Color Palette

San Diego Municipal Code ch. 15, art. 9, app. C

in effect

Appendix C: Color Palette EXTERIOR BUILDING FACADE COLOR PALETTE The purpose of this color palette and color standards is to ensure that new buildings in the La Jolla Planned District area will maintain the traditional color continuity unique to the La Jolla community. APPLICABLE COLOR DEFINITIONS Off-White: A color without hue and tone. A light or comparably light color (off-white). Natural Wood: Any wood material that is maintained in its natural color. Wood preservatives are acceptable and do not constitute a change in color. Red-Brick Tones: Any natural brick materials with red or reddish color hues. Pastel Tones: Any color having a soft, subdued shade or color value. Light Earth Tones: Any or various pigments consisting chiefly of light iron oxides and tending to light brown hue. BUILDING COLOR: The established color palette shall be applicable to the building exterior elevations only, exclusive of building accents such as window and door frames, building trim, and other architectural detailing. Building accents may be finished in colors other than those specified in this Appendix; provided, however that such building accents shall not exceed 10 percent of any exterior building elevation. BUILDING COLOR GUIDE: To more accurately define the earthtone and pastel colors noted in this Section, the following specific color ranges are given in three color systems. Under the Hicketheir 1000 International Color System, colors are specified very precisely by a specific numerical system. Further information is available in the book Color Mixing by Numbers by Alfred Hicketheir, Van Nostrant Reinhold Company, New York, available at graphics and art supply stores. For the convenience of Applicants, equivalent colors are also specified under Ameritone and Frazee color designations because these paints are widely available in the San Diego area. Equivalent colors by any other manufacturer are also acceptable upon prior approval by the Development Services Director. In addition, colors similar in hue and tone to those designated may be used with the prior approval of the Development Services Director. The following range of earthtone and pastel colors are acceptable. These numbers are based on 1983 color codes and the numbers may change over time. Refer to La Jolla Planned District Color Chart in the City Planning Department for acceptable exterior building façade colors. LIGHT EARTHTONE COLORS Hicketheir 900, 903, 930, 933, 960 Frazee 2141W, 2142W, 2241W, 2242W, 2331W, 2322M, 2376M, 2376W, 2377W, 2436W, 2437W, 2446W, 2447W, 2511W, 2531W, 2691W, 2786W, 2896W, 2891M Ameritone 1900G, 194H, 2840D, 289E, 290E, 282D, 292F, 282G, 290G, 292H, 277H, 281F, 295E, 2960H, 295D, 269E, 195E, 2960E, 297E, 298E, 198G, 197G, 297H, 291H, 192H, 288F PASTEL COLORS Hicketheir 003, 030, 300, 060, 600, 603, 303, 330, 333 Frazee 2051W, 2076W, 2077W, 2066W, 2067W, 2111W, 2126W, 2127M, 2136W, 2137W, 2166W, 2167W, 2226W, 2227W, 2251W, 2252W, 2351W, 2352W Ameritone 150D, 254E, 250D, 150F, 254F, 250F, 150H, 251F, 285E, 252E, 286F, 282E, 188C, 279C, 2730C, 187D, 178D, 177F, 264E, 178F, 175F, 179G, 170G, 171F, 262E, 168F, 260G (Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)

Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter15/Ch15Art09_AppendixC.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/28/2026