay (e.g., § 17.84.020 for Historic Zone).
• If requesting deviations after approval: justification that deviations are due to topography/utilities/geotechnical or minor color/plant substitutions acceptable to Planning Director (§ 17.32.010(C)(3)).
• Documentation required for related discretionary permits if the DRP is concurrent with a CUP, PD, tentative map, or rezone (these often require Planning Commission action).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you’re building or changing the outside of a commercial, multi‑family, industrial, or most new buildings in Colfax, you’ll usually need a design review permit: the city checks whether the design fits the neighborhood, preserves important site features, provides safe parking and circulation, and uses compatible materials and colors; the Planning Director usually decides but bigger or sensitive projects go to the Planning Commission. The statute for what must be proved and how the decision is made is in Title 17, especially § 17.32.010(C) and § 17.40.070(B).

Source References

• Colfax Municipal Code — Title 17, Permit and Variance Requirements: § 17.32.010(C) (Design Review Permit triggers and exemptions).
• Colfax Municipal Code — DRP procedures, findings and appeals: § 17.116.030–070 (projects requiring DRP; approval authority; findings; appeals; fees).
• Colfax Municipal Code — Required findings for permits and DRP: § 17.40.070(B) (findings for design review; Historic Zone findings; administrative DRP findings).
• Colfax Municipal Code — Submittal and project processing: § 17.36.040–080 (application contents, acceptance, referrals, PEM).
• Colfax Municipal Code — Commercial development standards and district tables (examples for C‑R and C‑H): § 17.76.030(D) and § 17.76.030(B).
• Colfax Municipal Code — Industrial district development standards: § 17.80.030.
• Colfax Municipal Code — Planned developments submittal and review (applies to A, R‑1, R‑M, C‑R): § 17.88.030–080.
• Colfax Municipal Code — Landscaping thresholds and definitions (Ch. 17.122).
• Colfax Municipal Code — Appeals procedures (Ch. 17.44).
• City menus / topic pages referenced in text: Colfax Zoning, Colfax Parking, Colfax Development Standards, Colfax Overlay Districts, Colfax ADUs, California Building Standards Code

Retrieved passages

• California Building Code High relevance show source text
• Colfax Zoning Code (Chapter 17.112) High relevance show source text
• Colfax Zoning Code (Chapter 17.44.) High relevance show source text
• Colfax Zoning Code (Section 17.88.040) High relevance show source text
• Colfax Zoning Code (chapter does) High relevance show source text
• Colfax Zoning Code (Section 65867.5) High relevance show source text
• Colfax Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Colfax Zoning Code (title prior) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Colfax Municipal Code — Title 17, Permit and Variance Requirements: **§ 17.32.010(C)** (Design Review Permit triggers and exemptions). (Title 17)
• Colfax Municipal Code — DRP procedures, findings and appeals: **§ 17.116.030–070** (projects requiring DRP; approval authority; findings; appeals; fees). (§ 17.116.030)
• Colfax Municipal Code — Required findings for permits and DRP: **§ 17.40.070(B)** (findings for design review; Historic Zone findings; administrative DRP findings). (§ 17.40.070)
• Colfax Municipal Code — Submittal and project processing: **§ 17.36.040–080** (application contents, acceptance, referrals, PEM). (§ 17.36.040)
• Colfax Municipal Code — Commercial development standards and district tables (examples for **C‑R** and **C‑H**): **§ 17.76.030(D)** and **§ 17.76.030(B)**. (§ 17.76.030)
• Colfax Municipal Code — Industrial district development standards: **§ 17.80.030**. (§ 17.80.030)
• Colfax Municipal Code — Planned developments submittal and review (applies to A, R‑1, R‑M, C‑R): **§ 17.88.030–080**. (§ 17.88.030)
• Colfax Municipal Code — Landscaping thresholds and definitions (Ch. 17.122).
• Colfax Municipal Code — Appeals procedures (Ch. 17.44).
• City menus / topic pages referenced in text: Colfax Zoning, Colfax Parking, Colfax Development Standards, Colfax Overlay Districts, Colfax ADUs, California Building Standards Code
• Colfax_ZoningCode.md

• Official Colfax code library