About the Architectural Standards
OHCS updated its architectural standards and guidance in July 2026 for affordable rental housing developments. Most of these updates are formatting and process related improvements. There is very little change to the architectural standards themselves.
Instead of the Core Development Manual (CDM), housing development project teams will need to follow the OHCS Architectural Standards (OAS) and Architectural Index guidance. These guidance documents are available for project teams in their Procorem WorkCenter once they’ve been awarded and approved for funding through Housing Stability Council.
The OAS contains all the architectural forms project teams will need and is comprised of interactive checklist forms that define the agency’s architectural standards. Applicants will be directed by their project specific Procorem WorkCenter to the OAS architectural forms and project tasks. The WorkCenter will guide applicants and project teams through the process of completing and submitting each OAS form and any other related tasks such as submitting an architectural plan for the project.
The Architectural Index functions primarily as a supporting reference manual to the OAS. It provides detailed definition and guidance in a few areas where more information is required to complete an OAS task, and it contains existing architecture and construction related policy that is not connected with the OAS.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The OAS is comprised entirely of a series of forms that contains all the department’s core architectural design requirements. The Architectural Index (Ai) contains detailed policy definition (referred to in the Ai and the OAS forms as Ai Policy Modules) that are, in some cases, needed to fully define a department expectation related to the OAS. The department’s funding application process guides the applicant on what OAS forms apply to their project and when and how to access and submit required OAS Forms. This guidance is provided primarily via the applicant’s project specific Workcenter. When needed, the OAS or other department document will direct the applicant to the Architectural Index for additional architecture-related policy guidance.
The OAS and the Architectural Index are a newly developed part of the funding process that is taking the place of the CDM. Applicants that are familiar with the CDM will see many recognizable similarities however, the OAS is designed to be more tightly integrated with the project “task” in Procorem WorkCenters based funding application process.
Projects that have received Housing Stability Council approval before July 13, 2026 will continue to use the CDM based architectural process through the remaining steps of the application process.
Yes. The OAS Forms Inventory is a compilation of all the OAS forms presented together at one time. This is not how the forms are presented and used in the project Workcenters. Currently, there are a total of six form-series; each with four parts. Each part of the multi-part forms corresponds to a step in the application process. Only the form parts that correspond to the application step that is being worked on by the applicant will be engaged at any one time. The applicant’s Workcenter will guide the applicant through a step-by-step process that allows the applicant to engage the OAS forms in an incremental and linear way as the project moves through the application process. Further, not all the form series will apply to every project. Only the OAS form series that are applicable to a given project will be included in a project Workcenter. Workcenter tasks will guide the applicant on when to engage with each part of the OAS forms in their Workcenter. Finally, it’s important to note that most of the OAS form series forms are limited to requiring only that the applicant affirm that the project remains in conformance with the department’s architectural requirements. These form-based affirmations occur at established critical points in the project timeline as defined by the application process.
In general, applicants that are familiar with the department’s requirements under the CDM will find that the core design requirements are essentially unchanged. The exception to this is that some changes around increased accessibility have been adopted. It is important that applicants read over all requirements that apply to their project carefully. Applicants that have familiarized themselves with the department’s architectural requirements as a result of working with them on previous OHCS-funded projects are advised to read over the OAS as if they are working with the department’s requirements for the first time.
The OAS is currently comprised of the five primary categories:
- New Construction (NC) : Applies to new construction projects only
- Rehabilitation (RH) : Applies to rehabilitation projects only
- Accessible Design (AD) : Applies to all projects
- Sustainable Design (SD) : Applies to all projects
- Program Specific Supplements : Applies only to specific funding programs. The Oldera Adult Housing Program (OAHP) and Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program, for example, have established a set of program specific requirements.
Each category listed above has a four-part form series associated with it. Each part of the four-part form corresponds to a formal step in the funding application process. Project WorkCenters specify which categories apply to a given project and at what step of the application each part of the applicable form series must be submitted to the department. All appliable OAS forms are provided within each project WorkCenter.
Yes, however the exact requirements may not be determined until after the applicant is invited into an application Workcenter. In general, every project will have at least three form series to complete over the course of the project timeline:
- Either the New Construction (NC) or Rehabilitation (RH) series depending on project type
- The Accessible Design (AD) series
- The Sustaintable Design (SD) series
- One or more funding program specific form series supplements as may be applicable depending on the types of funding being applied for
The Architectural Index applies only when an applicant is directed to it by the OAS or by another process like the funding application manual, program manuals, etc.