Sausalito — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Design review in Sausalito is a formal municipal process that evaluates the architecture and site plans of selected projects to preserve the city's visual character, protect views, limit grading and tree loss, and ensure compatible neighborhood fit. The toolset distinguishes administrative design review (staff-level) from Planning Commission design review (public hearing) and sets clear triggers, submittal requirements, findings, and appeal/expiration rules in the Sausalito Zoning Ordinance. See the ordinance for thresholds and purpose at § 10.54.010 and § 10.54.020 .

Note: this page focuses only on what the Sausalito zoning/planning ordinance requires for design/architectural/site plan review; building-code matters (Title 24) are out of scope and handled separately by the Building Division and the California Building Standards Code.

How design review works in Sausalito (core rules)

• Two tiers: Administrative design review permits handled by Community Development staff or the Zoning Administrator, and Design review permits decided by the Planning Commission. See § 10.54.040 and § 10.54.050 for the two tracks and authorities .
• Triggers: any new single‑family, duplex, or multifamily building; substantial reconstructions; most new commercial/industrial construction; and certain additions and exterior changes (see the specific lists in § 10.54.040(B) and § 10.54.050(B)) .
• Administrative review is used for limited changes (small additions, awning fabric, some driveway/encroachment items); Planning Commission review is required for larger, discretionary actions (new buildings, major additions, changes that could impair views) — see § 10.54.040(B) and § 10.54.050(B) .
• Findings: staff and the Commission must make the ordinance’s design-review findings before approval; heightened findings apply where a project exceeds 80% of allowable FAR or coverage (see § 10.54.050(D) and (E)) .
• Submittals: plans, story poles, materials board, landscape plan, geotechnical report, tree documentation, and a narrative are required per § 10.54.060; the City maintains administrative guidelines with the full checklist .
• Appeals & expiration: administrative decisions may be appealed to the Planning Commission within 10 days; permits expire two years after effective date unless extended (see § 10.54.040(G–J) and § 10.54.050(J–L)) .

Practical note: where projects affect historical resources or properties inside a historic overlay district, they must also obtain a certificate of appropriateness under § 10.46.060 in addition to design review . Projects partly or wholly covered by state streamlined-permitting laws may be exempted or subject to different procedures (see § 10.54.020 and § 10.54.050(F)) .

District-by-district breakdown (how design review interacts with actual Sausalito zones)

Below are the zoning districts in the ordinance that most commonly interact with design-review thresholds. For each I summarize purpose, typical uses, the development standard columns that most influence design decisions, and where the district is applied in the City. Verify parcel-specific rules with the City; some districts have subdistricts and map-specific setback lines.

Important cross-references: consult Sausalito Development Standards for tables and diagrams, Sausalito Parking when addressing parking implications, and Sausalito Overlay Districts for overlay rules that modify design-review expectations.

R-1 (R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-20) — Single-family residential

• Purpose: preserve single‑family neighborhood scale and character; limit bulk, preserve privacy and light (see Residential district purposes and Table 10.22-2) .
• Typical permitted uses: detached single‑family homes, accessory uses (see Ch. 10.22 and Ch. 10.44 for accessory rules) .
• Key dimensional standards affecting design review: maximum height 32 ft, minimum side setbacks ~5 ft, rear setback ~15 ft, coverage and FAR vary by subdistrict (see Table 10.22‑2 and § 10.40.060/10.40.080) .
• Where it applies: most single‑family neighborhoods; design review is required for new dwellings and substantial exterior changes per § 10.54.050(B) .

R-2 (R-2-2.5, R-2-5) — Two-family / small multi-family

• Purpose & uses: permit duplex and small multi‑unit development while controlling scale; often used where modest density is appropriate .
• Key standards: max height 32 ft, variable FAR (formulaic in R-2-2.5), site coverage limits and setbacks shown in Table 10.22‑2; specialized FAR calculations in § 10.44.330 for certain subzones .
• Design-review interaction: any new multi‑unit building, substantial remodels, or additions above the small administrative thresholds require Planning Commission review per § 10.54.050(B)(1–4) .

R-3 — Multiple-family residential

• Purpose: allow higher residential density but subject to design and neighborhood compatibility controls .
• Typical uses: multifamily apartments and condominiums; accessory units count toward density in some contexts (see ADU rules) .
• Standards: max height typically 32 ft, setbacks and coverage per Table 10.22‑2; FAR rules can change based on unit count (see notes in Table 10.22‑2 and §10.22.040) .
• Design-review interaction: new buildings or any work that increases height, adds >10%/300 sf, or could impair views triggers Planning Commission design review per § 10.54.050(B) .

P‑R (Parks & Recreation), H (Harbor), A (Open space/agricultural)

• Purpose & typical uses: public parks, harbor/marina support uses (H), and open space (A). Dimensional rules vary; setbacks may only be required where adjacent to residential districts (see § 10.20.040 and Table 10.20‑2) .
• Design-review interaction: public and quasi‑public buildings can exceed certain heights only with Planning Commission design review (see § 10.40.060 and cross-reference to 10.54) .

CC (Central Commercial), CR (Commercial-Residential), CN (Neighborhood Commercial — CN‑1/CN‑2), SC, CW, W — Commercial districts

• Purpose: each commercial district has a distinct intent (CC for downtown core; CR for mixed commercial-residential; CN for neighborhood-serving shops; CW/W for waterfront uses) — see § 10.24.010–020 .
• Typical uses: ground‑floor retail and services in CC; mixed residential above in CR; neighborhood retail in CN; marine uses in CW/W; manufacturing/industrial in IM (Marinship) as allowed .
• Standards: commercial tables set minimum parcel sizes, max FAR (varies by district, e.g., CC up to 1.3 in places, lower in waterfront zones), building coverage, and height limits typically 32 ft (see Table 10.24‑2 and § 10.40.040/050) .
• Design-review interaction: any new commercial structure or exterior remodeling that exceeds the administrative thresholds is a Planning Commission design-review matter per § 10.54.050(B)(5–6) . Parking and loading implications from the Sausalito Parking standards often factor into conditions of approval .

IM / Marinship and the Marinship Overlay (-M)

• Purpose: maintain the Marinship industrial/maritime character and implement the Marinship Specific Plan; design expectations respond to maritime history and industrial character (see § 10.28.050) .
• Design-review interaction: special plan/overlay rules may require additional findings or tailored guidelines; projects in the -M overlay are subject to the same design review chapter but with Marinship-specific criteria (see § 10.28.050 and cross-reference to Chapter 10.54) .

Historic overlay (-H) and locally listed properties

• Purpose: preserve historic character; properties in historic overlays require both design review and a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission (see § 10.46.060) .
• Design-review interaction: stricter findings and compatibility standards apply; the Historic Preservation Commission issues advisory certificates and the Planning Commission considers the project afterward (see § 10.46.060) .

Housing overlay districts (MU‑29, H‑29, MU‑49, H‑49, H‑70)

• Purpose: these overlays relate to Housing Element sites and may change how design review applies to certain affordable housing projects; per § 10.54.020(C) some housing projects on these overlays may be eligible for by‑right treatment or streamlined processes as required by state law (see the specific subsection) .
• Design-review interaction: state law preemption or streamlined-permit programs can limit discretionary design control; review § 10.54.020 carefully for exemptions tied to state housing statutes .

Quick reference table — design-review decision essentials

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a design-review filing)

• Confirm whether the project triggers administrative or Planning Commission design review per § 10.54.040 / § 10.54.050 .
• Prepare the full submittal per § 10.54.060 (full‑size plans + digital set, narrative, materials board, story pole plan, landscape plan, geotech, tree permit/justification, photos) .
• Demonstrate compliance with district standards (height, setbacks, FAR, coverage) from the applicable development table (see Table 10.22‑2 / Table 10.24‑2 and § 10.40 series) .
• If project >80% FAR/coverage, prepare additional findings addressing trees, slope/topography, views, parking and landscaping per § 10.54.050(E) .
• If on an historic property or within an historic overlay, apply for a certificate of appropriateness per § 10.46.060 and follow Historic Preservation Commission procedures .
• Provide parking analysis consistent with Sausalito Parking requirements where applicable and note any requests for reductions/alternatives .
• Check whether the project is subject to state streamlined rules (housing, supportive housing) that alter discretionary review under § 10.54.020 .
• Pay fees, post required notices, and be prepared for appeals/deadlines (10-day appeal windows; 2-year permit expiration) per the cited sections .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you’re building a new house, adding substantial square footage, putting up a new commercial building, or making changes that affect views, height, or neighborhood character in Sausalito, you will likely need a design review application — either an administrative review (staff) or a Planning Commission hearing — with plans, story poles, materials, and reports. The exact threshold depends on what you’re changing and which zone/overlay the lot sits in; see the ordinance triggers at § 10.54.040 and § 10.54.050 and consult Community Development to confirm the review level .

Source References

• City of Sausalito Zoning Ordinance (Title 10), Chapter 10.54 Design Review Procedures: § 10.54.010, § 10.54.020, § 10.54.040, § 10.54.050, § 10.54.060, § 10.54.070 .
• Division II and related standards: Chapter 10.22 Residential Zoning Districts (Table 10.22‑2 site standards) and Chapter 10.24 Commercial Zoning Districts (Table 10.24‑2) — see § 10.22.040, § 10.24.020/050, and development tables .
• Historic overlay / certificate of appropriateness: § 10.46.060 (Historic Preservation Commission procedures) .
• Parking and related reductions/conditions: § 10.40.110 (Parking requirements) .
• Administrative procedures and permit processing: Chapter 10.50 (Land Use Permit Procedures), including § 10.50.020, § 10.50.060, § 10.50.070 (processing times, completeness, and environmental review) .
• Zoning ordinance and organization (Title/chapters): § 10.10.030 and § 10.12.010 describing Title 10 and Division structure (useful for locating district chapters) .
• Online source copy of the Sausalito Zoning Code used for these citations: https://ecode360.com/SA4880 (downloaded 2026‑06‑12) .

Retrieved passages

• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (chapter with) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.54.050) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.54.050) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (Section 65913.4) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.54.050) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (CHAPTER 10.50) High relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.54.040) Medium relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.54.050) Medium relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.50.120) Medium relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.24.050.) Medium relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.40.050.) Medium relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.28.040) Medium relevance show source text
• Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.66.050) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• City of Sausalito Zoning Ordinance (Title 10), Chapter 10.54 Design Review Procedures: **§ 10.54.010**, **§ 10.54.020**, **§ 10.54.040**, **§ 10.54.050**, **§ 10.54.060**, **§ 10.54.070** . (Title 10)
• Division II and related standards: Chapter 10.22 Residential Zoning Districts (Table 10.22‑2 site standards) and Chapter 10.24 Commercial Zoning Districts (Table 10.24‑2) — see **§ 10.22.040**, **§ 10.24.020/050**, and development tables . (Chapter 10.22)
• Historic overlay / certificate of appropriateness: **§ 10.46.060** (Historic Preservation Commission procedures) . (§ 10.46.060)
• Parking and related reductions/conditions: **§ 10.40.110** (Parking requirements) . (§ 10.40.110)
• Administrative procedures and permit processing: Chapter 10.50 (Land Use Permit Procedures), including **§ 10.50.020**, **§ 10.50.060**, **§ 10.50.070** (processing times, completeness, and environmental review) . (Chapter 10.50)
• Zoning ordinance and organization (Title/chapters): **§ 10.10.030** and **§ 10.12.010** describing Title 10 and Division structure (useful for locating district chapters) . (§ 10.10.030)
• Online source copy of the Sausalito Zoning Code used for these citations: (downloaded 2026‑06‑12) .
• Sausalito_ZoningCode.md

• Official Sausalito code library