A technique for checking a logic design for compliance with a set of design rules in a computer-aided logic design system. An initial logic design is provided in computer-readable form in a logic design file. A set of design rules expressing permitted and prohibited structural and functional logic device relationships is provided as a portion of a logic design simulation system capable of synthesizing the initial design into a simulated network list. The initial design is checked against the various design rules incorporated into the set, and any violation of the design rules by the initial logic design is visibly displayed to the user. In one mode of operation, a list of user selectable optional rules is visibly displayed. A hierarchy of levels of design compliance is also displayed for user selection. For some design rules, a comparison can be made with the synthesized version of the initial logic design in order to spot design rule violations introduced by the synthesis process.