Chandler, AZ Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

01(A)(10), lets Chandler create Historic Preservation District overlays and designate individual landmarks, Historic Conservation Districts and heritage sites. Section 35-3406's designation criteria require significance, listing on the Arizona or National Register of Historic Places with integrity intact, association with events or persons significant to Chandler's or national history, examples of significant architectural styles or construction methods, or the likelihood of yielding new historical or pre-historic information, plus age, meaning the property is 'at least 50 years old' or, if of exceptional importance, has achieved significance within the past 50 years, and integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.

A 'landmark' under § 35-3403 is a structure or site containing 'an outstanding or unique example of an architectural style,' tied to a major historic event or person, of unique visual quality, or of historical or cultural importance to the community. A 'heritage site' covers a past event, structure or district that no longer physically exists but was significant to Chandler's history, and can be marked with signage, plaques or pylons rather than formal overlay zoning. The seven-member Historic Preservation Commission (§ 35-3404), which includes at least one member who owns or operates a business in a historic property and one tied to the City Center District, reviews designation applications, holds a public hearing noticed on a four-by-eight-foot wooden sign at least 15 days out, and forwards its recommendation through the Planning and Zoning Commission to the City Council, which adopts landmark and Historic Preservation District designations by ordinance and Historic Conservation District/heritage site designations by resolution.