FAQs
- Involve no personal or subjective judgment.
- Are uniformly verifiable by an established and known benchmark.
- streamlining development of multi-family units
- addressing the housing supply shortage
- allowing for consistent and verifiable standards appropriate for each eligible county community.
- Senate Bill 167: Housing Accountability Act
- Senate Bill 330: Housing Crisis Act of 2019
- Senate Bill 35: Affordable Housing, Streamlined Approval Process Law
- Senate Bill 6: Housing in Commerical Zones
- Assembly Bill 2011: Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022
- Assembly Bill 1397: Inventory of Land for Residential Development
What are objective design standards (ODS)?
According to California code an objective design standard:
ODS are clear, measurable, standards for site design and architectural style that may impact the design and appearance of a housing or mixed-use development in your community.
Can you give me an example of an ODS?
Objective Design Standard | NOT Objective Design Standard |
| Use white, grey, or tan. | Use light colors. |
| One tree shall be planted for every five parking spaces. | Parking lots shall include trees. |
For mixed-use spaces, at least 60 percent of the ground floor street facing walls of non-residential units shall include transparent window or door glazing between two and ten feet in height from grade, providing unobstructed views into the non-residential space. | For mixed-use spaces, buildings shall be designed to be pedestrian friendly and encourage views into retail spaces. |
Why do we need ODS?
ODS help strengthen local control over the design and appearance of future housing developments while still streamlining the permitting process to comply with new State laws.
ODS provide assurance that the look and feel of new developments in our communities remain consistent with the current built environment.
Additionally, ODS provides an opportunity to improve housing in SD County by:
What State laws regulate ODS?
Legislation that created the mandate for ODS:
Legislation that defines which projects can use ODS:
How will ODS work to streamline the permitting process?
The standard, existing process for a residential project often includes discretionary review by planning staff as well as design review board and planning commission review before a project can be permitted.
In the new, streamlined ODS process, eligible projects will undergo design review during the initial, ministerial review by the planning department staff. That means projects would undergo a streamlined CEQA process and have the option to bypass the Design Review Board review. This can shave months off of the planning and permitting process.
What are discretionary permit projects?
Planning & Development Services review “discretionary” permit projects at the County of San Diego. Discretionary permits require review and approval by a decision maker to allow a specific type of land use and/or to allow for the construction, modification, or use of a building. As part of the discretionary process, the project will be reviewed for conformance with the applicable ordinances and regulations including the County General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and Community Plans and Design Guidelines. In addition, the project will be reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which may require preparation of an environmental document and a public review period. A public hearing may also be required prior to issuing a discretionary permit.
Projects eligible to use ODS through State streamlining bills have the option to bypass this discretionary design review approach and undergo a ministerial review instead.
What are ministerial permit projects?
Ministerial permits, often referred to as by-right permits, are sometimes required for uses or structures that automatically meet County requirements. These permits do not require discretionary review and are approved by staff if the project complies with all applicable regulations and ordinances.
If a project is eligible and ODS compliant, it can take advantage of the ministerial review process.
Why is the County engaging the community in the development of ODS?
Community input is critical to shaping our communities. Feedback collected as part of this process will inform the development of the ODS.