Parlier — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Parlier does not use a separate, named "design review" program. Instead, the city handles architecture- and site-level design through its site plan review procedures located in the zoning code; those procedures give the Planning Commission (and City Council on appeal) authority to review layout, building height, setbacks, parking, landscaping and related design details. For code context see § 18.40.010 et seq.; definitions for "site plan" and "site plan review" appear at § 18.04.440 and § 18.04.442 . (For background on how the zoning title is organized see the Parlier zoning overview.)

• First mention links:
  • The phrase "design review" above links to Parlier's zoning page: Parlier Zoning.
  • The primary procedure used by the city is called "site plan review" in the code; when the page refers to site-level standards it links to Parlier's development standards page: Parlier Development Standards.
  • Where the code requires or evaluates vehicle spaces the page links to Parlier's parking page: Parlier Parking.
  • Where landscaping matters are called out the page links to Parlier's landscaping page: Parlier Landscaping and Screening.
  • For overlay rules that may alter review expectations the page links to Parlier's overlay districts page: Parlier Overlay Districts.
  • ADU references (where second-unit compatibility/appearance is required) link to: Parlier ADUs.
  • For the separate building-permit / technical code that follows after planning approval, the California Building Standards Code is linked where relevant.

How Parlier treats "design" matters (legal foundation)

• The city's rules for reviewing site layout and building appearance are codified as site plan review. The site plan review procedure applies "When a site plan review is required by this title" and sets the procedural duties of the commission and council: § 18.40.010 and § 18.40.020 .
• The ordinance defines the deliverable and the review scope: a site plan must be "prepared to scale" and the commission's review evaluates lot layout, parking, ingress/egress, setbacks, building height, walls, landscaping, lighting and signs — see § 18.04.440, § 18.04.442, and § 18.40.030–§ 18.40.040 .
• The commission must act within a time limit and may attach conditions; its decision is appealable to the City Council under § 18.40.040–§ 18.40.050 .
• Approved site plans become part of the record for permits and the certificate of occupancy process: the certificate must show compliance with an approved site plan per § 18.32.390 and related permit application rules in § 18.32.400 .

District-by-district breakdown (where design/site plan review is explicitly required)

Below are the Parlier districts that the zoning text explicitly ties to site plan review. Each district subsection below states the district name as used in the code (bolded), states the intent/typical uses, lists the key development or dimensional standards that commonly drive design decisions, and gives the exact place in the code where the site-plan review trigger appears.

R-1 (single-family residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: single-family homes; accessory buildings; second-dwelling/second units are regulated separately. See the R-1 standards for density and yards.
• Key standards that affect design: front/side/rear yard setbacks and lot coverage (see district property standards) and compatibility language for second units (design compatibility required).
• Site-plan trigger: the code requires a site plan where "Not more than one main building and no mobilehome shall be placed on any lot in this district, until a site plan has been submitted to and approved by the commission" — § 18.14.170 .
• Where to check for accessory/second-unit appearance rules: § 18.14.168 (second dwelling unit standards) and related R-1 property development sections . (If you are planning an ADU also see Parlier's ADU guidance.)

R-3 (medium-density multifamily)

• Purpose / typical uses: multiple-family residential (apartment buildings).
• Key standards: minimum lot area, unit spacing, parking ratios, and yard requirements that control massing.
• Site-plan trigger: no more than one main building until a site plan has been submitted and approved — § 18.18.180 .

T-P (trailer-park residential)

• Purpose: trailer parks/mobilehome park development.
• Key standards: site layout and internal circulation, lighting for access ways, spacing between trailer parking sites.
• Site-plan trigger and additional required submittals: a site plan must be submitted to the Planning Commission before any trailer park buildings are erected; Chapter § 18.20.210 specifies required plan contents (location of trailer sites, access, lighting, engineering/architectural data) and Chapter § 18.40 procedures apply .

C-P (administrative & professional office)

• Purpose / typical uses: professional offices and related residential conversion allowances.
• Key standards: property development standards referenced in the district; exterior changes to existing residential structures require compliance with the district's appearance rules.
• Site-plan trigger: a site plan must be submitted and approved before any building is erected in § 18.22.190 (provisions of Chapter § 18.40 apply) .

C-4 (central trading / downtown commercial)

• Purpose / typical uses: retail, services, restaurants and downtown commercial uses.
• Key standards: downtown lot coverage, building height, and setbacks; certain uses require commission review. Landscaping location is called out for commercial districts.
• Site-plan note: while C-4 contains many uses subject to commission review (see § 18.24.030 for uses subject to commission review), the general site plan content rules in § 18.40.030 apply; landscaping location must be shown in C-P, C-4, and C-5 per § 18.40.030.K .

C-5 (commercial)

• Purpose / typical uses: larger commercial uses and parking-connected development.
• Key standard and trigger: a site plan for any building or parking facilities must be submitted to the Planning Commission before erection; see § 18.26.180 and Chapter § 18.40 .

M-1 (manufacturing / light industrial)

• Purpose / typical uses: manufacturing, assembly, processing, and limited ag-related operations.
• Key standards: loading, setback from residential, noise/odor/vibration controls and loading space dimensions drive design.
• Site-plan trigger: site plan approval by the City Council is required before any building is erected or parking facilities developed in § 18.28.200; Chapter § 18.40 also applies .

P (off-street parking district)

• Purpose / typical uses: standalone parking facilities.
• Key standards: access width, fence/wall interface with residential districts, and limits on signage.
• Site-plan trigger: before any building or parking lot is erected a site plan must be submitted and approved under § 18.30.180 and Chapter § 18.40 .

Quick reference table — decision-relevant triggers and items

What applicants must submit (practical checklist)

• Submit the number of prints required by the City Clerk (the code requires six prints) and fee where applicable (§ 18.40.030) .
• Drawings to scale showing: lot dimensions, accurate locations of all buildings/structures with elevations and heights, yards and spaces between buildings, walls and fences (materials, heights), off-street parking layout and dimensions, access and internal circulation, signs, loading areas, and lighting (hooding where required) (§ 18.40.030) .
• Show landscaping locations where required (specifically called out in C-P, C-4, C-5) (§ 18.40.030.K) .
• Provide any engineering/architectural data required by the Commission for specific districts (e.g., trailer parks, manufacturing, quarries) as called out in district sections such as § 18.20.210, § 18.28.200, § 18.12.090 etc. .
• Expect required findings related to circulation, safety, setbacks, heights and compatibility; plan accordingly to address those findings in narrative or plan notes (§ 18.40.040) .
• If the project is part of a conditional use permit or variance, include the additional information those procedures require; those procedures may also require site plan submittal (§ 18.38.070 and Chapters § 18.38/§ 18.36) .
• Remember: planning approval is not the same as a building permit — comply with the California Building Standards Code once planning approvals are obtained.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Parlier does not have a separate "design review" program; instead, design, layout and appearance issues are handled through the city's site plan review process administered by the Planning Commission (with appeals to City Council). If your project is in a district that explicitly requires site plan review (for example R-1, R-3, C-P, C-5, M-1, P, T-P), you must submit scaled plans showing building placement, parking, access, landscaping and related details so the commission can make the findings listed in § 18.40.040; approved plans become part of the permit record and are used when issuing building permits and certificates of occupancy .

Source References

• Title 18 - ZONING, Parlier, CA (full zoning title and index) — includes district chapters and site plan review chapters § 18.02.010, § 18.04 definitions: .
• Definitions — "site plan" and "site plan review", § 18.04.440 and § 18.04.442 (definition of the deliverable and review) .
• Chapter 18.40 — SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCEDURE (applicability, purpose, submittal requirements, commission findings, appeals): § 18.40.010, § 18.40.020, § 18.40.030, § 18.40.040, § 18.40.050, § 18.40.060 .
• District-specific triggers: § 18.14.170 (R-1 site plan review) ; § 18.18.180 (R-3) ; § 18.20.210 (T-P) ; § 18.22.190 (C-P) ; § 18.26.180 (C-5) ; § 18.28.200 (M-1) ; § 18.30.180 (P) .
• Conditional use permit / site plan interconnection: § 18.38.070 (Commission findings and possible conditions including requests for a site plan) .
• Certificate of occupancy referencing approved site plan: § 18.32.390 and building-permit application contents § 18.32.400 .

Retrieved passages

• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-403) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-404) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-105) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-219.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-306) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-403) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 5 (§5-405) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (Section 18.38.100) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (section showing) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-105) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§2) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-403) Medium relevance show source text
• Parlier Zoning Code (§5-229.5) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **Title 18 - ZONING**, Parlier, CA (full zoning title and index) — includes district chapters and site plan review chapters **§ 18.02.010**, **§ 18.04** definitions: . (Title 18)
• **Definitions — "site plan" and "site plan review"**, **§ 18.04.440** and **§ 18.04.442** (definition of the deliverable and review) . (§ 18.04.440)
• **Chapter 18.40 — SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCEDURE** (applicability, purpose, submittal requirements, commission findings, appeals): **§ 18.40.010**, **§ 18.40.020**, **§ 18.40.030**, **§ 18.40.040**, **§ 18.40.050**, **§ 18.40.060** fileciteturn1file6. (Chapter 18.40)
• District-specific triggers: **§ 18.14.170** (R-1 site plan review) ; **§ 18.18.180** (R-3) ; **§ 18.20.210** (T-P) ; **§ 18.22.190** (C-P) ; **§ 18.26.180** (C-5) ; **§ 18.28.200** (M-1) ; **§ 18.30.180** (P) . (§ 18.14.170)
• Conditional use permit / site plan interconnection: **§ 18.38.070** (Commission findings and possible conditions including requests for a site plan) . (§ 18.38.070)
• Certificate of occupancy referencing approved site plan: **§ 18.32.390** and building-permit application contents **§ 18.32.400** fileciteturn0file4. (§ 18.32.390)
• Parlier_ZoningCode.md

• Official Parlier code library