Historic Preservation in Los Angeles, CA (2026)
3 verified historic preservation rules for Los Angeles, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
HPOZ Rules
Buildings designated as contributing structures in a Los Angeles Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) require a Certificate of Appropriateness before any exterior changes can be made, and must obtain Zoning Administrator approval for commercial uses or reduced parking.
Historic Preservation: Hpoz Rules
Significant RestrictionsLAMC § 12.24 X.12
12. Historic Buildings. A Zoning Administrator may, upon application, permit commercial uses in a building and/or permit reduced parking otherwise required in this Chapter, for a building that is designated on the National Register of Historic Places, including Contributing Buildings in National Register Historic Districts, the California Register of Historical Resources, the City of Los Ange...
Historic-Cultural Monuments
Los Angeles designates Historic-Cultural Monuments through a Cultural Heritage Commission recommendation and City Council adoption process; once designated, no demolition, substantial alteration, or relocation of a Monument may proceed without prior Commission review.
Historic Preservation: Cultural Monument
Some RestrictionsLos Angeles Administrative Code (LAAC) § 22.171.7 and § 22.171.14
For purposes of this article, a Historic-Cultural Monument (Monument) is any site (including significant trees or other plant life located on the site), building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles. A proposed Monument may be designated by the City Council upon the recommendation of the Commission if it meets at least one of the following crit...
Mills Act Contracts
Los Angeles implements the Mills Act through Historical Property Contracts, allowing owners of designated Historic-Cultural Monuments or HPOZ Contributing Structures to enter a 10-year renewable agreement with the City in exchange for a reduced property tax assessment.
Historic Preservation: Mills Act
Some RestrictionsLAMC §§ 19.140–19.145
Sec. 19.140: Pursuant to California Government Code Section 50280, the City Council may contract with an owner or agent of the owner of any qualified historical property... Pursuant to Article 1.9 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code, historical properties that are "restricted" by the type of contracts referenced in the previous sentence shall be reassessed by the County Assessor in a ma...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Los Angeles city rules.
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