Redwood City, CA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

6, the City Council may designate an improvement an historic landmark or historic site, or an area an historic district, if it exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City's cultural, aesthetic or architectural history; is identified with persons or events significant in local, State or national history; embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction, or use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or represents the notable work of a builder, designer or architect. The Planning Commission, acting through a five-member Historic Resources Advisory Committee it appoints (Sec.

S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation for reviewing work on designated resources (Sec. 5). Designation itself follows a public process: any person may apply, the Committee studies and recommends, the Commission holds a noticed public hearing within thirty days, and the City Council must act by resolution within thirty days of the Commission's recommendation, after its own hearing (Sec. 7). 8 bars tearing down, demolishing, constructing, altering, removing or relocating the improvement, altering any exterior architectural feature, or placing or altering a sign on it, without first securing written Commission approval; no building or demolition official may issue a permit for such work without that approval. 9. 10, focused on whether the work would detrimentally alter the resource's exterior architectural features or the district's character.