Woodland — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Design review in Woodland is administered through the Zoning Code (Title 17) as the City’s Development Review process. It requires applicants to demonstrate that site layout, building form, materials, landscaping, signage, and related features meet the City’s objective and discretionary design standards and findings before final permits are issued; the core rules are in § 17.100.040 and the tiered procedures are in § 17.100.050–070. See the City's general zoning overview on the Woodland zoning page for related process context.

Note: this page stays strictly on what the Woodland Zoning Code (Title 17) requires for design/site/architectural review — for building-code compliance (Title 24) or construction permits see the California Building Standards Code. [/us/california/building-codes]

What the Code requires (big picture)

• Development Review (the local name for design/architectural/site-plan review) purpose and applicability are in § 17.100.040; it is required for most exterior work, new nonresidential construction, multi-unit projects, major landscaping changes and other categories the Code specifies.
• The Code uses a three-tier system (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3) to assign the level of review and the decision authority (Director, Zoning Administrator, or Planning Commission) and includes thresholds for each tier (§ 17.100.050 – 17.100.070).
• All projects subject to Development Review must comply with the applicable objective and discretionary design and development standards found in Division III (Building & Site Design Standards, Chapter 17.56) and related zone-specific design rules.

(First mention links used in text: "Woodland zoning" as the high-level page, "development standards" for standards, "parking" and "ADUs" where relevant are linked in later sections.) [/us/california/woodland] [/us/california/woodland/development-standards] [/us/california/woodland/parking] [/us/california/woodland/adu]

How Development Review is structured (Decision-relevant table)

District-by-district breakdown (what matters for design review)

Below are the City’s zones listed in Title 17 with the Code’s purpose statement and the most decision-relevant standards or uses that commonly affect Design Review. Each district name is bolded; where the Code gives numeric standards (setbacks, heights, lot coverage) the controlling section or table is cited. Verify parcel-specific rules with the jurisdiction.

R-L (Low-Density Residential)

• Purpose: accommodate low-density single-family housing and complementary community facilities.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family detached, accessory uses (see ADU rules). See Table 17.24.020‑1 for full use list.
• Key dimensional/design standards: Front setback 20 ft, Interior side 5 ft, Rear 20 ft, max lot coverage ~50% (see Table 17.24.030‑1). Landscaping and small‑lot rules apply via Chapter 17.56.
• Where it applies: older and low-density neighborhoods (map maintained by City Clerk).

N-P (Neighborhood Preservation)

• Purpose: preserve character of older neighborhoods (often pre‑1940). Design review emphasizes compatibility with existing fabric.
• Uses: similar to R-L but with special preservation emphasis; some small commercial or community uses via permit.
• Standards: Front setback 20 ft, other setbacks as in Table 17.24.030‑1; additions and restorations must follow single‑family design standards (§ 17.56.020).

R-LM (Residential Low‑Medium)

• Purpose: transitional zone allowing a mix of low/medium housing types.
• Uses: single‑ and multi‑unit residential permitted with conditions; small lot subdivisions may apply.
• Standards: Front setback 20 ft, Max lot coverage 60% (varies by subzone); see Table 17.24.030‑1.

R‑M (Residential Medium)

• Purpose: for more intensive multi‑unit housing, townhomes, small apartments.
• Uses: multi‑unit dwellings, community facilities; projects often require more detailed Development Review (Tier 2 or 3 depending on size).
• Standards: Front setback often 15 ft, interior side 5 ft, rear 10–15 ft depending on abutting zones, heights up to 40 ft in some cases (Table 17.24.030‑1).

R‑H (Residential High)

• Purpose: high‑density housing (20–40 du/ac); design review emphasizes building massing, shared open space, pedestrian connections.
• Uses: multifamily, rowhouses; larger projects typically Tier 2 or Tier 3 review.
• Standards: reduced setbacks in some locations, higher lot coverage and taller height limits (refer to Table 17.24.030‑1).

DX‑1, DX‑2, DX‑3, DX‑4 (Downtown zones)

• Purpose: DX‑1 Downtown Core, DX‑2 Downtown Civic, DX‑3 Transitional, DX‑4 Downtown Gateway — each supports mixed uses, pedestrian orientation and historic context in the core.
• Uses: vertical/horizontal mixed‑use; retail, offices, housing, civic uses. Projects in downtown often trigger special downtown design standards and historic review in § 17.56.060.
• Standards: close or zero front setbacks, pedestrian‑scaled façades, signage limits in Table 17.72; historic storefront and material requirements are enforced.

CMU‑WM, CMU‑E, CMU‑K, CMU‑A, CMU‑F, CMU‑G, CCMU, NMU (Corridor & Community Mixed‑Use zones)

• Purpose: encourage mixed‑use corridors and transitions between commercial cores and neighborhoods.
• Uses: ground‑floor retail/active uses, upper‑floor residential; design review focuses on building frontage, pedestrian amenities, and parking integration.
• Standards: frontage requirements, building form controls and maximum sign areas vary by CMU subtype (see relevant chapter for each CMU zone).

RC / RC‑F (Regional Commercial & Regional Commercial‑Flex)

• Purpose: larger commercial centers; design review emphasizes circulation, large‑scale landscaping, and screening of service areas.
• Uses: big‑box retail, shopping centers, commercial services. Design review will closely examine parking layout and signage in accordance with Chapter 17.72 and § 17.56. [/us/california/woodland/parking]

IF / IG / BP (Employment / Industrial / Business Park)

• Purpose: employment uses and light industrial operations — design review points: service yard screening, building materials, and pedestrian/cyclist access.
• Uses: manufacturing, business parks, flex uses; some uses require conditional use permits with concurrent development review.

PF, OS, FSA (Public Facilities, Open Space, Flood Study Area)

• Purpose: public institutions, parks, and constrained floodplain areas — design review coordinates with functional requirements and safety/landscape standards.

Specific Plans: SLSP, SASP

• Purpose: projects inside a Specific Plan are subject to the Precise Plan / Specific Plan rules; design review procedures and standards may be in the specific plan documents rather than only Chapter 17.56. See § 17.116 for Precise Plans.

Overlay: PD (Planned Development) and other overlays

• Purpose: the PD overlay allows a project‑specific set of development standards and design guidelines to replace or supplement the underlying zone; PD approvals include their own development review requirements and findings. See Chapter 17.112 (Planned Development) and Chapter 17.116 (Precise Plans).

Key local Design Requirements to remember (plain items with code cites)

• Development Review is mandatory for most exterior work and many new projects: § 17.100.040.
• Projects are reviewed against the City’s design standards in Chapter 17.56 (materials, color, pedestrian circulation, shaded walkways, streetscape, and landscape requirements).
• Historic buildings and downtown projects must follow special downtown/historic standards; the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards are referenced for designated historic resources. § 17.56.060 and Chapter 15.24.
• Tier thresholds: small single‑family or accessory projects are often Tier 1 (staff review); larger nonresidential façades, new nonresidential buildings, multi‑unit residential >2 units, major landscape changes and accessory structures above certain sizes move to Tier 2 or Tier 3 depending on complexity/entitlements — see § 17.100.050–070 for exact categories.

(Where the Zoning Code cross‑references parking, landscaping, signs, overlays or variances, examine the respective chapters: Parking, Landscaping and Screening, Signage, Overlay Districts and Variances and Exceptions.) [/us/california/woodland/parking] [/us/california/woodland/landscaping-and-screening] [/us/california/woodland/signage] [/us/california/woodland/overlay-districts] [/us/california/woodland/variances-and-exceptions]

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for Design Review)

• Submit a complete Development Review application on the City form (per § 17.96.020 and § 17.100.040.D.1).
• Provide scaled site plans showing building footprints, setbacks (use Table 17.24.030‑1 for residential), vehicular and bicycle parking, trash/loading areas, and circulation.
• Present architectural elevations, materials/finishes schedule, and color palette consistent with Chapter 17.56 material standards.
• Landscape plan prepared by a qualified designer where required (commercial/institutional and residential >4 units per Chapter 17.56).
• Sign program (if signage is proposed) per Chapter 17.72.
• Demonstrate compliance with parking requirements and any loading/driveway standards. [/us/california/woodland/parking]
• If historic resource impacts, include historic treatment approach consistent with § 17.56.060.
• Address sustainability and Climate Action Plan consistency where applicable (Design Review consideration list includes sustainability). § 17.100.040.E.9.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you change a building’s exterior, build a new commercial building, or create more than two new housing units in Woodland you will usually need Development Review under Title 17; the City checks massing, materials, landscaping, parking and neighborhood fit and routes your application through a Tier 1–3 process depending on size and complexity — see § 17.100.040 and the Tier definitions § 17.100.050–070.

Source References

• Title 17 — Zoning Code (Title page and purposes) — § 17.04.010–050.
• Development Review: purpose, applicability, considerations — § 17.100.040.
• Development Review Tiers: Tier 1 / Tier 2 / Tier 3 thresholds and procedures — § 17.100.050, § 17.100.060, § 17.100.070.
• General design and architectural standards (materials, colors, pedestrian circulation, shaded walkways, etc.) — Chapter 17.56 (e.g., § 17.56.070 excerpts).
• Residential zone purposes, uses, and development standards (Table 17.24.030‑1 & 17.24.020‑1) — Chapter 17.24 (Residential Zones).
• Downtown/historic design standards — § 17.56.060 and Historical Landmarks chapter 15.24.
• ADU provisions and how they interact with design/review tiers — § 17.84.030.
• Zones list (Table 17.12.010‑1) — Chapter 17.12 (Zones Established).
• Planned Development / Precise Plan authorities — Chapters 17.112 / 17.116.

If you want the exact ordinance text for any cited §, I relied on the Woodland Zoning Code extract you provided (Title 17). For procedural checklists and application forms see the Community Development Director’s administrative rules referenced at § 17.04.050 and § 17.96.020 (Application Forms and Fees).

Retrieved passages

• Woodland Zoning Code (Chapter 17.116.) High relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (§ 17.100.040.) High relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (§ 17.96.080.C) High relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (§ 17.100.070.) High relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (§ 17.112.020.) High relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (§ 6409.) High relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (§ 17.56.040.) Medium relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (§ 17.24.040.) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 17.84.040 (§ 17.84.040.) Medium relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (§ 17.24.040.) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 17.56.060 (section as) Medium relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code (chapter with) Medium relevance show source text
• Woodland Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 17 — Zoning Code (Title page and purposes) — **§ 17.04.010–050**. (Title 17)
• Development Review: purpose, applicability, considerations — **§ 17.100.040**. (§ 17.100.040)
• Development Review Tiers: Tier 1 / Tier 2 / Tier 3 thresholds and procedures — **§ 17.100.050**, **§ 17.100.060**, **§ 17.100.070**. (§ 17.100.050)
• General design and architectural standards (materials, colors, pedestrian circulation, shaded walkways, etc.) — Chapter **17.56** (e.g., **§ 17.56.070** excerpts). (§ 17.56.070)
• Residential zone purposes, uses, and development standards (Table 17.24.030‑1 & 17.24.020‑1) — Chapter **17.24** (Residential Zones).
• Downtown/historic design standards — **§ 17.56.060** and Historical Landmarks chapter **15.24**. (§ 17.56.060)
• ADU provisions and how they interact with design/review tiers — **§ 17.84.030**. (§ 17.84.030)
• Zones list (Table 17.12.010‑1) — Chapter **17.12** (Zones Established).
• Planned Development / Precise Plan authorities — Chapters **17.112** / **17.116**.
• Woodland_ZoningCode.md

• Official Woodland code library