Local zoning · Solano County

Solano County — Design Review

Q: Do I always need design review in unincorporated Solano County?

If your parcel is in the Suisun Valley districts ( A‑SV‑20 , A‑T‑C , A‑T‑C‑NC ), yes — design review is required for any new construction that requires a building permit in those districts. For other unincorporated districts, countywide architectural approval may still apply; confirm the district on the county zoning map. § 28.23.60(B) ; § 28.103(B) ; § 28.102 .

Q: What are the front/side/rear setbacks in the A‑SV‑20 district?

Per Table 28.23B the A‑SV‑20 main building setbacks are: front 30 ft (or 50 ft from street centerline where indicated), side 20 ft , rear 25 ft . Always verify map‑specific building lines. Table 28.23B .

Q: Are accessory building setbacks different in Suisun Valley districts?

Yes. Table 28.23C shows accessory building rules for these districts — for A‑SV‑20 the front setback for a detached accessory building is typically 60 ft (or on the rear 50% of lot); sides/rear and height limits are specified in the table. Table 28.23C .

Q: Can I get a building permit before I get design review approval?

No — where architectural approval or design review is required, a building permit will not be issued until that approval is obtained. For Suisun Valley projects, a structure cannot be occupied until Resource Management inspects and verifies compliance with the development review approval. § 28.102(A–B) ; § 28.23.60(G) .

Q: Where do I find the exact parking requirements that the design review will check?

Parking requirements are in § 28.94 (Parking Requirements) and the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines are referenced for parking in Suisun Valley districts. The County will require compliance with § 28.94 and may allow shared parking or parking districts per the Suisun Valley rules. Table 28.23B ; § 28.94 . /us/california/solano-county/parking

Design Review under the Solano County local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Design review in Solano County applies to development in the county’s unincorporated areas and is implemented as a mix of countywide architectural approval standards and area-specific design review requirements for the Suisun Valley planning districts. Countywide architectural standards apply to all unincorporated zoning districts and the Suisun Valley rules impose additional mandatory design review and guidelines for the A‑SV‑20, A‑T‑C, and A‑T‑C‑NC districts. See the County Zoning chapter for the full rules on design review and architectural approval. § 28.91; § 28.102; § 28.103.

Note: this page addresses only zoning/planning design review in unincorporated Solano County. For building standards (Title 24) or construction permits see the California Building Standards Code. /us/california/building-codes

How design review fits into the Solano County process (plain view)

Countywide architectural approval: external design review authority and standards that apply across all unincorporated districts; a building permit cannot be issued until architectural approval is obtained. § 28.102; § 28.91.
Suisun Valley Design Review: mandatory design review and use of the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines for the A‑SV‑20, A‑T‑C, and A‑T‑C‑NC districts; process differs if the project is discretionary (hearing authority) or non‑discretionary (Director). § 28.23.60; § 28.103.
Site development standards (setbacks, lot area, height, parking) that feed into design review are in Table 28.23B and Table 28.23C and other district tables; review must also show compliance with parking, signs, landscaping, and other site standards. See Development Standards, Parking, and Overlay rules. /us/california/solano-county/development-standards /us/california/solano-county/parking /us/california/solano-county/overlay-districts

District-by-district breakdown (applies only to unincorporated areas)

A‑SV‑20 (Agriculture — Suisun Valley)

Purpose: Preserve agricultural and rural character, promote agritourism with design cohesion. § 28.23.60(A); § 28.103(A).
Typical permitted uses: crop production, agricultural accessory buildings, agricultural employee housing (permit rules in Table 28.23A). See Table 28.23A for full use list. § 28.23.30(A).
Key dimensional/dev standards (decision‑relevant; see Tables 28.23B / 28.23C):
- Minimum lot area (new parcels with water/sewer): 20 acres (A‑SV‑20). § Table 28.23B.
- Front setback (main building): 30 ft, but at least 50 ft from street centerline (unless building lines on zoning map indicate otherwise). § Table 28.23B.
- Side setbacks (each): 20 ft. § Table 28.23B.
- Rear setback: 25 ft. § Table 28.23B.
- Height limit: 35 ft (special regs may apply). § 28.23B / § 28.93.
- Accessory building front setback: generally 60 ft, or located on rear 50% of lot (Table 28.23C). § Table 28.23C.
Where design review applies: all new construction requiring a building permit in A‑SV‑20 must go through the Suisun Valley Design Review process (use Suisun Valley Design Guidelines). § 28.23.60(B); § 28.103(B–D).

A‑T‑C (Agriculture Tourist Center)

Purpose: Rural tourist/retail/service development that remains incidental to agriculture; design cohesion with Suisun Valley guidelines. § 28.23.60(A).
Typical permitted uses: small retail, farm stands, agritourism and tourist uses (see Table 28.23A for exact permit triggers and limits). § 28.23.30; Table 28.23A.
Key dimensional/dev standards (from Tables):
- Minimum lot area: varies by water/sewer; can be as small as 2,000 sq ft (w/ water & sewer) or 2.5 acres (w/ one utility) depending on circumstances; see Table 28.23B for exact cells. § Table 28.23B.
- Setbacks: front can be none to 25 ft; sides: none; rear: none to 25 ft depending on map designation; accessory building standards in Table 28.23C. § Table 28.23B / 28.23C.
- FAR (main building): up to 0.5 if water & sewer present (see Table 28.23B). § Table 28.23B.
Design review: required for new construction requiring a building permit; Suisun Valley Design Guidelines govern architecture. § 28.23.60(B); § 28.103(C–D).

A‑T‑C‑NC (Agriculture Tourist Center — North Connector)

Purpose and uses similar to ATC but with district‑specific variations; see Table 28.23A and the district descriptions. § 28.23.30.
Key standards (Tables 28.23B / 28.23C):
- Minimum lot area examples: 5,000 sq ft (w/ water & sewer) or 5 acres (w/o water/sewer); FAR up to 0.5 with sewer/water. § Table 28.23B.
- Setbacks: front 10–25 ft, sides 15 ft on corners / none interior, rear 15 ft; accessory details in Table 28.23C. § Table 28.23B / 28.23C.
Design review: required for new construction requiring a building permit; Suisun Valley Guidelines apply. § 28.23.60(B); § 28.103.

Countywide standards that interact with design review

Architectural approval (countywide): the Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission may review external design of any proposed building; a building permit will not be issued until architectural approval is granted. § 28.102(A–B).
Architectural standards: principles and criteria to be used in design/architectural approval (harmony, materials, scale). § 28.91.30(A–D).
Design Review decisions & findings: Suisun Valley design review approvals require findings such as conformity with the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines, enhancement/preservation of agricultural character, preservation of natural features, minimizing site disturbance, and compatibility with rural landscape. § 28.103(F); § 28.23.60(E–F).
Process differences: discretionary permits (use permits, rezoning, sign permits, variances) have design review decided by the hearing authority; non‑discretionary permits (administrative or building permits) have design review handled administratively by the Director of Resource Management (Director acts within an administrative timeframe). § 28.23.60(B)(2); § 28.103(C).
Timing: the hearing authority is required to act to approve/deny/conditionally approve design review within 10 days of filing a complete application for design review in certain Suisun Valley rules. § 28.23.60(D).
Occupancy restriction: structures with design review approval may not be occupied or receive a certificate of occupancy until Resource Management inspects and confirms compliance with the Development Review approval. § 28.23.60(G).
Submittal & fees: owner or agent must submit applications on forms set by the Director; fees are set by the Board of Supervisors. § 28.23.60(H–I); fee authority § 11‑110.4.

Quick decision‑relevant table (examples)

Issue / Standard	Requirement / Typical value (unincorporated Solano County)	Code Reference
Design review required for Suisun Valley districts	All new construction requiring a building permit in A‑SV‑20, A‑T‑C, A‑T‑C‑NC	§ 28.23.60(B); § 28.103(B–C)
Architectural approval (countywide)	Building permit not issued until architectural approval obtained	§ 28.102(A–B)
A‑SV‑20 front setback (main building)	30 ft, but at least 50 ft from street centerline	Table 28.23B / § 28.23B
A‑SV‑20 side setbacks (each)	20 ft	Table 28.23B
A‑SV‑20 rear setback	25 ft	Table 28.23B
A‑SV‑20 height limit	35 ft (special regs may apply)	Table 28.23B; § 28.93
Accessory building front setback (A‑SV‑20)	60 ft or on rear 50% of lot	Table 28.23C
Parking compliance	Off‑street parking must meet § 28.94 and Suisun Valley guidelines	§ Table 28.23B; § 28.94

Practical guidance / interpretation (plain-English synthesis)

If your parcel is inside the county’s unincorporated Suisun Valley districts (look for A‑SV‑20, A‑T‑C, A‑T‑C‑NC on the county zoning map), plan for a mandatory design review step tied to your building permit; the County will check the project against the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines and the district development standards in Table 28.23B/28.23C. § 28.23.60; § Table 28.23B/28.23C.
For non‑discretionary projects (straight building permits), the Director of Resource Management will handle design review administratively; for discretionary projects (use permits, variances, sign permits, rezones) design review is part of the public hearing/approval process. § 28.23.60(B–C).
Even where design review is administrative, the Director uses the same Suisun Valley Design Guidelines and may solicit staff recommendations; expect submittal requirements and fees. § 28.23.60(H–I).
Because architectural approval is countywide, if your project affects exterior appearance beyond Suisun Valley (other unincorporated districts), you must still comply with § 28.102 and § 28.91.

Checklist

Confirm parcel is in an unincorporated area and identify zoning district (A‑SV‑20 / A‑T‑C / A‑T‑C‑NC or other). Verify map with the County.
Read the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines (Chapter 4 of Suisun Valley Strategic Plan) and the County’s architectural standards. § 28.23.60(D); § 28.91.
Prepare complete design review submittal (owner/agent signature, plans, elevations, site plan showing setbacks, parking, access, landscaping per Tables 28.23B/28.23C). § 28.23.60(H); Table 28.23B/28.23C.
Confirm parking strategy meets § 28.94 and Suisun Valley guidelines; consider shared/parking district options if applicable. /us/california/solano-county/parking
If project is discretionary, plan for hearing authority review and public noticing; if non‑discretionary, expect Director’s administrative review. § 28.23.60(C).
Budget for application fees (set by Board) and allow time for County inspection prior to occupancy. § 28.23.60(I); § 11‑110.4.
Verify other applicable standards: signage (§ 28.96), landscaping (§ 28.xx), parking (§ 28.94), development standards (Table 28.23B/C). /us/california/solano-county/signage /us/california/solano-county/landscaping-and-screening /us/california/solano-county/development-standards

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Applicability outside Suisun Valley	Countywide architectural approval applies broadly; however the Suisun Valley design review rules are district‑specific. Misreading applicability can delay permits.	Confirm zoning map and district for the parcel with Resource Management; verify whether § 28.103 (Suisun Valley) applies. Verify with the jurisdiction. § 28.102; § 28.103.
Exact Design Guidelines interpretation	Suisun Valley Design Guidelines are adopted by resolution and used as the standard; qualitative guidance (compatibility, character) can be subjective.	Request pre‑application meeting with Resource Management and ask for written guidance on guideline interpretation for your parcel. § 28.23.60(B)(1).
Table values vs. map‑specific building lines	Tables give general setbacks but zoning map building lines or specific parcel designations can override table defaults.	Check the zoning map for building lines and the exact cell values in Table 28.23B / 28.23C for your parcel. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Occupancy timing	County requires inspection/confirmation before occupancy even after design review approval. Failure to pass inspection prevents certificate of occupancy.	Plan construction schedule to include Resource Management inspection and allow time to correct conditions. § 28.23.60(G).
Fees & application forms	Fees are set by Board resolution; the code cites fee authority but not amounts.	Obtain current fee schedule and application forms from Resource Management. § 28.23.60(I); § 11‑110.4.

Information Gaps

Exact current dollar amounts for design review and architectural approval fees: Not found in retrieved materials (fees referenced but set by Board resolution; verify current schedule). § 28.23.60(I).
The full text of the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines (Chapter 4 of the Suisun Valley Strategic Plan) is referenced but the guideline text is not included in the uploaded ordinance snippets: Not found in retrieved materials. § 28.23.60(D).
Any template application forms and local filing checklists: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Plain-English Summary

If your project is in unincorporated Solano County, expect countywide architectural review; if it’s in the Suisun Valley districts (A‑SV‑20, A‑T‑C, A‑T‑C‑NC) design review tied to the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines is mandatory for new construction requiring a building permit. The Director handles simple (non‑discretionary) reviews; hearings handle discretionary projects. Expect the County to check setbacks, parking, height, materials and site layout against the tables and guidelines before you can occupy. § 28.91; § 28.102; § 28.23.60; § 28.103.

Source References

Solano County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 28): § 28.23.60 Design Guidelines and Design Review (Suisun Valley design review rules). § 28.23.60.
Solano County Zoning Ordinance: § 28.103 Design Review – Suisun Valley (purpose, applicability, findings). § 28.103.
Solano County Zoning Ordinance: § 28.102 Architectural Approval (countywide architectural approval, prerequisite to building permit). § 28.102.
Solano County Zoning Ordinance: § 28.91 Architectural Standards (countywide standards to guide architectural approval). § 28.91.
Solano County Zoning Ordinance Tables: Table 28.23B (General Development Standards) and Table 28.23C (Accessory Buildings) — setbacks, lot area, height, FAR examples used above. Table 28.23B / Table 28.23C.
County procedures referenced (zoning clearances, appeals): § 28.109 (Zoning Clearance), § 28.112 (Appeals). § 28.109; § 28.112.

For the County zoning overview page and related internal topics referenced above, see the County menu pages: /us/california/solano-county, /us/california/solano-county/zoning, /us/california/solano-county/development-standards, /us/california/solano-county/parking, /us/california/solano-county/overlay-districts, /us/california/solano-county/signage, /us/california/solano-county/landscaping-and-screening, /us/california/building-codes, /us/california/california-adu-laws.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Solano County Zoning Code (Chapter 28) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (Section 28-111) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (Chapter 4) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (§4) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (Section shall) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (Section 28.112.) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (Section 11-111) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (Chapter 28) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (§5) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (Chapter 28) Medium relevance
CBC § 2 (Section 28.97) Medium relevance
CBC § 28.94 (Chapter 28) Medium relevance
Solano County Zoning Code (Section 28.102) Medium relevance
CBC § 28.93 (Chapter 28) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Solano County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 28): **§ 28.23.60 Design Guidelines and Design Review** (Suisun Valley design review rules). **§ 28.23.60**. (Chapter 28)
Solano County Zoning Ordinance: **§ 28.103 Design Review – Suisun Valley** (purpose, applicability, findings). **§ 28.103**. (§ 28.103)
Solano County Zoning Ordinance: **§ 28.102 Architectural Approval** (countywide architectural approval, prerequisite to building permit). **§ 28.102**. (§ 28.102)
Solano County Zoning Ordinance: **§ 28.91 Architectural Standards** (countywide standards to guide architectural approval). **§ 28.91**. (§ 28.91)
Solano County Zoning Ordinance Tables: **Table 28.23B** (General Development Standards) and **Table 28.23C** (Accessory Buildings) — setbacks, lot area, height, FAR examples used above. **Table 28.23B / Table 28.23C**.
County procedures referenced (zoning clearances, appeals): **§ 28.109** (Zoning Clearance), **§ 28.112** (Appeals). **§ 28.109; § 28.112**. (§ 28.109)
SolanoCounty_ZoningCode.md

Frequently asked questions

Do I always need design review in unincorporated Solano County?

If your parcel is in the Suisun Valley districts (A‑SV‑20, A‑T‑C, A‑T‑C‑NC), yes — design review is required for any new construction that requires a building permit in those districts. For other unincorporated districts, countywide architectural approval may still apply; confirm the district on the county zoning map. § 28.23.60(B); § 28.103(B); § 28.102.

What differences should I expect between discretionary and non‑discretionary design review?

For discretionary permits (use permits, variances, rezones, sign permits), the hearing authority considers and approves design review as part of the public hearing; for non‑discretionary actions (building permits, administrative permits) the Director of Resource Management makes the administrative design review decision. § 28.23.60(B–C).

What findings does the County make to approve Suisun Valley design review?

Typical findings include conformity with the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines, maintenance/enhancement of agricultural character, preservation/restoration of natural features, minimizing site disturbance, preserving views and rural compatibility. § 28.103(F); § 28.23.60(E–F).

What are the front/side/rear setbacks in the A‑SV‑20 district?

Per Table 28.23B the A‑SV‑20 main building setbacks are: front 30 ft (or 50 ft from street centerline where indicated), side 20 ft, rear 25 ft. Always verify map‑specific building lines. Table 28.23B.

Are accessory building setbacks different in Suisun Valley districts?

Yes. Table 28.23C shows accessory building rules for these districts — for A‑SV‑20 the front setback for a detached accessory building is typically 60 ft (or on the rear 50% of lot); sides/rear and height limits are specified in the table. Table 28.23C.

Can I get a building permit before I get design review approval?

No — where architectural approval or design review is required, a building permit will not be issued until that approval is obtained. For Suisun Valley projects, a structure cannot be occupied until Resource Management inspects and verifies compliance with the development review approval. § 28.102(A–B); § 28.23.60(G).

Where do I find the exact parking requirements that the design review will check?

Parking requirements are in § 28.94 (Parking Requirements) and the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines are referenced for parking in Suisun Valley districts. The County will require compliance with § 28.94 and may allow shared parking or parking districts per the Suisun Valley rules. Table 28.23B; § 28.94. /us/california/solano-county/parking

If my lot has special building lines on the zoning map, which setback controls?

Zoning map building lines can supersede the table defaults — the code notes exceptions where “unless otherwise indicated by building lines on the zoning maps.” Always check the zoning map for parcel‑specific building lines. Table 28.23B.

Does the County publish the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines in the ordinance?

The ordinance mandates use of the Suisun Valley Design Guidelines (Chapter 4 of the Suisun Valley Strategic Plan) but the guideline text itself is adopted separately and is not fully reproduced in the ordinance. Applicants should request the Guidelines from Resource Management. § 28.23.60(D).

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