Objective Design Standards approved by Oakland Planning Commission
Oakland's Planning Commission adopted new Objective Design Standards for single-family, "missing middle," and small multifamily housing — rules meant to speed up and standardize the review of housing projects.
On June 18, 2025, the Oakland Planning Commission adopted Objective Design Standards (ODS) for one-family, two- to four-family, and 1–3 story multifamily residential and mixed-use developments, with an anticipated effective date in early September 2025.
As the City explained, the standards were established to streamline the review of housing projects and to help meet Oakland’s goals to increase housing density, diversity, and availability, and to promote affordability throughout the city.
About Objective Design Standards
Objective design standards are broad sets of standards that cities use to regulate development. Unlike “design guidelines,” objective design standards are not subject to interpretation and design review — the goal is faster, more predictable approvals of high-quality development. Oakland is developing procedures, regulations, and objective design and development standards to streamline the approval of residential and mixed-use building types.
Learn more or get involved at the City’s Objective Design Standards project website.