Local zoning · Woodside

Woodside — Design Review

Q: What are the review thresholds that determine whether staff, the ASR Administrator, the ASRB, or the Planning Commission reviews my project?

Table Q in § 153.912 assigns review authority by location (within scenic corridors/Western Hills vs outside), square footage thresholds (e.g., ≤1,000 sf vs >1,000 sf inside corridors; ≤2,000 sf vs >2,000 sf outside), and special locations (ridge-lines visible from scenic roads). Check that table early in project planning.

Q: What are the evaluation criteria reviewers use?

Reviewers apply the Evaluation Criteria in § 153.911 : Community character, Site planning, Building design, Landscape elements (including grading, native vegetation, lighting, and fire‑safe landscaping). Show how your design meets these tests.

Q: How long does the Board have to act?

The ASRB must act within three meetings or 60 days of initial consideration, whichever occurs first; if the Board does not act, the application is deemed approved (unless applicant consents to continuance) — § 153.915(E) .

Q: Are ADUs counted toward the size thresholds in Table Q?

No — § 153.912(E) states the square footage of proposed accessory dwelling units is not included in the square-footage review thresholds in Table Q; however ADUs have their own rules (see § 153.211 / § 153.107 ). Confirm ADU-specific requirements separately.

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

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Woodside's design review rules live in the Architectural and Site Review subchapter of the Town zoning ordinance (Title 15x/153 series). The process is tiered (staff / Architectural & Site Review Administrator / Architectural and Site Review Board / Planning Commission), uses both Conceptual and Formal design-review steps, and is driven by the Evaluation Criteria (community character, site planning, building design, landscape elements) and location-based triggers (scenic corridors, Western Hills, ridge lines). See the ordinance for the controlling text at § 153.913, § 153.915, § 153.911, and the required-review thresholds in § 153.912.

How this page uses related Woodside guidance

The page refers to the Town's rules on setbacks/development standards where those dimensional standards matter (e.g., R‑1 setbacks) and cites those sections of the code.
When design-review submittals must show circulation and parking, the Town's parking policies are relevant to reviewers and applicants.
The subchapter treats special locations and overlay areas; see Overlay Districts for where an elevated review may apply.
ADU review exemptions and thresholds are referenced in the ordinance; see ADUs and state rules at California Building Standards Code for building-code matters (building-code items are not discussed here).

Key Design-Review rules (what the Woodside code actually says)

Two-step structure: Conceptual Design Review (early, advisory) and Formal Design Review (decision-making). Conceptual and Formal requirements and the need for story poles are expressly discussed in § 153.913.
Applications and fees are filed with the Planning Director; submittal contents are defined by the Town’s Conceptual and Formal Submittal Requirements on file with the Planning Department (§ 153.914).
Decisions and recommendations: the Architectural & Site Review Board (ASRB), the Architectural & Site Review Administrator, staff, or the Planning Commission act depending on the project (see § 153.915 and the Evaluation Criteria in § 153.911).
Timing: the ASRB must act within three meetings or 60 days of initial consideration, unless continued; failure to act becomes an approval (§ 153.915(E)).
Triggers / who reviews a project: Table Q in § 153.912 sets the required reviewing body (staff / ASR Administrator / ASRB / Planning Commission) by location (within scenic corridors & Western Hills vs outside), square footage, percent Total Floor Area (TFA) thresholds, and special locations such as ridge-lines visible from scenic roads. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are treated specially — their square footage is excluded from the size thresholds (see § 153.912(E) and the Table).
Story poles: the ASRB may require story poles; the ASRB shall not refer a Conceptual Review project to staff without story poles being erected unless exempt under § 153.912(B); construction, applicability, timing, and removal details for story poles are provided in the ASR subchapter (story-pole specifications and a 10‑day pre‑hearing installation timing requirement are included in the code language).
Inactive / lapse rules: a Conceptual application that requires Formal review becomes inactive if no Formal application is filed in 6 months (see § 153.916), and approvals may lapse under § 153.917; after denial, reapplication for substantially the same design is limited for one year (§ 153.918).

District-by-district breakdown (where design review intersects zoning)

Notes: The ordinance binds design review to zoning districts and special areas. Below I synthesize the code provisions; citations point to the code sections that set the standards or review rules.

R-1 (Single-Family Residential)

Purpose / context: standard single-family residential district; design-review triggers depend on size and visibility (see § 153.912 Table Q).
Typical permitted uses: single-family residences, accessory uses (ADUs addressed separately in § 153.211).
Key dimensional standards: setbacks and height limits are set by the general setback and height tables—see § 153.207 (Table H) for R‑1 front/rear/side setbacks and applicable height categories; maximum paved/surface coverage rules for R‑1 are in § 153.209 (Tables J‑series).
Where it matters for design review: small single‑family additions under the numerical thresholds in § 153.912 may be staff‑reviewable; larger homes or projects visible from scenic roads or in Western Hills will push review upward to ASRB or Planning Commission.

Community Commercial (CC)

Purpose: commercial center / town-center uses; design is tightly controlled for scale and town-center character. (Building coverage and height limits are district-specific.)
Typical permitted uses: community-serving retail and services (see the zoning district tables in the code for exact permitted and conditional uses). Not every commercial change is ministerial; many are subject to ASRB. Not found in retrieved materials: a full list of CC permitted uses (see zoning table on file). Verify with the Town.
Key dimensional standards: 20% maximum building coverage in CC (Table K, § 153.210); CC heights have special maps and limits (see § 153.208 / Table I‑3 for CC height rules and Town Center constraints).
Where it applies: Town Center parcels and parcels mapped CC on the Town zoning map; many CC applications are routed for ASRB review because of potential visual/aesthetic impacts.

Multi‑Family (MF, MF‑20) and MFRZ (Multi‑Family Residential Zoning)

Purpose: address standards for multi‑family development; certain MF/MFRZ parcels have site-specific objective standards. § 153.110 collects MF/MFRZ standards.
Typical permitted uses: multi‑family housing (per district rules), subject to objective design standards for specific parcels (e.g., Cañada College parcels, Raymundo Drive, High Road).
Key dimensional standards and design standards: MF/MFRZ projects must meet the MF development standards and any parcel-specific objective design standards listed in § 153.110(B)(1–5); changes to approved MF projects follow the same MFRD evaluation process.
Where it applies: mapped MF/MFRZ zones; objective design standards for identified parcels are adopted by Town Council (see the ordinance).

Open Space (OS) and Special Conservation / Glens / SB9 overlays

Purpose: preserve rural/open space character; some special areas (Woodside Glens) have modified height and garage rules. See related sections (OS rules and Woodside Glens exceptions).
Typical permitted uses: conservation, limited residential forms; single-family in OS may still be subject to ASRB review if visible from scenic corridors.
Key dimensional standards / exceptions: the Woodside Glens have distinctive height exceptions for accessory structures; SB9 rules include ministerial design-review process for SB9-compliant housing projects per the local SB9 rules (design-review process line in the SB9 text). Verify parcel-specific SB9 applicability.
Where it applies: OS parcels, mapped Glens parcels and any lots designated SB9 on the Town map. Verify with the Town’s zoning map.

Quick decision-relevant table

Topic / trigger	What happens in Woodside	Code reference (where written)
Conceptual Design Review required (most large/visible projects)	ASRB reviews concept; may recommend Formal review or conditions	§ 153.913
Formal Design Review decision	ASRB / Planning Commission or Administrator approves/denies with conditions; staff recommendations used	§ 153.915
Who reviews by size & location	Table Q assigns Staff / ASR Admin / ASRB / Planning Commission by sq ft, TFA, scenic corridors, ridge-lines	§ 153.912 (Table Q)
Evaluation criteria	Community character, Site planning, Building design, Landscape elements (fire safety & sustainability emphasized)	§ 153.911
Story poles — requirement & timing	ASRB won’t refer Conceptual projects to staff without story poles; story-pole specs and timing (install 10 days prior to hearing; remove within 14 days after appeal period) are in the ASR subchapter	Story-pole reference in § 153.913; story‑pole details in ASR language (see code text)
Board action time limit	ASRB acts within 3 meetings or 60 days, else approval is deemed	§ 153.915(E)

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy for a typical residential Formal Design Review (based on the ordinance)

File Conceptual Design Review application if the project falls under § 153.912 triggers; submit conceptual plans per the Town’s submittal checklist (§ 153.913, § 153.914).
Provide site plan, existing & proposed grades, building outlines, elevations, circulation, parking layout, and major landscaping features as part of conceptual submittal (§ 153.913).
If ASRB requires story poles, install per the code (stakes, ribbons, timing) — install 10 days before the hearing and maintain through appeal period (exceptions possible by Planning Director).
For projects in scenic corridors / Western Hills / visible ridgelines, plan for ASRB or Planning Commission review per § 153.912 Table Q.
Demonstrate compliance with Evaluation Criteria: show how design preserves rural character, minimizes grading, addresses fire safety, preserves native vegetation, minimizes off-site lighting, etc. (§ 153.911).
Pay required fees and submit the formal submittal package per the Planning Department checklist before the application will be scheduled (§ 153.914).
If the project needs other entitlements (use permit, conditional use), include those packages and expect cumulative review (the highest-level reviewing body controls) (§ 153.912(C)).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Is the lot in a scenic corridor or Western Hills?	Triggers a higher level of review (ASRB or Planning Commission) and stricter scrutiny (ridge-line rules)	Check § 153.912's scenic corridors list and verify lot visibility from the listed roads; confirm with Planning.
Story-pole exemptions / safety exception	Story poles are normally required; exceptions exist for public-safety hazards—incorrect installation or a denied exception delays review	Confirm whether the Planning Director will grant an exception and follow the story-pole specs in the ASR subchapter.
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) square-footage counting	ADU size is excluded from TFA thresholds in Table Q — that alters whether a project triggers Formal review	Confirm how the ADU is treated under § 153.912(E) and cross-check with § 153.211 / § 153.107 ADU rules.
Parcel-specific objective design standards (MF/MFRZ)	Certain MF parcels have separate objective standards that change design review expectations	If the project is on an MF/MFRZ parcel, pull the parcel-specific objective standards in § 153.110(B)(2–5).
CEQA applicability	Projects not exempt from CEQA may require Planning Commission review and environmental clearance, which affects timing	Check CEQA status early; § 153.912 notes projects not exempt from CEQA are handled at the Planning Commission level.
Differences between ASRB recommendation and final decision	ASRB may recommend but Planning Director or Commission is the final decision-maker for some applications	Confirm who the final decision-making body is under § 153.912(C) and § 153.915(B).

Plain‑English summary

If your project changes a building's exterior, site layout, landscaping, or creates a new visible structure in Woodside, you will likely go through the Town's design-review process: start with Conceptual Design Review (ASRB review), and if required proceed to Formal Design Review; who actually reviews your project (staff, ASRB, Administrator, Planning Commission) depends on where the property is (scenic corridors, Western Hills, ridge lines) and how big/visible the work is. The ordinance's review standards focus on preserving Woodside’s rural character, minimizing grading and lighting, and ensuring fire-safe design. See § 153.911—§ 153.915 and Table Q in § 153.912.

Source References

Woodside Municipal Code — Architectural & Site Review / Design Review: § 153.910 — § 153.919 and specifically § 153.913 (Conceptual/Formal design review) and § 153.914 (applications & fees).
Evaluation criteria for design review: § 153.911.
Actions on design review, timing and approval processes: § 153.915.
Required reviewing bodies / Table Q (review triggers by size & location): § 153.912 (Table Q).
Story-pole details (construction / timing / applicability): ASR subchapter language; see story-pole text in the ordinance (ASR language; story-pole timing: install 10 days prior to hearing).
Inactive applications and lapse rules: § 153.916 and § 153.917.
New applications restriction after denial: § 153.918.
Setbacks and dimensional tables (R‑1, Table H): § 153.207 (Table H) and paved area/surface coverage for R‑1: § 153.209.
Community Commercial building coverage (Table K) and CC height rules (Table I‑3): § 153.210 and § 153.208.
Multi‑Family (MF / MFRZ) project standards and parcel-specific objective standards: § 153.110.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Woodside Zoning Code (Section 153.911.) High relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (§ 9-2.906) High relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (SECTION 2) High relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (§ 9-2.901) High relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (§ 9-2.908) High relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (Section 115.12.) High relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (Section 153.912) High relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (Section 153.600.) Medium relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (Section 6409) High relevance
Woodside Zoning Code (SECTION 4) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Woodside code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need design review in Woodside?

If your project changes exterior appearance, site layout, or creates new structures and meets the triggers in Table Q, you will need design review; Conceptual Design Review is required for most projects that later need ASRB or Planning Commission review per § 153.913, and the specific reviewer is assigned by § 153.912 (Table Q).

What are the review thresholds that determine whether staff, the ASR Administrator, the ASRB, or the Planning Commission reviews my project?

Table Q in § 153.912 assigns review authority by location (within scenic corridors/Western Hills vs outside), square footage thresholds (e.g., ≤1,000 sf vs >1,000 sf inside corridors; ≤2,000 sf vs >2,000 sf outside), and special locations (ridge-lines visible from scenic roads). Check that table early in project planning.

What are the evaluation criteria reviewers use?

Reviewers apply the Evaluation Criteria in § 153.911: Community character, Site planning, Building design, Landscape elements (including grading, native vegetation, lighting, and fire‑safe landscaping). Show how your design meets these tests.

When are story poles required and what are the timing rules?

The ASRB will not refer a Conceptual Review to staff without story poles unless the project is exempt under § 153.912(B); the ASR subchapter defines construction and timing (story poles/stakes must be installed 10 days prior to the hearing, maintained through the appeal period, and removed within 14 days after the appeal period ends). Verify exceptions with the Planning Director.

How long does the Board have to act?

The ASRB must act within three meetings or 60 days of initial consideration, whichever occurs first; if the Board does not act, the application is deemed approved (unless applicant consents to continuance) — § 153.915(E).

Are ADUs counted toward the size thresholds in Table Q?

No — § 153.912(E) states the square footage of proposed accessory dwelling units is not included in the square-footage review thresholds in Table Q; however ADUs have their own rules (see § 153.211 / § 153.107). Confirm ADU-specific requirements separately.

What are typical R‑1 setbacks and where are they in the code?

R‑1 setbacks are listed in the general Setback Table H under § 153.207 (Table H) — front, rear, and side setbacks are specified there (different rules apply by building height ranges and special Glens exceptions). See § 153.207 and Table H.

If the ASRB recommends changes, is the ASRB decision final?

The ASRB provides recommendations and may approve projects where it has authority; final decision authority depends on the review level assigned by § 153.912 and the specific procedural path; when a higher body is required the highest review level is the final decision-maker (§ 153.912(C)). Verify the assigned decision body early.

What happens if my Conceptual Design Review is approved but I do not file Formal Design Review?

If a required Formal Design Review application is not filed within 6 months, the Conceptual application is considered inactive and the Planning Director will notify the applicant with 60 days to reactivate the file; otherwise the application will be closed per § 153.916.

Can I re‑file the same design after a denial?

No identical or substantially the same design/site plan/sign application may be refiled for one year after denial unless the denial was made without prejudice (§ 153.918).

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