Designation of Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts

Process for Historic Landmark Designation

1. Historic Resource Survey and Evaluation Report
   A consulting architectural historian, historic architect, or historian conducts an historic resource survey and evaluation of the property and prepares a report. The report includes an analysis of whether the property is a significant historic resource.
   For more information about the process, see the significance criteria under Historic Resource Evaluations.
2. Submittal of Application Materials
   A planning application for a Zoning Change to add “Historic District” (HD) Zoning to the property, indemnification agreement, and the historic resource survey and evaluation are submitted to PRMD. Links to application materials may be found on the Applications, Forms, & Fees page.
3. Landmarks Commission Public Hearing
   At a public hearing the Landmarks Commission determines whether the property is a significant historic resource and qualifies as an Historic Landmark. To make that decision the Commission uses both the Historic Resource Survey and Evaluation Report and its expertise.
   The Commission makes a recommendation to the Planning Commission to either approve or deny designation of the property as an Historic Landmark.
4. Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors Public Hearings
   At public hearings the Planning Commission, and later the Board of Supervisors, takes comments from the public about designation of the property as an Historic Landmark.
   The Commission makes a recommendation to the Board and the Board makes the decision, whether to approve or deny designation of the property as an Historic Landmark.
5. Historic District Zoning
   Historic District (HD) Zoning is added to the property if the Board of Supervisors has approved its designation as an Historic Landmark.

Process for Historic District Designation

The process for designation of an Historic District is similar to that for an Historic Landmark, but instead of one property, a group of properties containing many sites, structures, buildings, or objects are designated and zoned HD. The Landmarks Commission determines which parcels are included in the Histrict District, thus determines the District boundary. Design guidelines based on the design and architectural characteristics of the structures and buildings are established either as part of or after designation of the Historic District.

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