Roseville — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Design review in Roseville is a formal entitlement process that evaluates site layout, building architecture, landscaping, lighting, parking, and related design elements against the City's Community Design Guidelines, specific plan rules, and zoning development standards. The code establishes multiple design-review paths — Major Project staged review, full Design Review Permits, Minor Design Review Permits (MDRP), and a special Design Review Permit for Residential Subdivisions (DRRS) — and ties findings and notice/appeal rules to those permits. Key procedural and finding requirements are in § 19.74.010, § 19.78.060, and the Major Projects/Stage process in § 19.82.020–030 .

This page explains what the Roseville zoning ordinance actually requires for design review, district-by-district implications, what applicants must submit, and where to double-check parcel-specific ambiguities.

How Roseville refers to "design review" in the code

• Mandatory permit types mentioned in the code: Design Review Permit (DRP), Minor Design Review Permit (MDRP), and Design Review Permit for Residential Subdivisions (DRRS); the permitting rules and what triggers each appear in § 19.74.010 and the MDRP/DRRS descriptions .
• Required approval findings for DRPs, MDRPs, and DRRS are listed in § 19.78.060 (e.g., site design, building design harmony, screening of service areas) .
• Zoning clearance and when it is required (prior to building permits for many multi‑family and non‑residential projects and some façade/landscape work) are in § 19.72.020–030 .

Because design review interacts with many topics, applicants should also review Roseville's guidance on parking, development standards, overlay districts, land use, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code when preparing plans.

District-by-district breakdown (how design review applies in main zones)

Note: The code uses district labels such as R1, RS, R2, R3, RMU, plus Planned Development (PD) and overlay districts such as the /DS development standard overlay; the residential general development table is in the code and shows lot coverage/height rules by district .

R1 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose & where it applies: traditional single‑family neighborhoods; development standards shown in the Residential Zone table (lot coverage, height, setbacks) .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwellings (with limited accessory units as allowed in the code) — see the residential table notes for accessory units and ADU rules .
• Design‑review relevance: Ordinary single‑family or two‑family homes generally do not require an MDRP; exceptions exist (see §§ 19.74.010 and 19.72.020) — verify if a proposed change is listed under zoning clearance triggers .
• Key dimensional standards (from the Residential table): 35 ft height limit typical for R1; 35% (two‑story) / 45% (one‑story) lot coverage exceptions noted in the table .

RS (Residential Small‑Lot)

• Purpose: compact lot neighborhoods with supplemental design standards listed in § 19.10.040 (e.g., front yard stagger optional, separation of second‑story elements, architectural treatment on all elevations) .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family and two‑unit types as allowed under the residential rules.
• Design‑review relevance: Compact residential development and projects requesting modifications to RS supplemental standards must obtain a DRRS (Design Review Permit for Residential Subdivision) per § 19.10.045; the Approving Authority is normally the Planning Commission .
• Key standards: 35 ft height limit; lot coverage "None" (subject to RS notes and DRRS modifications) — see the residential table for exact numeric application and notes .

R2 (Two‑Family) and R3 (Multi‑Family)

• Purpose & uses: R2 allows duplexes; R3 is multi‑family (standards and density specifics in Chapter 19.33 for certain areas) .
• Design‑review relevance: The R3 development standards may be modified through approval of a Design Review Permit (note in the residential table) — design review commonly applies for multi‑family site and building design (see required findings in § 19.78.060) .
• R3 special districts and corridor specific plans include tailored review paths (see § 19.33.x for Douglas‑Sunrise/Douglas‑Harding specifics) and special processing for high‑density projects (Stage/Type A processing) .

RMU (Residential Mixed‑Use)

• Purpose: mixed residential/commercial types; development standards often "None" for coverage/height in the table because specific plan or RMU guidelines apply; design review is often required to coordinate mixed‑use architecture and circulation .
• Design‑review relevance: Mixed‑use/multifamily projects of significant size may be processed under Major Project/Stage review or the Specific Plan's design guidelines; parking reduction requests tied to design review are handled as part of the DRP entitlement in some districts (see Specific Plan rules) .

Planned Development (PD) and /DS (Development Standard) overlay

• PD districts are custom‑standards zones where project‑level standards and design are adopted by ordinance; a Design Review Permit or DRRS is obtained concurrently with the PD formation/approval per § 19.82.x and § 19.18.020(G) .
• The /DS overlay explicitly allows the Council to modify development standards (setbacks, height, coverage, parking ratios) but those modifications and any DRRS requirements are set by ordinance and often require concurrent design review .

Specific plan/downtown corridors and Major Projects

• Downtown and corridor specific plans may use a streamlined MDRP or specialized Type A processing for high‑density residential projects consistent with the plan's design guidelines; see the district entitlements and § 19.33.070 and the streamlined processing note in the specific plan text (parking reductions can be part of DRP) .
• Major nonresidential or large mixed‑use projects use the three‑stage Major Project process (Stage 1 Preliminary Development Plan, Stage 2 Architecture & Landscaping, Stage 3 Final Plans) defined in § 19.82.020–030; Stage 2 requires architectural renderings and landscape plans at minimum .

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant design review rules

Practical guidance / plain-English interpretation of key rules

• If the project is a small façade tweak on a commercial or multi‑family property (paint color, awning, door/window changes) you will likely go through the MDRP processed by the Planning Manager, unless the Manager elevates it to a full DRP — see § 19.74.010 .
• If you propose a compact subdivision on RS or request departures from RS supplemental standards, prepare for a DRRS and Planning Commission review; the code permits the RS supplemental standards to be modified only through a DRRS (see § 19.10.040–045) .
• Large mixed‑use or big commercial projects go through the Major Projects staged review; Stage 2 explicitly requires architecture and landscape submittals (elevations, materials, landscape palette, lighting) and results are subject to public hearing and findings in § 19.82.030 and Stage 2 rules .
• Where code or specific plans allow, parking reductions can be requested as part of the DRP application (so you do not necessarily need a separate Administrative Permit) — see the specific plan language and references to parking reduction in the DRP context .
• The City requires a zoning clearance for many pre‑building permit checks; check § 19.72.020–030 early in your process to avoid rework .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy / submit)

• Confirm applicable zone (R1, RS, R2, R3, RMU, PD, or overlay /DS) and any specific plan area that modifies design rules; consult the development standards table for numeric limits .
• Determine whether your work is exempt, qualifies for a Zoning Clearance Certificate, or requires an MDRP, DRP, or DRRS per § 19.72.020 and § 19.74.010 .
• Prepare the design submittal (for Stage 2/DRP/MDRP/DRRS): architectural elevations/materials/colors, landscape plan (water‑efficient), lighting plan, parking/ circulation plan, trash/service screening drawings — Stage 2 minimums listed in the Major Projects/Stage 2 checklist and related sections .
• If site has native oak trees or other protected resources, include tree location, arborist report and mitigation plan as required by the code (verify with Planning) .
• If requesting parking reduction, include parking justification and integrate it into the DRP if in a district that allows that consolidation (see specific plan notes) .
• Submit application and fee on Planning Division forms; expect public notice and potential hearing if not processed administratively; review appeal timelines (e.g., appeals to City Council within 10 days for some Planning Commission actions) .
• Coordinate building permit submittal with the Building Division and verify compliance with California Building Standards Code as a separate (non‑zoning) review step.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

In Roseville, design review is the zoning process that makes sure new buildings and major changes to sites look and operate in ways the city finds compatible with neighborhood character and public safety — small paint/awning changes may be handled administratively, but compact subdivisions, multi‑family projects, and large commercial/mixed‑use projects will require formal design review and public findings by Planning Staff or the Planning Commission. Follow the submittal checklists in the code (architectural elevations, landscape, lighting, parking) and expect the code’s findings in § 19.78.060 to drive conditions of approval .

Source References

• Required permit types and definitions: § 19.74.010 (Design Review Permit, Minor Design Review Permit, DRRS)
• Required findings to approve a Design Review Permit (site, building, service design): § 19.78.060
• Zoning clearance triggers and processing: § 19.72.020–030
• Residential supplemental design standards and compact residential design review: § 19.10.040–045 (RS, DRRS applicability)
• Residential zone numeric table and notes (R1, RS, R2, R3, RMU): Residential development standards table and notes (see the Residential Zone table)
• Major Projects staged review, Stage 2 application content (architecture & landscape): § 19.82.020–030 and Stage 2 details in the Major Projects chapter
• Specific Plan / corridor streamlined MDRP and parking reduction guidance: Specific plan processing notes (Downtown / corridor guidance) and parking reduction integration with DRP in specific plan language
• Development standard overlay (/DS) rules and PD concurrency with design review: § 19.18.020 and PD development entitlements
• Design Committee composition and duties (reviews signage, permit/variance applications): Design Committee chapter (committee makeup & duties)

Also review these City menu pages when preparing an application: Roseville Zoning, Roseville Development Standards, Roseville Parking, Roseville Overlay Districts, Roseville ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• Roseville Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (title and) High relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 19.72.020 (§ 19.72.020.) Medium relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (§ 19.10.040.) Medium relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (§ 5) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Required permit types and definitions: **§ 19.74.010** (Design Review Permit, Minor Design Review Permit, DRRS) (§ 19.74.010)
• Required findings to approve a Design Review Permit (site, building, service design): **§ 19.78.060** (§ 19.78.060)
• Zoning clearance triggers and processing: **§ 19.72.020–030** (§ 19.72.020)
• Residential supplemental design standards and compact residential design review: **§ 19.10.040–045** (RS, DRRS applicability) (§ 19.10.040)
• Residential zone numeric table and notes (R1, RS, R2, R3, RMU): Residential development standards table and notes (see the Residential Zone table)
• Major Projects staged review, Stage 2 application content (architecture & landscape): **§ 19.82.020–030** and Stage 2 details in the Major Projects chapter (§ 19.82.020)
• Specific Plan / corridor streamlined MDRP and parking reduction guidance: Specific plan processing notes (Downtown / corridor guidance) and parking reduction integration with DRP in specific plan language
• Development standard overlay (/DS) rules and PD concurrency with design review: **§ 19.18.020** and PD development entitlements (§ 19.18.020)
• Design Committee composition and duties (reviews signage, permit/variance applications): Design Committee chapter (committee makeup & duties)
• Roseville_ZoningCode.md

• Official Roseville code library