Cerritos posts residential color palette on city’s website

By Jerry Bernstein

The Cerritos City Council approved the placing of the city’s residential color palette on the City’s website at its July 22 meeting. Current Planning Manager Robert Lopez said in his report the placing of the palette on the website should make the process of selecting paint colors and obtaining a paint color permit easier for homeowners.
Under a 2004 amendment to the city code, a free city-approved paint color permit is required prior to the painting home exteriors in order to maintain the attractive and compatible appearance of Cerritos neighborhoods.
In addition to showcasing the colors for home exteriors, the new web page contains an interactive tool that allows residents to create and evaluate custom color combinations. The on-line residential color palette is available on the City’s website at www.cerritos.us and can be accessed through the I Want To... and Resident sections.
The on-line color palette includes pull-down color menus. It is organized by color family and displayed according to specific design features (stucco, siding, trim and accents). There are more than 500 colors in the palette, which can be combined to create 400,000 distinct color combinations. As color displays vary between computers, monitors and printers, the on-line display is offered as a general guide for the types of colors available in the approved color palette.
After making color selections, residents can click on the “Print My Palette” button. A new window appears, providing instructions on the next steps for obtaining paint color approval from the Department of Community Development.
Lopez said the City’s exterior paint color ordinance helps protect property values and the park-like look of Cerritos. Before buying paint or hiring a contractor, homeowners must obtain a paint color permit at City Hall. There is no fee charged for the permit. Prior to issuing the permit, staff will assist the homeowner in conducting a quick check to make sure the proposed colors will fit well with Cerritos neighborhoods.
Samples of the 500 colors in the City’s approved palette are available for residents to review at City Hall. Residents can also pick up paint samples for their choice of exterior and trim colors at a local hardware or paint store. They can then bring the paint color samples to the Community Development counter on City Hall’s second floor between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A City planner will review the choices and compare the colors against the City’s approved exterior paint color palette.
Homeowners who need ideas or help choosing a color may also review the color palette at the Community Development counter. The palette provides color combinations most suitable for residential properties and was prepared by a professional color consultant. To best determine how a paint color will look on a home, it is suggested that residents purchase a quart of the paint and apply it to an area of their home. For more information call the Planning Division at (562) 916-1201.