Dos Palos — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In Dos Palos, “design review” is implemented through the zoning code’s embedded site plan review provisions in Title 17, rather than as a separate, stand‑alone chapter. At minimum, the code shows site plan review elements within specific district chapters, including § 17.30.110 and § 17.32.060, alongside each district’s purpose, permitted uses, and development standards . Broader entitlement tools that sometimes interact with design review—like conditional use permits and variances—are organized in Chapter 17.76 .

Plain-English: Dos Palos runs “design review” as site plan review inside each zoning district chapter—for example, § 17.30.110 and § 17.32.060—so the exact triggers and criteria live with that district’s standards, not in a citywide DR chapter .

Linking context:

• Start at the Dos Palos zoning & planning overview and Dos Palos Zoning maps to confirm your parcel’s district.
• Site plan review typically checks conformance with district Dos Palos Development Standards, Dos Palos Parking, Dos Palos Overlay Districts, Dos Palos Historic Preservation, and Dos Palos Signage.

Where “Design Review” Lives in Title 17 (Dos Palos)

The zoning code organizes districts with a common structure—including Purpose, Permitted Uses, Conditional Uses, Property Development Standards, and Site Plan Review—and repeats this pattern by district. Confirmed instances include:

• The district codified in Chapter 17.30 includes a dedicated Site plan review section at § 17.30.110, with related standards such as § 17.30.040 (property development standards), § 17.30.080 (building height), § 17.30.100 (lot coverage), and § 17.30.130 (off‑street parking) .
• Another district codified in Chapter 17.32 includes Site plan review at § 17.32.060, with companion sections § 17.32.040 (property development standards) and § 17.32.050 (building height) .

The code’s entitlement framework for discretionary approvals and appeals (often paired with site plan review findings or conditions) is in Chapter 17.76 (Conditional Use Permits and Variances)—covering application contents, hearings, findings, conditions, time limits, and appeals to the City Council .

What site plan review does in practice

• Aligns the site layout, circulation, and placement of buildings with the district’s measurable standards (e.g., height, lot coverage, spaces between buildings) and cross-cutting rules like parking and loading. The District chapters show these headings and a discrete site plan review item within each chapter’s sequence (e.g., § 17.30.080, § 17.30.100, § 17.30.110) .
• Coordinates with other approvals where needed, such as conditional use permits or variances in Chapter 17.76 if a project seeks uses or relief beyond the district’s baseline standards .
• Uses Title 17’s definitions in Chapter 17.08 to interpret terms used in staff review and findings, including the planning commission, districts, and other defined items .

District-by-District: Where site plan review is codified

Below are the districts the retrieved ordinance explicitly shows with a titled “Site plan review” section. For each, we list what the chapter structure tells us and the controlling code sections. Where numeric standards or district names are not visible in the retrieved materials, that is noted.

District in Chapter 17.30

• Purpose: Codified at § 17.30.010 (Not found in retrieved materials for text) .
• Typical permitted uses: § 17.30.020 (Not found in retrieved materials) .
• Conditional uses: § 17.30.030; if needed, processed under Chapter 17.76 with findings and conditions .
• Key dimensional standards: § 17.30.040 (property development standards), § 17.30.080 (building height), § 17.30.090 (space between buildings), § 17.30.100 (lot coverage). Specific numbers Not found in retrieved materials .
• Design review mechanism: Site plan review at § 17.30.110 (details Not found in retrieved materials) .
• Parking: § 17.30.130 and citywide Dos Palos Parking policies .

District in Chapter 17.32

• Purpose: § 17.32.010 (Not found in retrieved materials) .
• Typical permitted uses: § 17.32.020 (Not found in retrieved materials) .
• Conditional uses: § 17.32.030; processed under Chapter 17.76 if applicable (findings/conditions, appeals) .
• Key dimensional standards: § 17.32.040 (property development standards), § 17.32.050 (building height). Specific numbers Not found in retrieved materials .
• Design review mechanism: Site plan review at § 17.32.060 (details Not found in retrieved materials) .

Fast-reference: Where site plan review appears

Practical tips:

• Cross-check overlays and context-sensitive rules (downtown, historic) in Dos Palos Overlay Districts and Dos Palos Historic Preservation if your site is affected.
• If your proposal needs a use that is conditional, or relief from a standard, coordinate site plan review with the Chapter 17.76 process (CUPs/variances) and its findings/appeals structure .
• Definitions in Chapter 17.08 guide how terms are applied during review (e.g., “planning commission,” “district,” etc.) .

Checklist

• Confirm your zoning district on the Dos Palos Zoning map, then open that district’s chapter in Title 17.
• Verify whether your district chapter contains a site plan review section (e.g., § 17.30.110, § 17.32.060) and whether your project type appears to trigger it. If unclear: Verify with the jurisdiction .
• Prepare a site plan consistent with the district’s measurable standards (height, coverage, spacing) and Dos Palos Development Standards noted in the same chapter (e.g., § 17.30.040, § 17.32.040) .
• Demonstrate compliance with Dos Palos Parking and any district parking sections (e.g., § 17.30.130) .
• Check overlays and context: Dos Palos Overlay Districts and Dos Palos Historic Preservation.
• If seeking a non-permitted use or relief from a standard, scope a parallel application under Chapter 17.76 (CUPs/variances)—note findings, conditions, timelines, and appeals .
• If any existing features are nonconforming, review Dos Palos Nonconforming Uses to anticipate constraints or amortization before site plan submittal.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

In Dos Palos, design review happens inside each zoning district chapter as site plan review. Find your district, read that chapter’s standards, and prepare a site plan that hits those measurable requirements; if you also need a conditional use or a variance, you’ll pair the site plan with the Chapter 17.76 process and its findings.

Information Gaps

• District names and boundaries for Chapters 17.30 and 17.32 — Not found in retrieved materials (only the chapter structures and section headings are visible) .
• The actual text of site plan review procedures, submittal contents, or approval criteria for § 17.30.110 and § 17.32.060 — Not found in retrieved materials .
• Numeric dimensional standards (setbacks, height limits, lot coverage percentages) in Chapters 17.30 and 17.32 — Not found in retrieved materials .

Source References

• Title 17 (Zoning), District chapter structures confirming Purpose, Permitted Uses, Development Standards, and Site Plan Review in Chapters 17.30 and 17.32: § 17.30.010 – § 17.30.130; § 17.32.010 – § 17.32.060 .
• Conditional Use Permits and Variances framework: Chapter 17.76 (applications, hearings, findings/conditions, appeals) .
• Definitions used across Title 17: Chapter 17.08 (planning commission, districts, etc.) .
• Related internal reading: Dos Palos Development Standards, Dos Palos Parking, Dos Palos Overlay Districts, Dos Palos Historic Preservation, Dos Palos Signage, Dos Palos Variances and Exceptions.

Retrieved passages

• CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 66321 (§ 66321) Medium relevance show source text
• Dos Palos Zoning Code (title andtheireffect) Medium relevance show source text
• Dos Palos Zoning Code (Article I.) Medium relevance show source text
• Dos Palos Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CEC § 66314 (§ 66314) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 66321 (§ 66321) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § N105 (SECTION N105) Medium relevance show source text
• Dos Palos Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § N104.1 (Section N104.1) Medium relevance show source text
• CRC § 130 Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 2404.1 (Chapter 6) Medium relevance show source text
• CRC § 115 Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 120 Medium relevance show source text
• Dos Palos Zoning Code (Section 17960.1) Medium relevance show source text
• Dos Palos Zoning Code (SECTION 1.8.4) Medium relevance show source text
• Dos Palos Zoning Code (§ 65915) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 17 (Zoning), District chapter structures confirming Purpose, Permitted Uses, Development Standards, and Site Plan Review in Chapters 17.30 and 17.32: **§ 17.30.010 – § 17.30.130; § 17.32.010 – § 17.32.060** . (Title 17)
• Conditional Use Permits and Variances framework: **Chapter 17.76** (applications, hearings, findings/conditions, appeals) . (Chapter 17.76)
• Definitions used across Title 17: **Chapter 17.08** (planning commission, districts, etc.) . (Title 17)
• Related internal reading: Dos Palos Development Standards, Dos Palos Parking, Dos Palos Overlay Districts, Dos Palos Historic Preservation, Dos Palos Signage, Dos Palos Variances and Exceptions.
• DosPalos_ZoningCode.md