Design Review COMMITTEE (DRC)
Most villages in El Dorado Hills require the Design Review Committee (DRC), or an Architectural Control Committee (ACC), to approve project plans prior to performing any exterior improvements to your property or lot. You will need to submit the appropriate DRC application, accompanying documents, application fees, and receive DRC approval, prior to starting any exterior property improvement or new home build. Application fees are doubled if work has begun prior to receiving DRC approval.
DESIGN REVIEW APPROVAL IS REQUIRED for most exterior property improvements, as well as, new home construction in El Dorado Hills. Check the Enforcement Authority Table to see if your property is managed by the District or by a Home Owners Association (HOA).
Property improvements involving the exterior of your home or property include, but are not limited to, tree removal, exterior paint, roofing, fencing, retaining walls, swimming pools, solar, landscaping, certain remodels, room additions, new home construction, etc.
Your property's Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) will specify what you can and cannot do with your lot and what improvements require DRC or ACC approval. The CC&Rs for your property can be found here.
If your village has its own Architectural Control Committee, then you will need to contact your HOA for their review process and guidelines. Click for list of contacts for villages NOT reviewed by the District
Design Review Committee Application Process
- Design Review Committee (DRC) meetings are held in person on most Tuesdays at 8:00 am. If a District Holiday falls on a Thursday, Friday, and/or Monday, then there will be no DRC meeting scheduled for the following Tuesday. If a District Holiday falls on a Tuesday, no meeting is scheduled that week.
- The Deadline to submit complete applications, including all supporting documents and payments, to potentially be added to a DRC agenda is 5:00 pm on the Tuesday before the next scheduled meeting.
- Electronic submission of applications and supporting documents is desired. Please take a look at the application checklist carefully to make sure you have met all of the submission requirements.
- If you can't submit electronically or have any questions, please email the Resident Services Office for help.
- When an application is listed on a DRC agenda, the property owner and/or representative will be emailed a copy of the agenda. Each applicant is encouraged, although not required, to attend the meeting in which their item will be reviewed.
- If an application is held over, the applicant will be notified by email regarding outstanding items needed in order for the Committee to complete the review process.
- Outstanding items are to be submitted by Tuesday before the next meeting since applicants have 30 days from the date the initial application was submitted to have their project approved or denied.
- The approved Minutes from the DRC meeting will be emailed to the property owner and/or authorized agent within 48 hours following the meeting. If your project was approved, these minutes serve as the approval documentation for your project, and can be used as proof to obtain any necessary permits from El Dorado County. DRC approvals expire one (1) year from the approval date. It is the responsibility of the property owner to determine if County approval is required.
Click on the links to go to each online application.
Application fees are doubled if work has begun prior to receiving DRC approval.
| Solar Application | $65.00 |
|
Property Improvement Application |
$105.00 |
| Landscaping Application | $100.00 |
| Pool Application | $250.00 |
| Room Addition or Remodel within existing Footprint (No Change to Roofline) |
$190.00 |
| Addition or Remodel with change in roofline , Structures over 120 sqft and ADUs | $425.00 |
| New Home Application | $1,100.00 |
| DRC Appeal | $65.00 |
| Encroachment Permit | $75/occurrence; $500 deposit |
Do you own a home in El Dorado Hills?
If you do, you need to know about the importance of the Design Review Committee & CC&R Compliance!
Why?
El Dorado Hills property owners have Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CC&Rs) that must be lawfully followed. Applications for Design Review must be submitted before qualifying projects are started.
What type of projects?
It depends on your CC&Rs, but in general, the following projects are usually required to come through the Design Review Committee: landscaping projects, tree removal/planting, fencing, flat work, structures, paint changes, pool additions/changes, roof changes, solar additions/changes, room additions, and more.
Who should I talk to?
You can email the Resident Services staff at residentservices@edhcsd.org, by calling 916-933-6624 ext.0, or coming into the office at 1021 Harvard Way in the northwest corner of the gym.
