STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
August 4, 2026
BUSINESS
20 SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWOFAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 25.13 (OBJECTIVE DEVELOPMENT
AND DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NEW PRIMARY DWELLING UNITS)
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt a Resolution titled, “ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR
SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 25.13 (OBJECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND
DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NEW PRIMARY DWELLING UNITS), AND FINDING SAID
ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301”, adopting objective design standards for singleand two-family residential development, and finding the action categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; and
2. Find the recommended action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
The City Council is requested to review and adopt by Resolution (Attachment 1), the final Objective Design Standards ("ODS") for single- and two-family residential development, prepared by JKA and attached to this report. (Attachment 1, Exhibit A.) The ODS establish objective, measurable, and enforceable design standards intended to comply with applicable State housing laws while preserving Laguna Beach's unique architectural character and promoting neighborhood compatibility through a clear and predictable ministerial review process.
The attached ODS is part of the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update ("CZCU") ODS program. Building upon the objective form and massing standards established through the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance, which was adopted by the City Council on July 21, 2026, the ODS provide objective standards governing architectural character, building composition, site design, and related design elements applicable to new single- and two-family residential development. The standards are supported by graphics, diagrams, and illustrative examples intended to improve clarity, consistency, and ease of implementation for applicants, design professionals, and City staff.
The final ODS document reflects an extensive collaborative planning effort that included public outreach; review by the Planning Commission and Design Review Board, including a Joint Study Session with the City Council; review by the CZCU City Council Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Mayor Orgill and Councilmember Whalen (the “Ad Hoc Committee”); input from City staff and local design professionals; and final refinements by JKA in response to stakeholder feedback. The resulting document will enable the
ADOPTION OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
August 4, 2026
City to carefully regulate the form and design of single- and two-family development that is not subject to discretionary design review, consistent with applicable State law.
If adopted, the ODS will be additive to the objective development standards under new Municipal Code Chapter 25.13 (Objective Development and Design Standards for New Primary Dwelling Units). Following adoption, City staff will work with JKA during the initial implementation period to provide staff training and project-specific implementation support to promote the consistent application and administration of the new objective standards.
BACKGROUND
Comprehensive Zoning Code Update
On October 8, 2024, the City Council awarded a contract to De Novo Planning Group for preparation of the CZCU, a key initiative identified through the City’s 2022 Strategic Planning and Goal Setting Workshop and reaffirmed during the 2024 Annual Planning Workshop. On July 22, 2025, the City Council approved a contract amendment expanding the scope of work to prioritize preparation of Objective Design Standards (“ODS”) for single- and two-family residential projects, as well as updated parking standards.
Since initiation of the project, De Novo Planning Group and its subconsultants, JKA and Kittelson, have undertaken a range of project activities including staff coordination meetings, background research, site visits, parking occupancy data collection, and coordination with the Ad Hoc Committee.
Two-Phase Approach to Objective Design Standards
The ODS program was prepared in two phases:
Phase One focused on objective form and massing standards, including building height, setbacks, and envelope requirements utilizing a “box inside a box” approach1. Projects utilizing these streamlined standards without discretionary design review would be limited to single-story structures not exceeding 15 feet in height and subject to increased setbacks beyond the minimum requirements of the underlying zoning district. Phase One does not address architectural styles or detailed design elements and is intended to facilitate timely implementation of foundational objective standards.
Phase Two expands the ODS program to address architectural character and style standards for single- and two-family residential development. The standards are intended to be highly illustrated, user-friendly, and supported by form-group architectural style guidance and visual examples. They include standards related to architectural detailing to ensure housing projects make positive contributions to the aesthetics of a neighborhood2 and massing design standards to avoid box-like forms and promote 360-degree design3.
They also include objective standards related to entryways and lighting to prioritize the orientation of 1 The “box inside a box” concept provides objective design standards that allow a certain form of development. Still, an applicant will have the option to pursue discretionary design review should the applicant want to exceed such allowed form of development.
The Phase One ODS were adopted by the City Council on July 21, 2026 through the DR Efficiency Ordinance. 2 For example, requirements for the design of window muntins, mullions, and sticking to frame and divide panes of glass. 3 For example, straight and continuous building walls cannot exceed a 30-foot length without a horizontal offset.
ADOPTION OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY
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buildings toward public streets and promote safety through exterior lighting while minimizing the potential for light and glare impacts.
Prior Consideration
On November 19, 2025, the Planning Commission and Design Review Board held a Joint Study Session to receive a presentation from JKA on their existing conditions report and preliminary recommendations for the architectural styles that would be included in the Phase Two ODS.
On April 21, 2026, City staff and the consultant team met with a small group of local design professionals and the Ad Hoc Committee to review JKA’s administrative draft of the Phase Two ODS and gather early feedback regarding the proposed standards and document organization. The meeting helped identify potential refinements to improve the clarity, usability, visual presentation, and overall effectiveness of the standards prior to preparation of the first public review draft. Comments included identifying gaps in the architectural form groups, particularly the limited representation of contemporary architecture, incorporating imagery that better reflects the proposed standards, including examples of single-story development consistent with the proposed 15-foot maximum height, and ensuring the document is intuitive and functional for both City staff administering the standards and design professionals preparing project applications.
On May 26, 2026, the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board held a Joint Study Session to review JKA's first public review draft of the Phase Two ODS. The joint bodies provided comments and direction regarding the proposed objective architectural standards, document organization, graphics, and overall usability, which informed subsequent revisions to the draft7. Overall, public comments were generally supportive of the proposed ODS and the document's organization, while recommending targeted refinements prior to adoption. Key themes include strengthening objective standards related to building scale, materials, landscaping, lighting, and privacy; refining the architectural form groups, particularly Form Group D, to better reflect Laguna Beach's architectural character; and evaluating the standards using recent projects and hypothetical test cases to identify potential implementation issues and ensure the standards are clear, objective, and resistant to unintended outcomes.
On June 30, 2026, the City Council Ad Hoc Committee met with a small group of design professionals and City staff to review a revised draft of the ODS. During the meeting, a local architect presented the results of her independent evaluation of the proposed standards applicable to new single- and two-family residential development. The evaluation addressed both the Phase One objective form and massing standards (such as height, setbacks, and related development standards) and the Phase Two architectural character and style standards. The evaluation was conducted to test the effectiveness of the standards and identify any areas of uncertainty, ambiguity, or potential opportunities for the standards to be interpreted or applied in a manner that could result in unintended outcomes for projects eligible for ministerial review under the proposed approval process for new single- and two-family development meeting certain objective 7 The May 26, 2026 City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board Joint Study Session video is available to view at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afx1sYhUzg8%3Fsi%3D1Ky5tz9-c93kpPJM
ADOPTION OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
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standards (e.g., do not exceed a single story nor a height of 15 feet). The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the findings and identify final refinements before JKA finalized the document for City Council consideration and adoption. The revisions resulting from this collaborative review process are reflected in the final ODS document (Attachment 2).
On July 21, 2026, the City Council adopted the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance, the Efficiency Ordinance, a Resolution amending the Design Guidelines – A Guide to Residential Development, and an urgency version of the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance. Urgency Ordinance No. 1732 took effect upon adoption and added Chapter 25.13 (Objective Development and Design Standards for New Primary Dwelling Units) to the Zoning Code (Attachment 3). Chapter 25.13 establishes the Phase One objective form and massing standards for new primary dwelling units in single-family zones that are exempt from design review. These standards include reduced maximum heights, increased setbacks compared with those permitted by the underlying zoning district, maximum floor areas, and a floor area ratio requirement.
Section 25.13.040 incorporates the Phase Two ODS by reference, providing that: “A new primary dwelling unit project authorized by this Chapter shall comply with objective design standards established by resolution of the City Council.”
Need for Objective Design Standards
In recent years, the State of California has enacted legislation intended to increase housing production and reduce barriers to residential development. These laws limit the ability of local agencies to rely upon subjective design criteria when reviewing qualifying housing projects and instead require the use of objective design standards that are uniformly verifiable and measurable.
Objective design standards are defined by California Government Code Section 65913.4 as standards that “involve no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and are uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official prior to submittal.” Because portions of the City’s existing design review framework rely on subjective findings, the City is developing ODS to preserve local design oversight while ensuring compliance with State law. The standards are intended to maintain compatibility with Laguna Beach’s established architectural character and neighborhood context while creating a clear and legally defensible review process for future residential development.
Without adoption of objective standards, the City’s ability to influence the design and compatibility of future residential projects may be substantially limited under State housing law.
DISCUSSION
Overview
The ODS prepared by JKA represent the culmination of the Phase Two effort and establish objective architectural design standards for new single- and two-family residential development. Building upon the objective form and massing standards established through Phase One, the document includes objective standards addressing architectural style and character, building composition, roof forms, materials, façade
ADOPTION OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
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articulation, windows and doors, site elements, and other design features. The standards are supported by graphics, diagrams, and illustrative examples intended to improve clarity and facilitate consistent application during ministerial review (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Excerpt from Single- and Two-Family Residential Design Standards, prepared by JKA (July 2026).
ADOPTION OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
August 4, 2026
Revisions
Following the Joint Study Session held on May 26, 2026, JKA further refined the ODS public review draft in response to comments provided by the City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, the general public, the Ad Hoc Committee, local design professionals, and City staff. Noteworthy revisions incorporated into the final ODS include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Landscaping Standards. Added a new Landscaping Standards Section 2.2 to establish objective standards for planting design, while clarifying that properties subject to Zone 0 defensible space requirements are exempt from these provisions.
• Privacy Standards. Expanded the Massing and Privacy Section 2.3 with new objective standards addressing building massing and privacy relationships between neighboring properties. These revisions also remove the previous glazing standard and are supported by additional illustrative graphics to improve clarity and consistent application. • Form Group A Revisions. Refined descriptions and standards using historical references9, to better reflect Laguna Beach's architectural character and improve consistency with the objective standards. • Form Group D Revisions. Revised the Modern/Contemporary standards to better align the architectural description with the objective standards and eliminated flat roofs as a permitted option to address concerns regarding box-like building forms.
• Additional Clarifications. Revised applicability provisions to acknowledge CC&R/HOA requirements, very high fire hazard severity areas, and clarify that the ODS does not apply to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). Additional revisions improve document usability and consistency, including clarification that form groups may not be mixed, updated definitions (including "metal"), revised terminology, refined lighting and exterior material standards, updated graphics and applicability maps, removal of references to rooftopmounted equipment and balconies, and other editorial changes to improve clarity, objectivity, and administration of the standards.
Establishing Objective Design Standards
Urgency Ordinance No. 1732 took effect on July 21, 2026 and enacted Chapter 25.13 (Objective Development and Design Standards for New Primary Dwelling Units), which establishes objective development standards (LBMC Section 25.13.050) and objective design standards (LBMC Section
25.13.060). Pursuant to LBMC Section 25.13.060, objective design standards may be established through adoption of resolution by the City Council. The recommended action tonight will establish the objective design standards that further implement Chapter 25.13. Upon adoption, the objective design standards will be effective and City staff will update the ministerial residential design review process and internal 9 JKA referenced Cottages and Castles of Laguna by Karen Wilson Turnbull to inform and validate the architectural descriptions and objective standards for applicable form groups.
ADOPTION OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY
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procedures, application materials, and applicant resources as necessary to support implementation of the new objective development and design standards.
To facilitate successful implementation of the ODS, JKA will provide implementation assistance and training to Community Development Department staff focused on the consistent application and interpretation of the standards. As part of the consultant's scope of work, JKA will conduct staff training and provide project-specific implementation support by working collaboratively with staff to apply the ODS to actual development proposals, address interpretation and implementation questions, and promote consistent administration of the standards during the initial implementation period. With the adoption of the single- and two-family ODS, JKA will also commence its work to develop a second ODS document that will apply to multi-family and mixed-use projects consisting of three or more units.
Alignment with City Council Goals and Priorities
The development of the ODS is consistent with the City Council’s strategic goals and priorities related to implementation of the CZCU, preservation of neighborhood character, and compliance with evolving State housing laws. The project supports the City Council’s direction to modernize the City’s development regulations while maintaining Laguna Beach’s distinct architectural identity and community character.
The ODS effort also advances the City Council priorities related to improving government efficiency, providing clear and predictable development standards, increasing transparency in the development review process, and ensuring the City maintains local design oversight through objective and legally defensible regulations.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES
The development of the ODS is consistent with the City Council’s strategic goals and priorities related to implementation of the CZCU, preservation of neighborhood character, and compliance with evolving State housing laws. The project supports the City Council’s direction to modernize the City’s development regulations while maintaining Laguna Beach’s distinct architectural identity and community character.
The ODS effort also advances the City Council priorities related to improving government efficiency, providing clear and predictable development standards, increasing transparency in the development review process, and ensuring the City maintains local design oversight through objective and legally defensible regulations.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
ADOPTION OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
August 4, 2026
The recommended action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 because it consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Here, the action meets the exemption because the City is amending its code to improve procedural efficiencies and to comply with state law. The City is not authorizing new uses that are not already established within the City through this ordinance. Further, this action implements the City Council action on June 23, 2026, when the City Council introduced the DR Efficiency Ordinance, and July 21, 2026, when the City Council adopted the DR Efficiency Ordinance, Resolution amending the Design Guidelines, and Urgency DR Efficiency Ordinance. This Resolution implements objective design standards for singleand two-family residential development that have been contemplated by the DR Efficiency Ordinance and the Urgency DR Efficiency Ordinance. Upon taking the recommended action, city staff will cause to be filed within five calendar days a notice of exemption with the county and state clearinghouse.
ATTACHMENTS
1. City Council Resolution, including Exhibit A with Objective Design Standards (Pgs. 9-82)
2. Urgency Ordinance No. 1732 (DR Efficiency Ordinance) (Pgs. 83-165) Submitted By: Matthew Schneider Approved: .David A Kiff Matthew Schneider, Director of
Community Development
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Wendy Jung, Principal Planner Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney Anthony Viera, Deputy Director of Community
Development