Offsite Objective Design and Development Standards (ODDS)

In response to state housing laws which mandate that local governments use only objective standards to regulate new housing development projects, the County is updating it regulations and design criteria for offsite infrastructure and public facilities necessary to support new development.  The County’s current regulations for offsite improvements date back to the 1970s and include subjective design guidelines.  This update process is intended to replace these subjective design guidelines with defined and measurable design criteria that ensure a predictable and streamlined approval process for housing projects while maintaining safe and adequate public infrastructure.

The code updates will be undertaken in phases, anticipated to include the following regulations:

• Phase 1: Roadway standards for the City-Centered and Baylands Corridors of the County where most new housing development is expected to occur.
• Phase 2: Roadway standards for the rural areas of the County within the Inland Rural and Coastal Corridors.
• Phase 3: Other Public Works standards including intersections improvements, utilities, storm drainage, lighting, transit facilities, and grading.

Phase 1 of the Offsite ODDS update was initiated by the Board of Supervisors on March 10, 2026 and is expected to be completed by Fall 2026.

• Planning Commission Study Session -  May 11
• Planning Commission Public Hearing - July 27
• Board of Supervisors Public Hearing - August 25

• March 10, 2026, Board of Supervisors staff report
• March 10, 2026, Board of Supervisors presentation
• March 10, 2026, Board of Supervisors meeting video
• April 7, 2026, Board of Supervisors public hearing notice
• April 7, 2026, Board of Supervisors staff report
• Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 26-019