Objective Design Standards (ODS) and Streamlined Project Review

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Faster Approval for Housing & Mixed-Use Projects!

Multi-Family Building

Getting approval for your housing or mixed-use project is now faster. Oakland needs more housing to make living here more affordable. To speed up project reviews, the City created the Ministerial Design Review process using Objective Design Standards.

The new process helps reduce approval times and makes the application process simpler for single-family homes, multifamily buildings, and many affordable and mixed-income housing projects.

Objective Design Standards by Project Category

Standards for 1 to 4 Family Housing or Mixed-Use Projects

The following 1 to 4 family housing and mixed-use projects must follow Objective Design Standards:

  • Single-Family Homes, Duplexes, Triplexes, and Fourplexes
  • Townhomes and other 1-4 unit housing projects
  • Additions or conversions that change a building's exterior to create new housing units. Projects that create new units entirely inside an existing building are reviewed through Small Project Design Review instead. See Planning Code Section 17.136.030 for more information.

For details, see our 1 to 4 Family or Mixed-Use Project Objective Design Standards Guide and Checklist(PDF, 4MB).

Interested in applying? Visit our Housing Projects Eligible for Faster, Streamlined Review webpage.

Standards for 1 to 3-Story Multifamily Housing or Mixed-Use Projects

The following 1- to 3-story multifamily housing and mixed-use projects must follow the Objective Design Standards:

  • Housing projects with 5-30 homes (they do not have to be affordable housing)
  • 100% affordable housing projects
  • Projects in the S-13 Affordable Housing Combining Zone or S-14 Housing Sites Combining Zone
  • Projects covered by SB 35, SB 330, SB 684, AB 2162, SB 9, or AB 2011

For more information, see the 1 to 3-Story Multifamily or Mixed-Use Objective Design Standards Guide and Checklist(PDF, 3MB).

Interested in applying? Visit our Housing Projects Eligible for Faster, Streamlined Review webpage.

Standards for 4 to 8-Story Multifamily Housing or Mixed-Use Projects

The following 4 to 8-story multifamily housing and mixed-use projects must follow Objective Design Standards.

  • Housing projects with 5-30 homes (they do not need to be affordable housing)
  • 100% affordable housing projects
  • Projects in the S-13 Affordable Housing Combining Zone or S-14 Housing Sites Combining Zone
  • Projects covered by SB 35, SB 330, SB 684, AB 2162, SB 9, or AB 2011

For details, see our 4 to 8-Story Multifamily or Mixed-Use Project Objective Design Standards Guide and Checklist(PDF, 2MB).

Interested in applying? Visit our Housing Projects Eligible for Faster, Streamlined Review webpage.

 

What Are Objective Design Standards?

Montage of buildingsObjective Design Standards are standards that are clear and can be measured objectively. Everyone can understand them before a project is submitted. When a project is reviewed using objective design standards, staff follow the written rules instead of making personal judgements.

Subjective design guidelines are different. They require interpretation and personal judgement, so reviews may take longer and results may vary.

Example of an objective design standard:

"Front setback shall be at least 4 feet."

Example of a subjective design guideline:

"Front yard setback should match the character of the neighborhood."

This guideline requires judgment about what "character" means.

Objective design standards help make the review process faster, more consistent, and fair. To learn more, see the Project Documents section.

Additional Resources and Documents

Explore Objective Design Standards resources, including fact sheets, guides, presentations, and materials from past community meetings and events.

Review Oakland's Objective Design Project Documents

Contact Us

Email

ods@oaklandca.gov

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