Kingsburg — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Kingsburg handles design review through a two-part process: site plan review (Chapter 17.72) and architectural/Swedish Village design review (Chapter 17.80). Site plan review checks site layout, parking, landscaping and public-safety issues; architectural review enforces the Swedish Village design standards in downtown and designated Swedish Village areas. The Downtown Form Based Code also references the same architectural review procedures for downtown transects. See the code for which projects and districts are subject to each step: § 17.72.010 and § 17.80.010 . (Practical note: if your project touches parking, frontages or landscaping, expect site plan review; if it is in the Swedish Village / downtown transects expect the architectural standards.) The city’s permitting rules link to other topics such as parking, development standards, overlay districts, ADUs and the California Building Standards Code and you should consult those pages for issues outside zoning design review.

How Kingsburg’s review system is structured (short)

• Site plan review is a staff/committee check required before most non-single-family projects; it is governed by Chapter 17.72 and its findings and timing rules in § 17.72.010–§ 17.72.060 .
• Architectural design review (for building exterior appearance and Swedish Village theme) is in Chapter 17.80, applies to most permitted/conditional uses except single‑family and small duplexes, and has special Level 1/Level 2 intensity rules and submission requirements in § 17.80.010–§ 17.80.060 .
• The Downtown Form Based Code (Chapter 17.42) defers to the same architectural review rules and adds transect-specific form standards; see § 17.42.162 and the transect standards in § 17.42.050–§ 17.42.052 .

District-by-district breakdown (what triggers design/site plan review, purpose, typical uses, key dimensional standards, where it applies)

Note: the code lists several districts and transects. Below are the districts most commonly affected by design review and the specific code citations that control whether plans must be submitted.

RA — Rural/Agricultural Reserve

• Purpose: preserve lands for future urban expansion and prevent premature development where services are unavailable (purpose and allowed temporary uses). § 17.20.010–17.20.020 .
• Typical permitted uses: agriculture, limited dwellings where general plan says so, accessory uses, and ADUs per local ADU rule. § 17.20.020 .
• Design review: general site plan provisions apply where a permitted use is not a single‑family dwelling; check § 17.72.010. If the use is a single-family dwelling meeting standards it is generally exempt from the architectural chapter; otherwise site-plan rules may apply. § 17.72.010; § 17.80.010(B) .
• Key numeric standards: minimum lot, setbacks and height rules for residential districts apply (see the R/RM tables in Title 17). See § 17.42 and the residential district sections for specific yard/coverage numbers .

R — Single‑Family Residential (R, R- variants)

• Purpose: protect single‑family neighborhoods and provide stable residential character. See § 17.28 and general objectives in § 17.04.020 .
• Typical permitted uses: one‑family dwellings, accessory uses, home occupations.
• Design review: single‑family dwellings are explicitly exempt from the architectural review chapter; Chapter 17.80 applies to “any permitted or conditional use … other than single‑family dwellings or multiple‑family dwellings consisting of no more than two (2) units.” § 17.80.010(B) . However, site plan review may still apply in some circumstances (e.g., if street improvements are incomplete or for non‑exempt expansions) — check § 17.72.010 . Verify parcel-specific applicability with the Planning Department.

RM — Multiple‑Family Residential (including RM-MH-5.4, RM-5.5, RM-3.0, RM-2.5, RM-2.0)

• Purpose: allow multi‑family housing at varying densities (see site‑area per unit table). § 17.32 and site‑area table (Site Area per Unit) .
• Typical permitted uses: duplexes, multi‑unit residential, mobilehome parks where specified, accessory uses. § 17.32 excerpts; mobile home park rules appear in RM-MH designation. § 17.32.060 requires site plan and architectural plans for most non‑single‑family uses. § 17.32.060 .
• Design/site review: site plan and architectural plans must be submitted for all uses except mobile homes and single‑family dwellings/accessory structures. § 17.32.060 .
• Key dimensional standards: minimum site area per unit and coverage limits by RM subzone; front/side/rear yard minima (e.g., front yard 15 ft, side 5 ft, rear 5 ft—see the RM yard rules and coverage table). § 17.32 (Site area, yards, coverage) .

PO — Professional Office District

• Purpose: cluster professional and commercial offices; protect offices from nuisances; provide parking/loading. § 17.36.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: professional offices, medical/dental labs/clinics, pharmacies in conjunction with medical uses, and any use permitted in R or RM with restrictions. § 17.36.020 .
• Design/site review: except for one‑family dwellings and related accessory structures, no use may be erected until a site plan and architectural plans are submitted and approved under Chapters 17.72 and 17.80. § 17.36.060 .
• Key site requirements: screening next to residential, street trees/frontage landscaping and parking area landscaping with irrigation as conditions under § 17.36.070 .

C — Commercial Districts (subdistricts CN, CC, CS, CH)

• Purpose: provide areas for retail, office, service and highway‑oriented businesses (see § 17.40.010). § 17.40.010–17.40.020 .
• Typical permitted uses: depend on subdistrict; CN is neighborhood commercial; CC is central commercial (CBD); CS service commercial; CH highway commercial. Each subdistrict lists permitted uses (Table and text in Chapter 17.40). § 17.40.020 et seq. .
• Design/site review: “No use shall be erected on any lot or site in any C district until a site plan and architectural plans shall have been submitted to and approved by the city pursuant to Chapters 17.72 and 17.80.” § 17.40.070 .
• Key dimensional standards: front yard minima vary by subdistrict (e.g., CN — 15 ft, CC — 0 ft inside CBD, CH — 10 ft), building heights (CN/CH — 50 ft, CC/CS — 75 ft), side/rear yard protections where adjacent to residential (see § 17.40.060 for details). § 17.40.060 .

I — Industrial (IL, IH, IP)

• Purpose: industrial uses with light/heavy distinctions; standards for screening, landscaping and yard setbacks next to residential. § 17.76 (Industrial) / 17.64 et seq. (see specific industrial sections). § 17.76 (conditions) and related district regulations outline required screening/landscaping. § 17.76.013 et seq. .
• Design/site review: industrial projects require site plan review and may be subject to specific screening or wall height rules when near residential districts (see § 17.76.013 and Chapter 17.72). § 17.72.010; § 17.76.013 .

FBC — Downtown Form Based Code (FBC 1, FBC 2, FBC 3)

• Purpose: regulate downtown form and frontage types to preserve Swedish Village character and walkability. See the FBC preamble and transect descriptions. § 17.42.005 and § 17.42.050–17.42.052 .
• Typical permitted uses: mixed use, retail, civic and a variety of housing types depending on transect (see Table 17.42.A). § 17.42.043 .
• Design review: the FBC explicitly ties its Design Review to Section 17.80 (architectural review). “Design Review shall be subject to the requirements of Section 17.80 of the Zoning Ordinance.” § 17.42.162 . The FBC also includes its own Swedish Village form and materials guidance in Table 17.42.J and building-type standards; compliance is checked during review. § 17.42.132 and Table 17.42.J .
• Special rules: the Swedish Village Design Standards/GUIDELINES are adopted by city council resolution and applied with Level 1 (full conformance) and Level 2 (good‑faith efforts) depending on location — see § 17.80.020–17.80.030 for Level definitions and application. § 17.80.020–§ 17.80.030 .

Quick table: Decision‑relevant design review triggers and citation

Submission & procedural highlights (what the code requires)

• Prepare and submit site plans and supporting drawings on the planning department form; twelve full-size copies plus reduced copy required. Required content list includes lot dimensions, building locations/elevations, yards, fences, access/parking, signs, lighting, preliminary landscape plan, refuse enclosures, utilities and phasing. § 17.72.030 (A–P) .
• Projects within Swedish Village Level 1 or Level 2 must also submit elevations compliant with Chapter 17.80 and the Swedish Village Design Standards. § 17.72.030(N); § 17.80.040 .
• The Site Plan Review Committee reviews within 15 city working days and may approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove; actions must include findings that the site plan complies with code and minimizes impacts. § 17.72.040; § 17.72.050 .
• The Planning Department determines architectural compliance within 15 calendar days after a complete application; its decision may be appealed to the Planning Commission within 10 calendar days. § 17.80.050–060 .

Checklist

• Confirm zoning and whether the parcel lies inside a Swedish Village Level 1 or Level 2 area or an FBC transect (verify on the zoning map). See § 17.80.010(B) and § 17.42.041 .
• Complete Planning Department application form and fee (per local fee resolution). See § 17.72.030 for required submittals (twelve full-size sets + reductions) .
• Provide scaled site plan showing lot dimensions, buildings/elevations, yards, parking, access, signage, lighting, refuse and utilities (§ 17.72.030 A–M) .
• Submit preliminary landscape plan and irrigation; final landscape plan before building permit (§ 17.72.030 J) .
• If in Level 1/2 Swedish area or FBC, include architectural elevations, materials and colors and show conformance or good‑faith effort to Swedish Village standards (§ 17.80.040; § 17.80.030) .
• Expect Site Plan Review Committee review timeframe (15 working days) and Planning Dept. architectural determination (15 calendar days after deemed complete) and prepare for possible conditions or appeals (§ 17.72.040; § 17.80.050–060) .
• Coordinate parking and landscaping compliance with Chapter 17.52 and any overlay district requirements such as screening near residential (see related parking and overlay rules) .
• Verify whether historic‑structure exemptions apply (local landmark list) to avoid automatic application of Swedish standards (historic exemptions described in Chapter 17.80 and related historical process) § 17.80 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you are building anything other than a typical single‑family house in Kingsburg, the city will ask for a site plan showing where everything goes and will review materials and elevations to make sure the project fits neighborhood character — downtown (Swedish Village) projects face the strictest architectural rules. Site plan rules live in Chapter 17.72 and architectural/Swedish Village rules live in Chapter 17.80; check whether your property is in a downtown transect (FBC 1/2/3) because that affects the required level of design detail and materials. § 17.72.010; § 17.80.010; § 17.42.162

Source References

• Kingsburg Municipal Code, Title 17 — Zoning (print export). Relevant chapters and sections cited below.
• Site Plan Review: § 17.72.010–§ 17.72.060 (purposes, application, committee, submittal requirements, findings and timing) .
• Architectural Design Review (Swedish Village): § 17.80.010–§ 17.80.060 (purpose, Level 1/2, standards, drawings, referral/action, appeals) .
• Commercial district design review requirement: § 17.40.070 and property development standards in § 17.40.060 (front yard, height, screening) .
• RM district site plan requirement and residential standards (site area per unit, yards, coverage): § 17.32.060; Site area and yard tables .
• Downtown Form Based Code: FBC transect rules, design review cross‑reference § 17.42.005; § 17.42.041–052; § 17.42.162 (Form Based Code purpose and design review linkage) .
• Submittal content list for site plans: § 17.72.030 (A–P) (copies, content, elevations required in Swedish areas) .
• Landscape / parking cross‑references: Chapters 17.52 and overlay requirements (see Chapter references in the FBC and commercial sections). § 17.52.060–080; § 17.42.042 .
• Historic structure exemption language and local landmark list process: Chapter 17.80 historic exemption subsection. § 17.80 (historic exemptions) .

Retrieved passages

• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (Section shall) High relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (Section 17.28.050) Medium relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (Chapter 17.68.) Medium relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Kingsburg Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Kingsburg Municipal Code, Title 17 — Zoning (print export). Relevant chapters and sections cited below. (Title 17)
• Site Plan Review: **§ 17.72.010–§ 17.72.060** (purposes, application, committee, submittal requirements, findings and timing) . (§ 17.72.010)
• Architectural Design Review (Swedish Village): **§ 17.80.010–§ 17.80.060** (purpose, Level 1/2, standards, drawings, referral/action, appeals) . (§ 17.80.010)
• Commercial district design review requirement: **§ 17.40.070** and property development standards in **§ 17.40.060** (front yard, height, screening) . (§ 17.40.070)
• RM district site plan requirement and residential standards (site area per unit, yards, coverage): **§ 17.32.060; Site area and yard tables** . (§ 17.32.060)
• Downtown Form Based Code: FBC transect rules, design review cross‑reference **§ 17.42.005; § 17.42.041–052; § 17.42.162** (Form Based Code purpose and design review linkage) . (§ 17.42.005)
• Submittal content list for site plans: **§ 17.72.030 (A–P)** (copies, content, elevations required in Swedish areas) . (§ 17.72.030)
• Landscape / parking cross‑references: Chapters **17.52** and overlay requirements (see Chapter references in the FBC and commercial sections). **§ 17.52.060–080; § 17.42.042** . (Chapter references)
• Historic structure exemption language and local landmark list process: Chapter **17.80** historic exemption subsection. **§ 17.80 (historic exemptions)** . (§ 17.80)
• Kingsburg_ZoningCode.md

• Official Kingsburg code library