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Sedona, AZ Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing body
Historic Preservation Commission
Age threshold
50 years old (or exceptional significance)
Approval needed for exterior work
Certificate of Appropriateness
Certificate validity
Expires 6 months if work not started
Demolition standard
Requires Commission-approved Certificate
Penalty
Class 1 misdemeanor, civil citation, or injunction

Summary

Sedona's Historic Preservation Commission can designate any property, portion of a property, or individual structure a landmark, adding it to the City's Historic Property Register. Once designated, no exterior alteration, new construction, or demolition can proceed without a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission.

This section establishes the procedure for the Historic Preservation Commission to designate as a landmark an entire property, an identified portion of a property, or one or more individual structures on a property. ... Upon approval of a landmark designation, the affected property shall be included in the Historic Property Register and on any other applicable documents as appropriate for its preservation. ... No person shall carry out any exterior alteration, restoration, renovation, reconstruction, new construction, demolition, or removal, in whole or in part, on any landmark, without first obtaining a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission pursuant to Section 8.7.E, Certificate of Appropriateness (or No Effect).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Initiative Ordinance 2026-01, approved by voters at the July 21, 2026 election).

Full Breakdown

B. To qualify, a resource must show integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, be at least 50 years old (or exceptionally significant sooner), and meet criteria such as association with significant historic events or persons, or embodiment of a distinctive architectural type, period, or method of construction. E. Routine maintenance and repair that fits the Code's own definition is exempt and needs no application. E(3)(f)(2)-(3). F, available only on narrow grounds: an imminent safety hazard found by the Chief Building Official, proven economic hardship, or a Commission finding that the demolition would not substantially harm a historic district's integrity.

D, but that relief is unavailable if the hardship stems from the owner's own neglect, willful damage, or an above-market purchase price. A landmark may later be removed from the Register if the Commission finds it no longer meets the designation criteria, or was destroyed by natural disaster, accident, or fire.

Violations & Fines

Sedona treats any violation of the Land Development Code, including unpermitted work on a designated landmark, as a Class 1 misdemeanor under SLDC Section 1.7.A, punishable as provided by Arizona law, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense. The City Code Enforcement Officer or a peace officer may instead issue a civil citation returnable in Sedona Magistrate Court under Section 1.7.B, and the City can also seek an injunction to stop or correct unauthorized construction, alteration, or demolition under Section 1.7.C. Unpermitted work on a landmark is additionally deemed a public nuisance per se under Section 1.7.D.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I repaint or repair my landmark property in Sedona without a permit?
Routine maintenance and repair that meets the Code's definition of routine repair is exempt and needs no application under SLDC Section 8.7.B(2)(e)(vi). But repainting a different color or changing materials, fixtures, or landscaping counts as a material exterior change and needs a Certificate of Appropriateness under Section 8.7.E first.
How long does a Certificate of Appropriateness last once Sedona issues it?
It expires six months from the date of issuance if work has not started, under SLDC Section 8.7.E(3)(f)(2). If completed work exceeds what the certificate authorized, the certificate is revoked under Section 8.7.E(3)(f)(3), and a new application is required to continue.
Can Sedona approve demolition of a designated landmark?
Only on narrow grounds under SLDC Section 8.7.F: the Chief Building Official finds an imminent safety hazard, the owner proves rehabilitation would cause substantial economic hardship, or the Commission finds the demolition would not substantially harm a historic district's integrity. Owners bear the burden of proof for any hardship claim.
What happens if I alter a Sedona landmark without a Certificate of Appropriateness?
The work is a Class 1 misdemeanor under SLDC Section 1.7.A, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense, or the City can issue a civil citation to Sedona Magistrate Court under Section 1.7.B. The City can also seek a court injunction to halt or correct the unauthorized work under Section 1.7.C.

Sources & Official References

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