Local zoning · Dixon

Dixon — Design Review

Q: Who decides my Design Review application and when does it go to the Planning Commission?

The review authority depends on thresholds: the Community Development Director handles most design reviews; the Planning Commission reviews projects like new non‑residential buildings with > 5,000 sf , multi‑unit projects that add three or more units, model homes, and subdivisions of five or more lots; the City Council acts for very large non‑residential projects (> 75,000 sf ). See § 18.23.030 for the full breakdown. § 18.23.030

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Design review in Dixon is the formal, discretionary process the City uses to evaluate the appearance, site layout, and exterior details of new and altered development so projects implement the General Plan and adopted design guidance. The rules and procedures are in the Dixon Zoning Code (Title 18) Chapter 18.23; they define what triggers review, who decides, what criteria apply, and how decisions are noticed, appealed, and enforced. See the code for procedure details and concurrent review with other entitlements. § 18.23.010–070

Important internal links (first mention only): the City’s rules intersect with the Dixon Development Standards, parking, overlay districts, signage, landscaping, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

What the Code actually requires (core points)

Design review is established by Chapter 18.23. The chapter purpose and applicability are in § 18.23.010 and § 18.23.020; the City requires Design Review for new construction, many additions, model homes, subdivisions of five or more lots, certain fences/walls visible from I‑80 or North 1st Street, and exterior changes to larger multi‑unit buildings (§ 18.23.020) .
The Review Authorities are tiered: City Council for very large projects (> 75,000 sf new non‑residential floor area); Planning Commission for most projects over identified thresholds (e.g., > 5,000 sf non‑residential, three or more new dwelling units, model homes, subdivisions ≥ five lots); and the Community Development Director for the remainder, with the Director authorized to refer items upward (§ 18.23.030) .
Procedures: applications and fees follow Chapter 18.21; design review must be filed concurrently with other discretionary permits (Use Permit, Variance) where applicable; Planning Commission/City Council review requires public notice and a public hearing, whereas Director approvals do not (§ 18.23.040) .
Scope and evaluation criteria: the review addresses building massing, materials, site layout, landscaping, parking layout, lighting, signage, fences/walls, and sustainable features; approvals must not reduce residential density; projects must satisfy the criteria in § 18.23.060 and be consistent with the General Plan, design guidelines, and any specific plan (§ 18.23.050–060) .
Appeals, expirations and revocation: design review decisions may be appealed per the appeal rules (§ 18.23.070; appeals refer to § 18.21.120) .

Decision‑relevant at‑a‑glance table

What the review covers / trigger	Short description	Code reference
Projects that require Design Review	New construction; additions/alterations; model homes; subdivisions ≥ 5 lots; new freeway/N.1st St. visible fences/walls; exterior alteration of structures with ≥12 units	§ 18.23.020
Review authority and thresholds	Director (most), Planning Commission (e.g., >5,000 sf non‑res. or ≥3 new units), City Council (>75,000 sf non‑res.)	§ 18.23.030
Scope of review	Building proportions, massing, materials, site plan, landscaping, parking layout, lighting, signs, fences/walls, sustainability; cannot reduce residential density	§ 18.23.050–060
Public notice / hearing	Required for Commission/Council review per Chapter 18.21; no notice/hearing for Director-level administrative reviews	§ 18.23.040; Chapter 18.21
Appeals / revocation	Appeal procedures in § 18.21.120; approvals expire/extend per Chapter 18.21; revocation allowed for violations	§ 18.23.070; § 18.21.120

District‑by‑district breakdown (how Design Review interacts with the districts)

Below are the districts where Design Review standards and the City’s design standards most commonly apply. Each subsection summarizes the district purpose, typical uses that will commonly be reviewed, key dimensional standards that inform design review findings, and where to verify if a parcel is within that district.

RL (Residential Low) — RL

Purpose: Provide for lower‑density single‑family neighborhoods and implement the General Plan residential land use. § 18.04.010 (District regulations) and Table 18.04.030 list allowed uses and standards.
Typical uses subject to Design Review: multi‑unit infill when an action would create ≥3 units (triggers Planning Commission) and subdivisions ≥5 lots, and alterations that affect streetscape or fences visible from key rights‑of‑way. See § 18.23.020 and § 18.23.030 for triggers/review authority.
Key dimensional standards (decision‑relevant): minimum front setback 20 ft, maximum lot coverage 45%, maximum height 30 ft (RL column, Table 18.04.030) — these are the standards the City will use to judge compatibility in design review findings. § 18.04.030
Where it applies: city‑mapped RL parcels — verify on the official zoning map and with the Planning Division (Verify with the jurisdiction).

RM (Residential Medium) — RM

Purpose: Allow medium‑density housing (apartments, duplexes, townhomes) consistent with General Plan density. See Table 18.04.030 and corresponding district text.
Typical Design Review intersections: new multi‑unit projects (≥3 units → Planning Commission), exterior changes to larger apartments, landscaping and parking layout for multifamily. See § 18.23.030 and design standards in § 18.11.040.
Key dimensional standards: maximum lot coverage 60%, front/setback rules as in Table 18.04.030, open space standard 200 sf/unit influences site layout (§ 18.04.030, § 18.11.040.H)

DMX (Downtown Mixed‑Use) — DMX

Purpose: Encourage pedestrian‑oriented, mixed commercial/residential development in central corridors; specific build‑to and active frontage standards apply. Table 18.05.030 and § 18.11.040 cover design details.
Typical projects for design review: ground‑floor commercial with upper‑story housing, storefront alterations, signage and façade changes, buildings >5,000 sf non‑res. (Planning Commission threshold). § 18.23.030 and Table 18.05.030 apply.
Key design rules that drive review: build‑to line requirements (e.g., buildings must be within 5 ft of the front/street‑side setback for a required percentage of frontage in DMX), maximum height ~50 ft (Table 18.05.030), and open‑space and entrance spacing rules that make pedestrian orientation part of the findings (§ 18.11.040.B, Table 18.05.030)

CMX / CN (Commercial Mixed‑Use and Neighborhood Commercial) — CMX, CN

Purpose: CMX has higher mixed‑use density and active frontage expectations; CN is for neighborhood retail and services. Table 18.05.030 lays out FAR, setbacks and height.
Typical Design Review intersections: façade/building orientation, parking placement and screening (see the City’s parking and landscaping standards referenced by design review), and signage (see signage). § 18.23.050 lists parking, landscaping and signage as scope items.
Key dimensional standards: CMX minimum FARs, CN maximum FAR 0.6, front setbacks (CN 10 ft), and interior side/rear adjacency buffers where adjacent to residential (Table 18.05.030) — these dimensional rules are part of design review consistency findings. § 18.05.030

Note: The Code contains tables of district development standards (Tables 18.04.030, 18.05.030, 18.06.030) that Design Review uses to test compatibility; when a Specific Plan or -PD overlay applies the specific plan or PD controls (see § 18.32.020–050)

Practical guidance for applicants

Early contact: meet the Planning Division and the Community Development Director early — the Director may determine if a project needs Commission/Council review or can be resolved administratively (§ 18.23.030) .
Submit complete materials: plans and fees per § 18.21.020; if concurrent permits are required (Use Permit, Variance) submit design review as part of that application (§ 18.23.040.B) .
Address the 8 scope items: massing, orientation, sustainable features, parking layout, exterior materials/colors (single‑family is an exception for color reporting), fences/walls, landscaping, and signage — these are explicitly listed in § 18.23.050 and form the basis for findings (§ 18.23.050–060) .
Use objective standards where present (e.g., build‑to lines, minimum entrances, open space dimensions in § 18.11.040) and request a Modification only when the Code allows it; Modifications are limited (see Chapter 18.26) and cannot reduce residential density (§ 18.26.010–050, § 18.23.050.B) .
Expect conditions: the City commonly imposes conditions to ensure conformance with design, landscaping, screening, parking, and circulation standards (see Use Permit and PD conditions procedures § 18.24.060, § 18.32.050) .

Checklist

Confirm whether the project falls within Design Review triggers (see § 18.23.020) .
Determine review authority (Director, Planning Commission, City Council) using thresholds in § 18.23.030 .
Prepare application packet per § 18.21.020: plans, site plan, elevations, materials/color samples (except single‑family color note), landscape plan, parking layout, lighting plan, sign concept (if any) .
If there are concurrent entitlements (Use Permit, Variance, Subdivision), include design review materials with those applications (§ 18.23.040.B) .
Address the Design Review Criteria in § 18.23.060 in a narrative: scale, massing, streetscape, pedestrian orientation, parking buffering, lighting, landscaping, materials integration .
For projects in DMX/CMX, demonstrate compliance with build‑to, active frontage, and entrance spacing standards in § 18.11.040 and Table 18.05.030 .
Check appeal/expiration rules and any conditions of approval; be prepared for appeals per § 18.21.120 and § 18.23.070 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Whether a small single‑family change needs Design Review	Chapters state Design Review applies generally but also that some objective design standards don’t apply to detached single‑unit development (§ 18.11.040.A.1) — interpretation affects process and notice	Confirm with the Community Development Director whether your alteration is exempt or administrative; cite § 18.11.040.A and § 18.23.020
ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) design review applicability	State ADU laws limit some local discretion. Dixon’s code has ADU provisions in other documents or chapters not located in the retrieved text	Not found in retrieved materials for a clear local rule on Design Review for ADUs — Verify with the Planning Division and consult the City ADU page and state ADU law. See ADUs (Verify with the jurisdiction).
Adjustment to objective standards (Modifications)	Modifications can relax dimensional standards up to 20%, but not residential density (§ 18.26.020.A); misuse can lead to denial or appeal	If you need a modification, state the alternative design and the findings in § 18.26.050 and be prepared for public review if concurrent with Commission actions
Conflicting controls (Specific Plan / -PD / overlays)	Specific Plans and PD overlays may supersede the base district design rules — design review findings must reflect the controlling plan (§ 18.10.020, § 18.32.050)	If the parcel is in a Specific Plan or PD, use that plan’s design requirements first and verify which rules control (§ 18.10.020, § 18.32.020)
Signage / freeway‑visible fences	Sign design and fences visible from Interstate 80 or North 1st St. are specific triggers for design review (§ 18.23.020, various signage sections)	Confirm sign height, materials, and whether a conditional use or design review submittal is required; see signage rules and § 18.23.050

Plain‑English Summary

If you plan to build something new or significantly change the outside of a building in Dixon, you will probably need Design Review. The City checks how your project looks, how it sits on the site, how parking and landscaping are arranged, and whether it fits nearby buildings. Smaller projects can often be approved by staff; larger projects go to the Planning Commission or City Council. The rules and decision criteria are in Title 18, Chapter 18.23, and the district development standards the reviewers use are in the district tables (e.g., residential and commercial tables). § 18.23.010–070, Tables 18.04.030, 18.05.030

Source References

Dixon Zoning Code (Title 18), Chapter 18.23 Design Review — §§ 18.23.010–070. § citations in body, primary source for review triggers, scope, criteria, authorities.
Dixon Zoning Code, Division II District Regulations — Tables 18.04.030 (Residential standards) and 18.05.030 (Commercial/Mixed‑Use standards) — used for district dimensional data and CMX/DMX rules. § 18.04.030, § 18.05.030.
Design standards and site rules: Chapter 18.11 (General Site Regulations), including § 18.11.040 (Design Standards — Residential & Mixed‑Use) for build‑to and active frontage standards.
Modifications: Chapter 18.26, limits and review rules for objective standards modifications.
Procedures and common rules referenced: Chapter 18.21 (Common Procedures) — application/notice/hearing/appeal process referenced by design review sections.
Dixon pages referenced for related, jurisdictional topic navigation: Dixon Zoning; Dixon Development Standards; Dixon Parking; Dixon Overlay Districts; Dixon Signage; Dixon Landscaping and Screening; Dixon ADUs; California Building Standards Code.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter as) High relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.23Design) High relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Section 18.21.020) High relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Section 18.21.120) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.26) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Section 18.21.120) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.31Prezoning) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.23) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Section 65400.) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.29) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (§18.04.040.B) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (Section do) Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (§18.02.030.F) Medium relevance
CBC § 348 Medium relevance
Dixon Zoning Code (§18.02.030.C) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Dixon code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need design review in Dixon for a small addition to my single‑family house?

Possibly. Design Review is required for additions and alterations per § 18.23.020, but some design standards in § 18.11.040 specifically do not apply to detached single‑unit development (see § 18.11.040.A.1). Check with the Community Development Director to determine whether your specific addition triggers discretionary review or can be processed administratively. § 18.23.020, § 18.11.040

Who decides my Design Review application and when does it go to the Planning Commission?

The review authority depends on thresholds: the Community Development Director handles most design reviews; the Planning Commission reviews projects like new non‑residential buildings with > 5,000 sf, multi‑unit projects that add three or more units, model homes, and subdivisions of five or more lots; the City Council acts for very large non‑residential projects (> 75,000 sf). See § 18.23.030 for the full breakdown. § 18.23.030

What criteria will the City use to approve or deny my proposal?

The review authority evaluates scale, massing, site plan, materials, landscaping, parking and circulation, lighting, signage, and integration with surrounding context; projects must conform to the General Plan, any specific plan and adopted design guidelines and cannot reduce residential density. See § 18.23.050–060 for the criteria list. § 18.23.050–060

Do I need to show parking and landscaping on my submittal?

Yes — parking layout, number and arrangement and landscaping are explicit Design Review scope items and are considered in findings (§ 18.23.050). Dixon’s parking and landscaping standards and tables (e.g., parking standards and the landscaping chapter) are also applied during review, so include a complete parking plan and landscape plan in your application. § 18.23.050, related tables and Chapter 18.13.

Are there objective standards I can rely on so my architect knows what to design?

Yes. The Code includes objective district development standards (setbacks, heights, lot coverage, minimum open space) in Tables 18.04.030 (Residential) and 18.05.030 (Commercial/Mixed‑Use) and objective design elements in § 18.11.040 (build‑to lines, entrances, open space dimensions). Meet those to reduce discretionary issues; where objective standards are not met you must request a Modification (Chapter 18.26) and justify the alternative. § 18.04.030, § 18.05.030, § 18.11.040, § 18.26.020–050.

Will the City require changes after Design Review approval?

Conditions are frequently attached to approvals to ensure compliance with design, landscape, screening, parking, and circulation requirements. Design Review approvals are subject to expiration, extension, revision and can be revoked for violations. See § 18.23.070 and the appeal/expiration rules in Chapter 18.21. § 18.23.070, Chapter 18.21.

If my site is in a Specific Plan or -PD overlay, which rules control design review?

An adopted Specific Plan or a -PD Overlay District governs uses and design within its boundaries; where a Specific Plan or PD is silent the Zoning Code applies. The PD adoption and PD Plan review requirements are in Chapter 18.32 and Specific Plan rules in Chapter 18.10. Verify the controlling document for your parcel. § 18.10.020, § 18.32.020–060.

Can Design Review require a reduction in the number of units I proposed?

No. The Code explicitly states that Design Review shall not result in a reduction in residential density. Check § 18.23.050.B. § 18.23.050.B

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