Santa Rosa, CA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Review body
- Design Review and Preservation Board (DRPB)
- Designation method
- Rezoning into Historic (-H) combining district
- Finding required
- Specific historical, archaeological, cultural, or architectural value
- Duty to maintain
- Owner must keep exterior in good repair
- Denial wait period
- One year before refiling, unless without prejudice
- Violation penalty
- Misdemeanor plus possible civil injunction
- Hardship review timeline
- DRPB decides within 60 days of CEQA review
Summary
Santa Rosa designates individual landmarks and preservation districts under City Code Section 20-58.050. The Design Review and Preservation Board must find specific historical, archaeological, cultural, or architectural value before recommending designation to the City Council, which acts through a rezoning applying the Historic (-H) combining district. Owners then take on a duty to maintain the exterior and get permit review for alterations.
A specific site, place, building, structure, street, street furniture, sign, work of art, natural feature or other object be designated a landmark, if the DRPB first finds that the feature to be designated has specific historical, archaeological, cultural or architectural value in the City and that the purposes of this Chapter would be furthered by the designation...Each person in possession or control and every owner of a landmark and any appurtenant premises shall maintain and keep in good repair the exterior of the landmark and premises.
Full Breakdown
A landmark or preservation district designation in Santa Rosa starts with a rezoning application under Chapter 20-64, which can be initiated by DRPB resolution, City Council direction, the Planning Commission, or the property owner (Section 20-58.050(A)). The Planning and Economic Development Department compiles a staff report, and the DRPB holds a noticed public hearing under Chapter 20-66. To recommend a landmark, the DRPB must find the site, building, structure, sign, work of art, or natural feature has specific historical, archaeological, cultural, or architectural value and that Chapter 20-58's purposes would be furthered (Section 20-58.050(D)(1)(a)).
A preservation district instead requires a finding of historical significance or a representative architectural period or style (Section 20-58.050(D)(1)(b)). The City Council then holds its own hearing and, if it agrees, designates the property by rezoning it into the Historic (-H) combining district (Section 20-58.050(F)); a denial bars refiling for one year unless the Council denies without prejudice. The City Clerk must send notice of any designation to the Sonoma County Assessor and Recorder (Section 20-58.050(G)), and the designation takes legal effect only on the date the -H rezoning ordinance itself becomes effective (Section 20-58.050(H)).
Once designated, every owner of a landmark or a property inside a preservation district must maintain the exterior in good repair, defined as the level of upkeep that prevents deterioration, dilapidation, or decay (Section 20-58.050(I)). Exterior alterations then require a Landmark Alteration Permit reviewed under Section 20-58.060, evaluated against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and the City's Processing Review Procedures for Owners of Historic Properties. Owners may seek relief from the DRPB in two narrow situations: a Building Official's written finding of an immediate dangerous condition, or a certificate of economic hardship supported by cost estimates, appraisals, and two years of income records, decided by DRPB resolution within 60 days of environmental review (Section 20-58.070).
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 20-58, including altering a landmark's exterior without a Landmark Alteration Permit or failing to keep a designated property in good repair, is a misdemeanor under Section 20-58.090(B). The City Attorney may also file a civil action for injunctive relief at the request of the Zoning Administrator, DRPB, or Council to stop or reverse unauthorized work. Decisions by the Director, Zoning Administrator, or DRPB may be appealed under Chapter 20-62 (Section 20-58.080).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can propose a landmark designation in Santa Rosa?
What happens once a property is designated a landmark?
Can an owner get out of landmark restrictions?
What is the penalty for violating Santa Rosa's landmark rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa to another location·View the California historic preservation overview
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Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle historic-cultural monuments.