La Habra — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Design review in La Habra is a discretionary zoning-layer review used to ensure that site layout, building architecture, signs and landscaping are visually compatible with the surrounding area and the General Plan. The city’s Design Review rules are codified in Chapter 18.68 and are applied citywide where other chapters or overlays require it (for example the D Architectural Design Zone, commercial zones, the SP‑1 La Habra Boulevard Specific Plan, and the MX overlay). See the city’s La Habra Zoning overview for context on how this fits into zoning. § 18.68.010

Notes up front:

• Design review is a land‑use/zoning review — it does not replace building-permit compliance with the California Building Standards Code. § 18.08.010
• Multi‑unit residential and mixed‑use projects must follow the city’s objective design standards in Chapter 18.09 in addition to design review (where applicable). § 18.68.010

How La Habra’s Design Review works (core rules)

• What triggers design review: any building or structure that “requires design review” must submit plans and obtain Planning Commission approval before construction — exceptions for minor residential patio roofs/shade structures and minor outbuildings may be processed administratively by the Director of Community Development. § 18.68.020

• Submittal contents: the applicant must provide fees, multiple printed and digital plan sets, a fully dimensioned plot plan showing buildings, parking and circulation, landscape plan, sign plan, color elevations, a material board, photos/photo‑simulations, calculations for lot coverage/parking/landscape, and CEQA/environmental assessments where required. The ordinance expressly requires a verified 300‑foot owner mailing list for notice and a TDM for projects employing 250+ people. § 18.68.030

• Hearing/decision: design review is typically heard by the Planning Commission (the body also acting as design review board in some plans). Decisions can be approved, conditionally approved or denied, and are appealable (appeal rules and timing follow the code’s hearing/appeal rules). § 18.68.040

District-by-district breakdown

Note: each subsection below cites the La Habra ordinance provision that creates the design‑review requirements, summarizes the district purpose and typical uses, and lists the code cross‑references you must verify when preparing plans.

D Architectural Design Zone

• Purpose: the D zone imposes architectural controls on land that is also in a base zone so that buildings, signs and landscaping “will be in harmony” with surrounding improvements. § 18.46.010–020
• Typical permitted uses: uses of the base zone (the D overlay does not change permitted uses; it adds design standards). § 18.46.010
• Key design standards to watch: height, bulk, setbacks, exterior colors/materials, roof pitch, window/door proportions, sign size/location, and parking/landscape relationships. All exterior changes in a D zone are subject to Chapter 18.68 design review. § 18.46.020–030
• Where it applies: to parcels explicitly mapped as the D overlay (check the zoning map and your parcel’s overlay status). § 18.46.010

Commercial zones (grouped): C‑P, C‑1, C‑2, C‑2s, C‑2sH, C‑3

• Purpose & uses: commercial retail, service and office uses as listed in the land‑use matrix; consult Table 18.06.040.A (land use matrix) for exact permitted uses by zone. § 18.32.040
• Design review trigger: site plan/design review is required in the listed commercial zones — minor exterior repairs and parking lot work may be reviewed administratively by the Director; major new development, additions and remodels exceeding 25% of building area require Planning Commission design review processed under Chapter 18.68. § 18.32.050.C
• Key dimensional standards (examples): floor‑area ratios by commercial zone are enumerated (for example C‑P 70%, C‑1 30%, C‑2 30%, C‑2s 50%, C‑2sH 80%, C‑3 30%) — use Table 18.32.040.E for the exact FAR by zone. Parking must comply with Chapter 18.14. § 18.32.040.E; § 18.32.050.F
• Where it applies: any development in those commercial base zones; smaller exterior changes may be director‑level reviews while larger projects go to the Planning Commission. § 18.32.050.C

SP‑1 (La Habra Boulevard Specific Plan)

• Purpose: to implement corridor design objectives and a consistent Early California/Spanish style along La Habra Boulevard. The specific plan contains its own design guidelines and a three‑step local review process (planning staff → design review board/Planning Commission → Planning Commission for major projects). § 18.44.060; § 18.44.060.F
• Typical permitted uses: as listed in the specific plan and the Land Use Matrix; consult the SP‑1 chapter for allowed uses and frontage/entrance rules. § 18.44.060
• Key design features applicants must satisfy: façade materials (stucco/brick), window glazing minimums, permitted accent materials, awnings, exterior paving materials, signage controls, and façade color palettes consistent with the Early California style. § 18.44.060.A–E
• Where it applies: the La Habra Boulevard corridor parcels mapped to SP‑1; the Planning Commission acts as the design review board for this area. § 18.44.060.F

MX Overlay Zone (Mixed‑Use Overlay)

• Purpose: to provide special development standards for properties electing to develop under the MX overlay for mixed‑use projects. Development under the overlay is in addition to base‑zone standards and the overlay explicitly requires design review. § 18.54.040–050
• Typical permitted uses: mixed residential/commercial configurations — the land use matrix determines allowable uses; projects may be residential-only, commercial-only or mixed. § 18.54.020; § 18.54.050
• Key standards for design reviewers: open space requirements (e.g., 250 sq ft usable open space per dwelling unit where the overlay applies), private balconies for at least 50% of units if residential, and community amenities. § 18.54.050.A
• Where it applies: to parcels mapped with the MX overlay or electing MX standards; design review is required per Chapter 18.68 for MX projects. § 18.54.040.D

Multi‑unit residential zones (RM / “multi‑unit zones”)

• Purpose & uses: multi‑family housing types (see zone chapter and Land Use Matrix). La Habra includes special development standards for multi‑unit zones addressing usable open space, unit access, building separation and more. § 18.26.050
• Design review & objective standards: all multi‑unit residential and mixed‑use developments are subject to Chapter 18.09 (Objective Design Standards) and are covered by Chapter 18.68 design review unless specifically exempted. For certain eligible multi‑unit/mixed projects the city has adopted a streamlined ministerial path, but those projects must still meet the objective design standards. § 18.68.010; § 18.84.040.C
• Key dimensional standards: usable open space per unit, rear yard minima (example: 20 ft rear yard in some residential sections), and other unit‑scale requirements are specified in the multi‑unit chapter. § 18.26.050

Quick decision‑relevant standards table

Checklist (what an applicant must deliver to pass initial submittal)

• Pay applicable fees per the City of La Habra Master Schedule of Fees. § 18.68.030.A
• Provide required plan sets: eighteen printed sets and one digital set drawn to architectural scale, plus one printed/digital set of color elevations. § 18.68.030.B–D
• Plot plan showing building footprints, ingress/egress, off‑street parking and circulation, utilities, exterior mechanical equipment, walls/fences with heights/materials, and drainage. § 18.68.030.B
• Material board, landscape plan, sign plan and color photos/photo simulations. § 18.68.030.C–G
• Calculations for lot coverage, parking counts and landscape area; show compliance with La Habra Parking standards and the city’s La Habra Development Standards. § 18.68.030.B.9; § 18.32.050.F
• Environmental checklist/CEQA documentation as required by the Director. § 18.68.030.I
• Verified owner list for 300‑foot noticing. § 18.68.030.J
• For projects employing ≥250 people, a Transportation Demand Management plan per Chapter 18.20. § 18.68.030.K; § 18.20.040

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you are changing the outside appearance, layout, signs or landscaping of a building in La Habra (especially in a commercial zone, an overlay like SP‑1 or MX, or in the D architectural zone), you will likely need to file a Design Review application with the Planning Department, submit a full set of plans and materials, and either get an administrative sign‑off or a Planning Commission decision. Follow Chapter 18.68 for exactly what to submit and which body hears your case. § 18.68.020–030

Source References

• La Habra Zoning Code, Chapter 18.68 Design Review — § 18.68.010; § 18.68.020; § 18.68.030; § 18.68.040.
• La Habra Zoning Code, Chapter 18.46 D Architectural Design Zone — § 18.46.010–040.
• La Habra Zoning Code, Chapter 18.32 Commercial zone standards and Table 18.32.040.E (FAR); § 18.32.050.C (design review triggers).
• La Habra Zoning Code, SP‑1 La Habra Boulevard Specific Plan — design guidelines and site plan review process (§ 18.44.060).
• La Habra Zoning Code, MX Overlay Zone — applicability and standards (design review required) § 18.54.040–050.
• La Habra Zoning Code, Multi‑unit development standards § 18.26.050 and objective standards reference Chapter 18.09.
• La Habra Zoning Code, Sign standards (sign programs processed as design review) § 18.23.050.
• California ADU handbook (uploaded reference on state ADU rules and objective standards).

Retrieved passages

• La Habra Zoning Code (§ 18.68.030.) High relevance show source text
• La Habra Zoning Code (chapter for) High relevance show source text
• La Habra Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• La Habra Zoning Code (title excepting) High relevance show source text
• La Habra Zoning Code (section is) High relevance show source text
• La Habra Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 3 (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• La Habra Zoning Code (chapter and) High relevance show source text
• La Habra Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• CBC § N105 (SECTION N105) High relevance show source text
• CBC § N104.1 (Section N104.1) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• La Habra Zoning Code, Chapter **18.68** Design Review — **§ 18.68.010; § 18.68.020; § 18.68.030; § 18.68.040**. (§ 18.68.010)
• La Habra Zoning Code, Chapter **18.46** D Architectural Design Zone — **§ 18.46.010–040**. (§ 18.46.010)
• La Habra Zoning Code, Chapter **18.32** Commercial zone standards and Table **18.32.040.E** (FAR); **§ 18.32.050.C** (design review triggers). (§ 18.32.050.C)
• La Habra Zoning Code, **SP‑1 La Habra Boulevard Specific Plan** — design guidelines and site plan review process (**§ 18.44.060**). (§ 18.44.060)
• La Habra Zoning Code, **MX Overlay Zone** — applicability and standards (design review required) **§ 18.54.040–050**. (§ 18.54.040)
• La Habra Zoning Code, Multi‑unit development standards **§ 18.26.050** and objective standards reference **Chapter 18.09**. (§ 18.26.050)
• La Habra Zoning Code, Sign standards (sign programs processed as design review) **§ 18.23.050**. (§ 18.23.050)
• California ADU handbook (uploaded reference on state ADU rules and objective standards).
• LaHabra_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official La Habra code library