Westlake Village — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Design review in Westlake Village is a city-level review required to ensure new construction and exterior modifications “harmonize” with the surrounding neighborhood and implement the General Plan. The requirements live primarily in the Westlake Village zoning/planning ordinance: Chapter 9.15 (Design Standards) and the Planned Development / review chapters that implement discretionary design decisions. See the city’s zoning overview for context. § 9.15.010 and § 9.15.020 set the basic purpose and applicability of design review in Westlake Village .

What the code says (plain-English synthesis, with controlling citations)

• Design review is triggered for “any permit or zoning clearance which authorizes new construction or exterior modifications to an existing structure” — i.e., most visible building changes are subject to the design standards in § 9.15.020 .
• The design rules are both: (a) general standards (materials, colors, lighting, screening, equipment concealment) in § 9.15.030, and (b) zone- or plan‑area specific standards implemented via Planned Development or other discretionary approvals (see Chapters 9.24 and 9.25) .
• A zoning clearance from the Planning Director is normally required before building permits for new or altered buildings; that clearance ensures compliance with the zoning/design rules (see § 9.4.040) .
• Large or site‑sensitive projects are processed under a Planned Development Permit; the Planned Development process embeds design review and specific required findings (§ 9.25.020 and § 9.25.080) .
• For multi‑building or specific-plan areas (for example Westlake North) the Specific Plan carries extra, parcel-level design criteria and landscape/parking standards that must be satisfied in design review (e.g., Chapter 9.24) .

Note: this page stays narrowly on design review (zoning/planning ordinance rules). For building code/construction standards see the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district breakdown (what design review looks like by zone)

The ordinance establishes the following zones in § 9.3.010: R-1, RPD, MHP, CPD, CR, BP, MU, PI, OS, SP; each zone pulls the design standards in Chapter 9 and Chapter 9.15 into its permit rules .

For each district below I summarize the ordinance material relevant to design review: purpose, typical permitted uses, key dimensional/design controls (when stated in the code), and where the district’s projects are most likely to need design review.

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose: protect and stabilize single‑family neighborhoods § 9.5.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwelling, employee housing (limited), accessory uses (ADUs/JADUs when allowed) § 9.5.020 and ADU rules § 9.14.070 .
• Key dimensional/design controls: maximum main building height 2 stories / 35 ft for principal structures; accessory structures max 1 story / 18 ft (see R‑1 development standards in Chapter 9.14) § 9.14.020 (A) .
• Where design review applies: exterior changes that require a zoning clearance or additions that exceed thresholds (see Planned Development triggers) — design standards in § 9.15 apply to exterior modifications .

RPD (Residential Planned Development)

• Purpose: to allow flexible multi‑unit residential design while protecting character; developments require plan-level design review § 9.6.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family, multifamily, apartments, employee housing; accessory uses (ADUs allowed with separate ADU rules) § 9.6.020–030 .
• Key dimensional/design controls: RPD projects are processed by Planned Development Permit (PDP) and must include site orientation, open space, landscape, parking, utility undergrounding, and trash enclosure treatments; see RPD design standards § 9.6.100 and RPD findings § 9.6.120 .
• Where applies: any residential planned development; PDP carries the design review and required findings.

MHP (Mobilehome Park)

• Purpose and conditional‑use constraints specified in § 9.7.010–020; planned development permit required and design standards apply (Chapter 9.25, Chapter 9.15) .
• Key design issues typically include circulation, screening, and open space; check Chapter 9.7 for use limits and PDP triggers.

CPD (Commercial Planned Development) and CR (Commercial Recreation)

• The CPD/CR Zones are commercial zones that rely on Chapter 9.25 Planned Development and Chapter 9.15 design standards for project design. Planning Area text (Westlake North) explicitly references CPD permitted uses and requires design review in that specific‑plan context (see Chapter 9.24, Planning Areas B–E) .
• Example Planning Area rules (useful when projects fall in the Westlake North SP): e.g., Planning Area C/E list permitted retail, professional, medical and dining uses with maximum FAR 0.35 and maximum height 41 ft (C) or 35 ft (E) — these plan‑area limits must be checked alongside design standards (Chapter 9.24) .

BP (Business Park)

• Purpose: encourage office/light industrial with design controls to limit off‑site impacts § 9.10.010; typical uses and permitted uses listed in § 9.10.020 (offices, light manufacturing, warehousing, research) .
• Design review focus: building orientation (avoid long planar walls toward freeway), screening of tuck‑under and subgrade parking, berm/landscape buffers, lighting controls — implemented through PDP and Chapter 9.24 where a specific plan applies (see Planning Area D standards) .

MU, PI, OS, SP

• The code establishes MU, PI, OS, and SP as zones (§ 9.3.010). Specific design and permitted‑use rules are in their respective chapters or in specific plans (for SP). Where a project is inside an SP (e.g., Westlake North), Chapter 9.24 provides detailed design provisions and modifications procedures § 9.24.030–110 .
• For MU/PI/OS: local code text for full use lists or dimensional standards was not found in the retrieved snippets — verify with the jurisdiction or full code (see Information Gaps).

Quick decision‑relevant table (triggers / standards)

Practical guidance for applicants (plain‑English)

• Before you draw final plans, confirm whether your project is ministerial (e.g., most ADUs that meet state and local objective standards) or discretionary (PDP / CUP). ADUs have a ministerial path if they meet § 9.14.070 ADU standards; otherwise expect discretionary review and design standards to apply .
• Expect the Planning Director or Planning Commission to review exterior materials, color palette (earthen tones), lighting, equipment screening and landscape plans under § 9.15.030; include a materials board and landscape/irrigation plan with your submission .
• For projects inside a Specific Plan area (for example Westlake North), check the Planning Area standards in Chapter 9.24 (setbacks, FAR, heights, berm/screening requirements). Those plan rules can create additional design mandates and may require CC&Rs or off‑site improvements .
• Coordinate parking (covered by Chapter 9.19) and screening requirements early; parking and landscape treatments are recurring design conditions in PDP approvals .

(For parking calculations and stall dimensions consult Chapter 9.19 and the city’s parking guidance; see the Parking page.)

Checklist (what to assemble for a design review submittal)

• Project narrative describing how the design meets the intent of § 9.15.010–030 (materials, colors, lighting, screening)
• Scaled site plan showing setbacks, building massing, parking, service areas and emergency access (coordinate with § 9.19 parking requirements)
• Elevations and material/color board calling out the “earthen” palette and exterior finishes (§ 9.15.030(A))
• Landscape and irrigation plans (site‑specific landscape plans are required in Specific Plan areas and commonly required in design review) § 9.24.030 / Chapter 9.16
• Screening details for rooftop/mechanical equipment (Chapter 9.15 and project‑specific PDP conditions)
• If applicable, PDP/CUP application materials addressing the findings in § 9.25.080 (and any zone‑specific findings such as § 9.6.120 for RPD)
• Evidence of compliance with applicable Specific Plan (Chapter 9.24) requirements when project is in the Westlake North area

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps (what the retrieved materials did NOT clearly provide)

• Full text for some zone chapters (e.g., complete CPD, CR, MU, PI chapters) was not fully visible in the retrieved snippets; specific permitted‑use lists or numerical development standards for those zones may be elsewhere in the municipal code. Verify with the full code or Planning Department. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Administrative fee schedule, application forms, and submittal packet checklists for design review / zoning clearance were not included in the materials I reviewed. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Precise staff/Commission delegation rules for design exceptions (e.g., what the Planning Director can approve versus what requires Commission/Council) require checking Chapter 9.25/9.4 and local administrative policies. Partial guidance in § 9.25; see § 9.25.040 § 9.25.050 for hearing/review rules .

Plain‑English Summary

If you’re changing the outside of a building in Westlake Village you will almost always need to meet the city’s design standards: submit plans showing materials, colors (earthen tones), screening for mechanicals, lighting, parking and landscaping; small ADUs that meet objective rules may be approved ministerially, but bigger changes typically go through discretionary Planned Development/Design Review where the Planning Director or Commission will make specific findings before approval § 9.15.020; § 9.25.020 .

Source References

• § 9.15.010 – Purpose (Design Standards); the city’s design review purpose and intent .
• § 9.15.020 – Applicability (Design Standards); design review triggers (new construction or exterior modifications) .
• § 9.15.030 – General Design Standards; materials/colors/lighting/screening rules .
• § 9.4.040 – Zoning Clearance; zoning clearance requirement before building permit for exterior change .
• § 9.25.020 and § 9.25.080 – Planned Development Permit applicability and findings (how PDP embeds design review) .
• Chapter 9.6 (RPD) — purpose, permitted uses, RPD design standards and RPD findings § 9.6.010, § 9.6.020, § 9.6.100, § 9.6.120 .
• Chapter 9.10 (BP Zone) — purpose and permitted uses for Business Park § 9.10.010–020 .
• Chapter 9.24 (Westlake North Specific Plan) — Planning Area design rules, FAR/height/setbacks, landscape plan requirements § 9.24.030 et seq. .
• Official list of zoning districts § 9.3.010 (R‑1, RPD, MHP, CPD, CR, BP, MU, PI, OS, SP) .
• ADU standards and ministerial ADU process § 9.14.070 (ADU development standards, ministerial paths) .
• Off‑street parking/design standards references (Chapter 9.19) and parking reductions/alternating use rules § 9.19.070–080 .

Internal policy/guide pages referenced on this site for related topics:

• Westlake Village Zoning — used as the landing page for “design review” context.
• Westlake Village Development Standards — referenced for setbacks/height rules.
• Westlake Village Parking — referenced for off‑street parking controls.
• Westlake Village Overlay Districts — verify overlays if project is in overlay area.
• Westlake Village ADUs — ministerial ADU path referenced.
• Westlake Village Landscaping and Screening — landscaping requirement context.
• California Building Standards Code — building code requirements live here (non‑zoning).

Retrieved passages

• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Section shall) High relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Section 9.06.100) High relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Section 9.25) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Section governing) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 468 (CHAPTER 9.25.) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Section upon) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Chapter 9.25) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Section 9.24.070) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (CHAPTER 9.25.) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Section 65454) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Chapter 9.15.) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 9.14.070 (Section 9.14.070) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Chapter 9.35) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Chapter 9.14) Medium relevance show source text
• Westlake Village Zoning Code (Section 9.10.020) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 9.15.010 – Purpose (Design Standards)**; the city’s design review purpose and intent . (§ 9.15.010)
• **§ 9.15.020 – Applicability (Design Standards)**; design review triggers (new construction or exterior modifications) . (§ 9.15.020)
• **§ 9.15.030 – General Design Standards**; materials/colors/lighting/screening rules . (§ 9.15.030)
• **§ 9.4.040 – Zoning Clearance**; zoning clearance requirement before building permit for exterior change . (§ 9.4.040)
• **§ 9.25.020** and **§ 9.25.080** – Planned Development Permit applicability and findings (how PDP embeds design review) . (§ 9.25.020)
• **Chapter 9.6 (RPD)** — purpose, permitted uses, RPD design standards and RPD findings **§ 9.6.010, § 9.6.020, § 9.6.100, § 9.6.120** . (Chapter 9.6)
• **Chapter 9.10 (BP Zone)** — purpose and permitted uses for Business Park **§ 9.10.010–020** . (Chapter 9.10)
• **Chapter 9.24 (Westlake North Specific Plan)** — Planning Area design rules, FAR/height/setbacks, landscape plan requirements **§ 9.24.030 et seq.** . (Chapter 9.24)
• Official list of zoning districts **§ 9.3.010** (R‑1, RPD, MHP, CPD, CR, BP, MU, PI, OS, SP) . (§ 9.3.010)
• ADU standards and ministerial ADU process **§ 9.14.070** (ADU development standards, ministerial paths) . (§ 9.14.070)
• Off‑street parking/design standards references (Chapter **9.19**) and parking reductions/alternating use rules **§ 9.19.070–080** . (§ 9.19.070)
• Westlake Village Zoning — used as the landing page for “design review” context.
• Westlake Village Development Standards — referenced for setbacks/height rules.
• Westlake Village Parking — referenced for off‑street parking controls.
• Westlake Village Overlay Districts — verify overlays if project is in overlay area.
• Westlake Village ADUs — ministerial ADU path referenced.
• Westlake Village Landscaping and Screening — landscaping requirement context.
• California Building Standards Code — building code requirements live here (non‑zoning).
• WestlakeVillage_ZoningCode.md

• Official Westlake Village code library