The urban design review system is an important governance instrument that cities can use to control the quality of spatial development. The urban design review system for Taiwan has filled the gap between urban planning and construction management in the governance system of urban spatial development. In the 35 years since it was first implemented, a lot of operation experience have been accumulated. Various principles and design criteria needed for the review of urban design and lots of case examples have been compiled gradually. However, the effectiveness and accountability of the review system have been criticized by practitioners. This study reviews the status and historic development of urban design review system in Taiwan and analyzes critical issues in terms of effectiveness and accountability. Additionally, the future improvements for better urban design review system are proposed. Based on the result of investigation, three strategic principles are proposed for the reform of review system such as "taking professional authentication as the core of framework; case-review as an exception; and supplemented by adopting post-review to ensure the professional review quality" system. The above system reforms are expected to improve the efficiency of the authentication system because not every case needs to go through a long way of complicated review process. To improve the system's accountability and effectiveness, and to reduce uncertainties from informal rules, this study proposes review principles and design criteria that should be developed by all members in the design review committee, and exceptional cases are to be reviewed by the "Design Criteria Executive Committee" composed of administrative staffs. The solutions proposed in this paper should be helpful for improving development of urban spatial management and city competitiveness.