San Rafael, CA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SRMC Chapter 2.18, Historic Preservation
- Permit required
- Certificate of appropriateness for exterior work
- Designating body
- City council, by resolution or ordinance
- Max penalty
- $500 fine and/or 6 months jail
- Appeal window
- 30 days to city council
Summary
San Rafael designates buildings, sites, and historic districts as landmarks under Municipal Code Chapter 2.18, requiring a certificate of appropriateness before exterior alteration, removal, or demolition of designated Marin County city landmarks.
No person shall carry out or cause to be carried out, nor shall any officer or employee of the city issue any permit therefor, on a designated landmark site or in a designated historic district, any material change in the exterior appearance thereof, removal or demolition of a structure except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
The city council of San Rafael, in Marin County, California, may designate landmarks and historic districts by resolution or ordinance under Chapter 2.18 of the Municipal Code, based on historical, architectural, or geographic significance. Once designated, no person may materially alter the exterior, remove, or demolish a landmark structure or a building in a historic district without a certificate of appropriateness issued by the planning commission after review, or after a public hearing when the proposal could significantly affect the site. Applications go through the planning commission, with disapprovals appealable to the city council within thirty days.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 2.18 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 and six months in jail; each day of continued violation is a separate offense, per SRMC 2.18.090(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Rafael have a local landmark ordinance?
Can I alter a designated historic building in San Rafael?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Rafael
California rules heatmap·Compare San Rafael to another location·View the California historic preservation overview
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