Santa Clara, CA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

130 of the Title 18 Zoning Code, formally titled the Santa Clara Historic Preservation Ordinance. 040(A) sets the designation criteria: a building, structure, object, or site is eligible for inclusion in the HRI if it meets all of the following designation criteria, namely age (generally 50 years or older, though a younger property can qualify if enough time has passed to assess its historical significance or it is a distinctive example of its style), retained historic integrity, and inclusion in at least one of four significance categories drawn from the General Plan: historical or cultural significance, architectural significance, geographic significance, or archaeological significance.

Designation can be initiated by the property owner, by the Historical and Landmarks Commission (HLC), or by the City Council; owner-initiated applications require a nonrefundable filing fee and written consent, while HLC- or Council-initiated applications require the Department to notify the owner by certified mail within 90 days and secure written consent before the process can proceed. Once an application is deemed complete, the HLC must agendize it for review within 60 days, hold a public hearing, and forward a recommendation to the City Council, which makes the final designation decision by resolution.

040(C) blocks the City from issuing any Building Permit, Demolition Permit, or other permit that would result in a major alteration of the property until all hearings conclude, though small projects can still move forward. 050 requires a Significant Properties Alteration (SPA) Permit for any alteration, including the addition of an ADU, and treats a major-alteration SPA Permit as a discretionary CEQA project under CEQA Guidelines Section 15357.