Santa Clara County maintains a Heritage Resource Inventory under SCC Ordinance NS-1200.27. Landmarked properties receive county Historical Heritage Commission review before alteration, demolition, or relocation, and qualify for state Mills Act tax relief.
Designation as a county Heritage Resource follows SCC Ordinance NS-1200.27 and the County General Plan policy framework. The Historical Heritage Commission, an eleven-member advisory body, reviews nominations using criteria modeled on the National Register: architectural merit, association with significant events, embodiment of distinctive characteristics, or potential to yield archaeological information. Listed resources require commission concurrence on demolition permits and major exterior alterations under Title C zoning rules. Designation also unlocks Mills Act contracts, the State Historical Building Code, and CEQA categorical exemption for in-kind repairs. Non-designated properties on the Heritage Resource Inventory still trigger CEQA review when demolition is proposed.
Demolishing or altering a designated heritage resource without commission review triggers stop-work orders, mandatory restoration, CEQA enforcement actions, and administrative fines compounding daily until the violation is cured.
See how Palo Alto's historic-cultural monuments rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.