Local zoning · Westminster

Westminster — Design Review

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

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Westminster's local zoning code (Title 17 of the Westminster Municipal Code) treats "design review" through a formal Development Review permit program and a City Design Review Board. Development Review governs architectural/site design for nonresidential projects and multiunit residential projects, while the Design Review Board and the Community Development Director have defined roles in reviewing particular project thresholds and referrals. Key procedural rules, findings, and conditional‑approval powers are in the Title 17 Development Review and Zoning Administration chapters. Design review is administered under Title 17’s Development Review provisions and related administrative chapters (§ 17.520., § 17.600.) .

(First mentions of related topics are linked below for navigation: Westminster Zoning, Westminster Development Standards, Westminster Parking, Westminster Overlay Districts, Westminster ADUs, and California Building Standards Code.)

  • Westminster Zoning: /us/california/westminster/zoning
  • Westminster Development Standards: /us/california/westminster/development-standards
  • Westminster Parking: /us/california/westminster/parking
  • Westminster Overlay Districts: /us/california/westminster/overlay-districts
  • Westminster ADUs: /us/california/westminster/adu
  • California Building Standards Code: /us/california/building-codes

What Title 17 calls "Design Review"

  • Title 17 calls the review process for building/site design a Development Review and sets applicability, findings, conditions of approval, and post‑approval procedures in § 17.520.010 – § 17.520.030. The findings for approval require that the project not be detrimental to public health/safety/welfare, comply with Title 17 and the Design Guidelines manual, be consistent with the General Plan, and have necessary public facilities available (§ 17.520.020) .

  • The City also maintains a Design Review Board (membership by Council resolution) whose duties include recommending approval/denial on specific project types (e.g., new residential projects of 7 or more units, nonresidential buildings 3,000 gross sq. ft. or more, exterior architectural changes to buildings ≥ 3,000 sq. ft., wireless facilities not stealth‑designed, demolition of historic structures) — see § 17.600.020 for the Board's authority and referral rules .

  • The Community Development Director is the zoning administrator and may be the initial review authority for many Development Review matters; the Director may also refer projects to the Commission or Design Review Board (§ 17.600.025) .

  • Where a project needs other land‑use permits (CUP, Variance, Planned Development, etc.), Development Review is often processed concurrently; projects subject to CEQA may require Commission hearing/action (§ 17.520.010) .

Applicability — who needs Development/Design Review

Per § 17.520.010, Development Review is required for at least the following (selected list; see code for full list):

  • Nonresidential projects over 1,000 gross square feet.
  • New residential projects with three or more units.
  • Wireless communication facilities co‑located with existing facilities (and other wireless situations per Article 4).
  • Moving a building onto a site; demolition of historic structures.
  • All development within the MU36 and MU40 mixed‑use districts.
    Certain small projects and single‑family work (including ADUs/JADUs and SB 9 two‑unit developments) are explicitly exempt from Development Review and are processed by Zoning Clearance instead (§ 17.520.010(C)) .

Decision standard and authority

  • Approvals require the Development Review findings in § 17.520.020 (no detriment to public welfare; compliance with Title 17 and the Design Guidelines manual; consistency with the General Plan; adequate public facilities) and the review authority may impose design/locational/operational conditions § 17.520.025 .

  • Administrative/conditional use permits have parallel findings and condition authority under § 17.550.020 and § 17.550.025 when design review is part of a CUP/AUP process .

  • The Director and Commission roles (who decides, who hears appeals, etc.) are defined by the Review Authority table and Title 17 administration chapters; the Council hears appeals of Commission/Director decisions (§ 17.600.*) .

District-by-district breakdown (how Design/Development Review interacts with each district)

Below are Westminster’s core districts that commonly encounter design review. For each district I list the purpose, typical permitted uses (high level), and the most decision‑relevant dimensional/development standards you will see applied during design review. Always verify parcel‑specific rules with the City — some sites have overlays or PD approvals that change these baseline standards.

Note: the Westminster Design Guidelines Manual (referenced in Title 17) is often consulted in design review; the Manual is not codified in Article text but is applied via the Development Review findings (§ 17.520.020) . For development standards and setback details see Westminster Development Standards (/us/california/westminster/development-standards).

Residential districts — R1, R2, R3, R4, R5

  • Purpose: preserve single‑family and varying density multi‑family neighborhoods; implement General Plan residential policies (§ 17.210.015) .
  • Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes in R1; duplex/low‑density multi in R2; greater multifamily densities in R3–R5 as allowed in Table 2‑3 (§ 17.210.015) .
  • Key development standards used by reviewers (high level): minimum lot sizes, maximum density, maximum building heights (typically 2 stories/35 ft in R1), rear/side/front setbacks, maximum lot coverage (see Table 2‑3). Example summary: R1 minimum lot size 6,000 SF (6,500 SF for corner lots), max height 2 stories/35 ft, max lot coverage 40%; R5 allows higher density and up to 60% lot coverage (Table 2‑3) .
  • Where it applies: citywide residential neighborhoods; Design Review applies to multi‑unit projects of 3+ units (so many R3–R5 projects) per § 17.520.010 .

Commercial districts — CR (Restricted Commercial), C1 (Local Business), C2 (General Business)

  • Purpose: CR for low‑intensity office; C1 for neighborhood retail/service; C2 for freeway/regional services (§ 17.220.005) .
  • Typical uses: offices and limited retail in CR (retail may require Commission review); broad retail/service in C1; regional retail/auto‑oriented uses in C2. Many uses require CUP/AUP as noted in the use tables (Article 2) .
  • Decision standards: reviewers check building setbacks, façade design vs. Design Guidelines, parking layout (Westminster Parking standards), signage compliance, and screening between commercial and residential uses (§ 17.300.035). Design review often focuses on materials, pedestrian interface, and landscaping/parking layout .

Mixed‑Use districts — MU36 and MU40

  • Purpose: encourage vertically or horizontally integrated residential + commercial development at medium‑high densities; MU36 = 36 du/ac, MU40 = 40 du/ac (§ 17.260.005) .
  • Where it applies: downtown and targeted mixed‑use corridors (see Chapter 17.260). Note: all development within MU36 and MU40 requires Development Review per § 17.520.010(A)(9) .
  • Key dimensional standards (Table 2‑9 highlights): maximum heights up to 5 stories/75 ft (MU36) or 6 stories/95 ft (MU40) for mixed‑use developments; setback ranges (front, upper story stepbacks), FAR for nonresidential components, and minimum unit sizes (studio/1/2/3 bed) are listed in § 17.260.015 and Table 2‑9 — these are primary decision controls during design review for mixed‑use projects .

Planned Development (PD) Overlay and Housing (H) Overlay

  • PD Overlay: applied to large‑scale, integrated projects; permitted uses and development standards are set by Council through a Comprehensive Plan; PD projects require the Comprehensive Plan approval process (Chapter 17.250, § 17.250.030) — design and site issues are often decided as part of the PD approval and later reviewed for conformance (§ 17.250.030) .
  • Housing (H) Overlay: used for parcels targeted for housing growth; new residential development on H overlay lots must provide a minimum density of 30 du/net acre; design review enforces objective standards and General Plan consistency in these areas (§ 17.250.035) .

Industrial districts — CM, M1, M2

  • Purpose: industrial, manufacturing, and business park uses; design review emphasizes screening, setbacks where industrial abuts residential, and security fencing rules (§ 17.230.015; § 17.300.035) .

One decision‑relevant table (summary of common design review triggers and standards)

Review topic / standard Typical decision relevance in Westminster Code reference
Projects that require Development Review Nonresidential > 1,000 gsf; new residential 3+ units; all development in MU36/MU40; moving buildings; demolition of historic resources § 17.520.010
Design Review Board referral thresholds Residential projects 7+ units; commercial buildings ≥ 3,000 gsf; exterior changes to buildings ≥ 3,000 gsf; demolition of historic structures § 17.600.020
Approval findings (Development Review) Project not detrimental to public welfare; complies with Title 17 and Design Guidelines; consistent with General Plan; public facilities available § 17.520.020
Conditions of approval Review authority can impose design, locational, operational conditions; may include standard conditions of approval § 17.520.025
Administrative role / appeal Director, Planning Commission, Council roles defined in administration; appeals to Council § 17.600.025; Table 5‑1 (Review Authority)
Design standards commonly enforced Setbacks, height, lot coverage, FAR, landscaping/screening, parking layout (refer to applicable zone tables and Article 3 development standards) Table 2‑3, Table 2‑9; Article 3; § 17.210.015; § 17.260.015

Practical guidance and synthesis (plain‑English application notes)

  • If your project is a small remodel on a single‑family lot or an ADU/JADU, it is generally exempt from Development Review and handled as a zoning clearance, but it still must meet objective development standards (setbacks, ADU sizing rules). See the ADU rules in § 17.400.135; Design Guidelines may still inform aesthetics for discretionary elements, but ministerial ADUs follow state ADU rules and local objective standards .

  • For any commercial project larger than 1,000 gsf, and for residential projects of 3+ units, expect a Development Review package (site plan, elevations, landscape plan, parking/layout) and a review against the Westminster Design Guidelines Manual and Title 17 findings (§ 17.520.010, § 17.520.020) .

  • Projects meeting Design Review Board thresholds (e.g., ≥ 3,000 gsf nonresidential, 7+ units residential) will go to the Board (or be referred) for recommendation; the Board’s recommendation feeds the approving authority per § 17.600.020 .

  • The Director can impose or require conditions to secure the approval findings (landscaping, materials, screening, off‑site mitigation). If you need relief from development standards (setback, height, lot coverage), explore Administrative Adjustments (limited relief as listed in Table 5‑2) or a variance if the relief exceeds administrative limits (§ 17.555.010; Table 5‑2) .

  • Mixed‑use projects in MU36/MU40 are subject to special mixed‑use development standards (story limits, FAR, front/upper floor setbacks) and always require Development Review — these zone rules drive massing and pedestrian frontage treatment during design review (§ 17.260.015; § 17.520.010) .

Checklist — what applicants must submit / satisfy for a Development Review (typical)

  • Complete Development Review application form and fees (per Chapter 17.500 submittal rules)
  • Site plan showing lot lines, building footprints, parking layout, access, and relationship to adjacent properties (City site plan standards)
  • Exterior elevations and materials/color samples for buildings ≥ 3,000 gsf or when exterior changes are proposed (Design Review Board threshold)
  • Landscaping and irrigation plan consistent with Chapter 17.310 and screening standards (§ 17.300.035)
  • Parking and circulation plan complying with Westminster Parking standards (Chapter 17.320) and applicable zone tables
  • Responses demonstrating compliance with Design Guidelines and the Development Review findings (§ 17.520.020)
  • Any required environmental review materials (CEQA checklist / initial study) if not exempt (§ 17.500.030)

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Thresholds that trigger Board review (e.g., 3,000 gsf, 7+ units) Triggers a higher level of review and possible public hearing; changes timing and potential conditions Confirm whether the proposed building area includes mezzanines or covered porches when calculating gross square footage; check § 17.600.020 and municipal definitions
Design Guidelines vs. codified standards Design Guidelines are referenced in findings but are not in Title 17 text; subjective guidance vs. objective standards can be a source of negotiation Request Director interpretation early; verify whether guidelines are advisory or incorporated as objective standards for your project (§ 17.520.020 requires compliance with the Design Guidelines manual)
Project overlays or prior PD/comprehensive plan approvals Overlays (PD, H, P, etc.) can supersede baseline zoning standards and impose project‑specific design commitments Check the parcel’s zoning map and any superseding Comprehensive Plan/PD documents; see PD rules at § 17.250.030
ADU treatment and exemptions ADU state laws interact with local design standards; some ADU elements are ministerial and others may require discretionary review Confirm whether your ADU is subject to local objective design standards only, and whether it remains exempt from Development Review per § 17.520.010(C) and ADU section § 17.400.135
Administrative Adjustment limits (Table 5‑2) If you need modest relief, the Director can grant adjustments — but limits are small (typically 10%) and one‑time per parcel If your request exceeds Table 5‑2 limits, plan for a variance; see § 17.555.010 and Table 5‑2 for specifics

Plain‑English Summary

If your Westminster project is larger than small single‑family work (nonresidential over 1,000 sq ft, or residential of three or more units, or in MU36/MU40), you will need a Development Review package demonstrating compliance with Title 17 standards and the City Design Guidelines; certain larger projects go to the Design Review Board, and the Director/Commission can place reasonable design and operational conditions on approval (§ 17.520.010; § 17.600.020) .

Source References

  • Westminster Zoning Code (Title 17) — Development Review applicability, findings, conditions: § 17.520.010 – § 17.520.030.
  • Westminster Zoning Code — Administrative/Conditional Use findings and site plan review conditions: § 17.550.020; § 17.550.025.
  • Westminster Zoning Code — Design Review Board duties/thresholds: § 17.600.020.
  • Westminster Zoning Code — Residential district standards (Table 2‑3) and district intent: § 17.210.015 and Table 2‑3.
  • Westminster Zoning Code — Mixed‑use district standards (MU36/MU40) and Table 2‑9: § 17.260.015 / Table 2‑9.
  • Westminster Zoning Code — Planned Development Overlay (PD) and Housing Overlay (H): § 17.250.030; § 17.250.035.
  • Westminster Zoning Code — Administrative Adjustments / Table 5‑2: § 17.555.010.
  • Westminster Zoning Code — ADU standards: § 17.400.135.
  • Westminster Zoning Code — Screening and landscaping standards (used in design review): § 17.300.035.

External/internal links used in this page:

  • Westminster zoning & planning overview: /us/california/westminster
  • Westminster Zoning: /us/california/westminster/zoning
  • Westminster Development Standards: /us/california/westminster/development-standards
  • Westminster Parking: /us/california/westminster/parking
  • Westminster Overlay Districts: /us/california/westminster/overlay-districts
  • Westminster ADUs: /us/california/westminster/adu
  • California Building Standards Code: /us/california/building-codes

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Westminster Zoning Code (Title denies) High relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (Title or) High relevance
  • CGBSC § A5.103 (SECTION A5.103) High relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (Article 3) Medium relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (Article 3) Medium relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (Article 7) Medium relevance
  • Westminster Zoning Code (Article 7) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Development Review for a new commercial building in Westminster?

Yes — a new nonresidential project over 1,000 gross square feet requires Development Review under Westminster Zoning Code § 17.520.010, and the project will be evaluated against Title 17 standards and the City Design Guidelines in the findings § 17.520.020 .

When does the Design Review Board (not the Director) review a project?

The Design Review Board is specifically tasked to recommend on residential projects of 7 or more units, or nonresidential buildings 3,000 gross sq. ft. or more, exterior architectural changes to buildings ≥ 3,000 sq. ft., and other referred projects per § 17.600.020; the Director can refer projects, too .

Is an ADU subject to Design/Development Review in Westminster?

ADUs are generally exempt from Development Review as listed in § 17.520.010(C) when they meet ministerial ADU rules, but they must comply with the ADU development standards in § 17.400.135; confirm whether any overlay or PD approval on the parcel imposes additional requirements .

What findings must be made for a Development Review approval?

Approving authorities must make the findings in § 17.520.020: the project must not be detrimental to public health/safety/welfare; must comply with Title 17 and the Design Guidelines manual; be consistent with the General Plan; and have public facilities available to serve the site .

Can the Director grant small deviations from development standards?

Yes. The Director may grant Administrative Adjustments for items listed in Table 5‑2 (generally limited to about 10% adjustments for things like dwelling unit size, driveway width, projections, small setback reductions, etc.); relief beyond Table 5‑2 requires a variance § 17.555.010 and Table 5‑2 .

Are Westminster's Design Guidelines codified in Title 17?

No — the City’s Design Guidelines Manual is not codified as Article text but is referenced as a compliance standard in the Development Review findings and used by reviewers; Title 17 requires projects to comply with the Design Guidelines where applicable under § 17.520.020 .

If my parcel is in MU36 or MU40, is design review automatic?

Yes — all development within MU36 and MU40 is subject to Development Review per § 17.520.010(A)(9), and the mixed‑use chapter prescribes specific height, setback, FAR and unit size rules that govern massing and frontage treatments during review (§ 17.260.015; Table 2‑9) .

Where are the setback, height, and lot coverage numbers I will be judged against?

Setbacks, heights, lot coverage and similar development standards are found in the zoning district tables (e.g., Residential Table 2‑3, Mixed‑Use Table 2‑9) and Article 3 development standards; see § 17.210.015 (Table 2‑3) for residential and § 17.260.015 (Table 2‑9) for MU36/MU40 details .

What happens if my project is inconsistent with the Design Guidelines but meets objective standards?

The Development Review findings require compliance with the Design Guidelines manual (which is applied as a policy/design standard per § 17.520.020). If the issue is purely aesthetic and the guidelines are advisory, the Director/Board may negotiate conditions; if your proposal must meet an objective standard (setback, height), a variance or administrative adjustment may be needed — review authority has condition‑setting power under § 17.520.025 .

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