Local zoning · Glendora

Glendora — Design Review

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

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Design review in Glendora is a discretionary, site- and architecture-focused check on proposed changes to buildings, landscapes, and project layouts. Small residential modifications in specific plan areas can be handled administratively by the Director of Planning and Redevelopment, while larger projects generally proceed through Development Plan Review and the Planning Commission (or are subject to specific plan procedures). See Glendora's zoning framework for how design review interacts with zone standards and specific plans. (/us/california/glendora/zoning)

How Glendora organizes design/architectural/site-plan review (plain-English)

Some specific plans (for example the Arboreta specific plan) set their own design-review rules and delegate authority to the planning director for many residential improvements; the Arboreta rules require design review or development plan review for modifications and name the director as the primary reviewer for listed small residential features (for example lattice patio covers, pools, spas, fireplaces and front-porch improvements) and allow appeal to the Planning Commission. § 21.12.330 .
Citywide new development and substantial remodels are subject to the city’s design standards and Development Plan Review requirements in the municipal code; residential design standards and project submittal requirements (including the project narrative requirement and the architectural-style rules) are set out in Chapter 21.15. See the objective style list in § 21.15.090 and the residential standards and submittal trigger in § 21.15.030. § 21.15.030; § 21.15.090 .
Parking, landscaping and related physical-site standards used during design review are referenced throughout the code (for example § 21.10.370 for parking and § 21.10.380 for landscaping) and are applied as part of the review. § 21.10.370; § 21.10.380 .
Where a Specific Plan applies, the Specific Plan’s design provisions and the Director’s conformance determinations can supersede or control project review (see Arboreta SP adoption and authority). § 21.12.030; § 21.12.040; § 21.12.020 .

(While this page explains the planning/zoning design-review rules, also check parking standards during design review at Glendora Parking and the city's Development Standards for dimensional and setback checks.) (/us/california/glendora/parking) (/us/california/glendora/development-standards)

District-by-district breakdown (how design review is applied, by district)

Below are the Glendora districts and plan areas that the ordinance explicitly ties to design-review or DPR procedures in the retrieved materials. Each subsection gives the local purpose, typical permitted uses (high-level), key dimensional/design points called out in the material, where the design-review rules are stated, and practical notes for applicants.

Arboreta Specific Plan (Arboreta SP)

Purpose: Implements a master development and design program for the Arboreta project, establishing site, landscape, and architectural guidelines intended to produce a cohesive residential community. § 21.12.020; § 21.12.030 .
Typical uses: Detached single-family homes, private community amenities (linear park, passive park, pool, tot lot). § 21.12.230; § 21.12.240 .
Key dimensional/design notes: Specific plan includes its own development standards (setbacks, parking, landscaping) and design guidelines; some items must conform to the SP’s development standards. § 21.12.030; § 21.12.240 .
Design-review authority and triggers: The Director performs the design review for many residential accessory/improvement items and may approve when there is substantial conformance with the SP standards; decisions by the Director are appealable to the Planning Commission within ten days. No building permits are issued until design approval is obtained. § 21.12.330 .
Where it applies: Properties designated (SP) on the zoning map; the SP provisions govern and can prevail over municipal code when in conflict. § 21.12.030 .

E-7 / Hillside / Residential districts (example: E-7 20,000)

Purpose: Base residential zones that the specific plans may reference for consistency; the E-7 district is used as a comparative standard in some SPs. § 21.04.010; see relation in specific-plan text § 21.13.050 .
Typical uses: Detached single-family homes and accessory uses (including ADUs, subject to state/ local rules). § 21.15.030 .
Key design notes: Detached house design standards and submittal triggers for substantial remodels/new construction are in Chapter 21.15; most new detached-house applications must meet those standards and include required narratives and submittal materials unless exempted (ADUs, JADUs, SB9 units). § 21.15.030(E) .
Design-review procedure: New construction or substantial remodels follow the Chapter 21.15 objective standards and, where deviations or alternate styles are proposed, require DPR and additional findings. § 21.15.030(D); § 21.15.090 .

Commercial/Route 66 gateway districts (examples appearing in tables: CRR Route 66 Residential, GRG Grand/Route 66 Gateway, GLG Glendora Avenue Gateway)

Purpose: Gateway and mixed-use areas with special setback, FAR and frontage expectations to produce a pedestrian- and gateway-oriented design. (Standards appear in adopted specific-plan tables and reference city-wide parking and landscape sections.) See design and setback tables and cross-references to parking and landscaping standards. § 21.10.370; § 21.10.380 .
Typical uses: Mixed-use, residential over commercial, gateway-oriented commercial uses as allowed by the specific plan tables (density/FAR tied to plan provisions). See specific-plan table entries for FAR, heights and required street-front build-to lines. (Table material in code references parking and landscaping sections.) § 21.10.370; § 21.10.380 .
Design-review notes: These areas are subject to Development Plan Review and design standards in the applicable specific plan documents; the code indicates additional setbacks or requirements may be imposed during design review. (See the plan tables which say "additional setbacks may be imposed during design review process.") § 21.10.370; § 21.10.380 .

Specific plans and planned districts (SP, PD, PR — examples listed)

Purpose: Specific Plans and Planned Development zones have their own design rules; where conflicts exist the specific plan prevails. § 21.12.030; § 21.09.050(C) .
Typical uses & design approach: Varies by plan; the code shows that SPs adopt development standards, design guidelines and implementation measures (maps, grading, landscape standards) and that plan amendments follow the city's process. § 21.12.030; § 21.12.350 .
Design-review authority: Specific plans commonly vest the Director with administrative design-review authority and reserve appeals to the Planning Commission; formal or non-minor plan changes go back to Commission/Council. § 21.12.330; § 21.12.350 .

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant standards and code references

What the reviewer looks for	Typical code reference
Director-level design review for small residential features (Arboreta examples: lattice patios, pools, built-in BBQs)	§ 21.12.330
Appeals period for Director decisions (appeal to Planning Commission — timeframe)	§ 21.12.330(B)
Building permits withheld until planning/design approval	§ 21.12.330(C)
Project narrative required for new development (exempt: ADUs, JADUs, SB9 units and accessory structures)	§ 21.15.030(E)
Architectural-style list — objective styles and alternate-design pathway	§ 21.15.090; § 21.15.030(D)
Parking standards and application during design review	§ 21.10.370
Landscaping and screening standards used in design analyses	§ 21.10.380
Tree preservation / tree-disbursement submittal requirements	§ 21.09.040(E)
Specific plan adoption, precedence, and enforcement of SP design rules	§ 21.12.030; § 21.12.340

What you must submit (high-level checklist)

Complete application and processing fee as established by Council resolution. Noted in multiple DPR/SP provisions. § 21.09.050
Project narrative describing architecture, use, site plan conformance and how the project meets applicable design standards (required for all new development except ADUs, JADUs, SB9 units, and accessory structures). § 21.15.030(E)
Scaled site development plan showing property lines, building footprints, setbacks, circulation, easements, walls/fences, landscaping areas and conceptual grading (code requires site-plan content for Development Plan Review). Not all DPR submittal section numbers are visible in retrieved snippets; verify with staff. Not found in retrieved materials.
Architectural floor plans and elevations showing materials and colors. Required for DPR in code excerpts. Not found with explicit § in retrieved snippets; see Chapter 21.15. Not found in retrieved materials.
Preliminary landscape plan and tree preservation/mitigation plan when trees are affected. § 21.09.040(E)
Parking calculations and layout conforming to § 21.10.370 during design review. § 21.10.370

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Whether a change is approved administratively by the Director or requires Planning Commission DPR	The review path changes processing time, noticing and appeal rights	Confirm project-specific trigger with Planning Department (code shows Director handles many Arboreta changes § 21.12.330 but DPR is used for larger projects) § 21.12.330
Exact DPR submittal checklist and plan-sheet standards	Incomplete plans delay acceptance; the code lists many required elements but the § number for the full checklist isn't visible in the retrieved snippets	Request the current DPR submittal checklist from Planning staff — the municipal code references site-plan contents (see DPR discussion in code excerpts) Verify with the jurisdiction
How Specific Plans interact with base-zone standards	Specific Plans can override base-zone rules; a proposed deviation may be governed by SP amendment procedures	Check the specific plan text for the parcel (SP prevails where in conflict) § 21.12.030
Historic resources / HPOZ applicability and certificate-of-appropriateness requirements	Historic designation triggers a separate permit regime and different review body/timeframes	For designated HPOZ properties, follow the HPOZ permit/certificate procedures in the code. Verify with the jurisdiction (Historic Preservation chapter language present in the code excerpts)
Whether ADU work requires design review under Chapter 21.15 or is governed by state ADU law	State ADU law may limit local design-control pathways for accessory units	The code explicitly exempts ADUs/JADUs/SB9 units from some narrative requirements § 21.15.030(E); cross-check with California ADU law. § 21.15.030(E) (/us/california/california-adu-laws)

Plain-English summary (for a homeowner)

If you’re changing the look, footprint, or site layout of your Glendora property, expect a discretionary design review: small accessory items in some plan areas can be approved by the Planning Director; larger remodels or new buildings will go through the Development Plan Review process and may require Planning Commission approval. Provide a clear project narrative, the standard site and architectural drawings, and show compliance with the city’s parking, landscaping, tree-preservation, and architectural-style rules — and expect that specific plans may impose extra rules. See the Director-level list of routine residential items and the DPR triggers in the code. § 21.12.330; § 21.15.030

Information Gaps

The municipal code text returned in the materials includes many DPR and design-review provisions, but a single consolidated "Design Review" section number for citywide design review authority (with its complete list of triggers, processing timelines and the step-by-step DPR submittal checklist) was not clearly extractable from the provided snippets. Not found in retrieved materials.
Some of the tabular district dimensional standards (e.g., full Route 66 Gateway tables) appear in the code excerpts without an obvious single § line callout in the snippets we received. For parcel‑specific dimensional checks, confirm the exact table and section that applies to your parcel in the code or with planning staff. Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

Arboreta specific plan — design-review authority, director-level review, appeals and permit hold: § 21.12.330
Arboreta specific plan — public benefits and SP authority: § 21.12.020; § 21.12.030
Arboreta SP — enforcement/administration and amendments: § 21.12.340; § 21.12.350
Residential design standards, project narrative, ADU exemptions, architectural-style rules: § 21.15.030; § 21.15.090
Development Plan Review and list of required site-plan elements (site plan content, architectural plans, landscape plan, tree plan): DPR material and submittal items as shown in the code excerpts (see Development Plan Review discussion) § 21.09.050; tree provisions § 21.09.040(E)
Parking and related development standards referenced during design review: § 21.10.370; landscaping § 21.10.380; signage cross-references § 21.10.390
Specific plan administration, DPR hearing and findings language (see Development Plan Review excerpts) — procedural and findings text in the municipal code excerpts. (See Development Plan Review provisions in municipal code excerpts.)

Additional internal resources you may need while preparing an application: Glendora Development Standards, Glendora Parking, Glendora Overlay Districts, Glendora Historic Preservation, Glendora ADUs, and the state code for building-permit technical compliance (Title 24). (/us/california/glendora/development-standards) (/us/california/glendora/parking) (/us/california/glendora/overlay-districts) (/us/california/glendora/historic-preservation) (/us/california/glendora/adu) (/us/california/building-codes)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Glendora Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Glendora Zoning Code Medium relevance
CBC § 477 Medium relevance
Glendora Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Glendora Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Glendora Zoning Code (Title block) Medium relevance
Glendora Zoning Code (section of) Medium relevance
Glendora Zoning Code (section must) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Glendora code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need design review in Glendora for a new detached house?

If the work is new construction or a substantial remodel of a detached house it will be subject to the city’s residential design standards in Chapter 21.15 and typically must meet the objective standards or proceed through Development Plan Review if it proposes an alternate design. See § 21.15.030 and the architectural-style list in § 21.15.090. § 21.15.030; § 21.15.090

What kinds of small residential projects can the Director approve administratively?

Under the Arboreta specific plan the Director is the discretionary reviewer for many smaller residential improvements — examples listed include lattice-covered patio structures, pools, spas, outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, built-in barbecues and front-porch improvements — the Director approves when there is substantial conformance to the SP standards; appeals to the Planning Commission are allowed. § 21.12.330

What must I include in a design-review submittal in Glendora?

The code requires a project narrative for most new development (except ADUs/JADUs/SB9 units), and DPR submittals generally include a scaled site plan, building elevations, a preliminary landscape plan and tree-preservation documents. The project-narrative requirement is explicit in § 21.15.030(E); the detailed site-plan item list appears in the Development Plan Review submittal text in the municipal code excerpts. § 21.15.030(E); see DPR submittal discussion. § 21.09.040(E)

Will design review require changes to setbacks, parking or landscaping?

Design review evaluates conformance with development standards (setbacks, parking, landscaping) and may impose additional setbacks or conditions where allowed in the applicable specific plan or DPR findings. Parking and landscaping standards used during design review are codified in § 21.10.370 and § 21.10.380. § 21.10.370; § 21.10.380

Are ADUs exempt from design-review requirements?

The code text that we retrieved specifically exempts Accessory Dwelling Units, Junior ADUs, SB9 secondary units, and accessory structures from the project-narrative requirement that applies to most new development; however ADUs may still be subject to other objective development standards and state ADU law. § 21.15.030(E) (/us/california/california-adu-laws)

What happens if the Director denies my design-review application?

Director decisions regarding design review in the Arboreta SP are appealable to the Planning Commission; appeals must be filed in writing within ten days of the Director’s action, and the Planning Commission will set the matter for a hearing within thirty days of the appeal. § 21.12.330(B)

How do Specific Plans affect design review for my parcel?

If your parcel is inside a Specific Plan area, the specific plan’s design standards and maps act as the controlling regulatory document for design review; where the SP conflicts with the Municipal Code the SP prevails. For the Arboreta SP see § 21.12.030 and related enforcement text. § 21.12.030; § 21.12.340

Where are parking and landscape rules that the design reviewer will use?

Parking development and design standards and landscaping standards are referenced throughout the code and are explicitly located in § 21.10.370 (parking) and § 21.10.380 (landscaping). § 21.10.370; § 21.10.380

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