Sonoma County, CA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- HD Historic Combining District, § 26-68
- Reviewing body
- County Landmarks Commission (§ 2-86)
- Guideline districts
- Bodega, Freestone, Occidental
- Appeal path
- Planning commission, then board of supervisors
- Scope
- Unincorporated county land only
Summary
Unincorporated Sonoma County designates individual historic structures and historic districts under the HD Combining District, and any exterior alteration, demolition, or new building inside a designated historic district needs county landmarks commission approval before a zoning permit can issue.
No zoning permit authorizing alterations (including demolition) in the exterior of a structure within the boundaries of a historic district and no zoning permits authorizing construction of a new building within the boundaries of a historic district shall be granted unless approval has been granted by the county landmarks commission. Minor alterations may be reviewed and approved by staff in conformance with adopted design guidelines and standards. In all cases where the request for a zoning permit involves demolition alone, however, the county landmarks commission shall take action on such request within six (6) months of the date of application for the permit. It is not intended by this chapter to grant the county landmarks commission jurisdiction over zoning or use permit matters other than in the area of design review.
(Ord. No. 4643, 1993; Ord. No. 6020, § I, 3-12-2013.)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sonoma County designates individual historic structures and historic districts under the HD Historic Combining District (County Code § 26-68-010), administered by the county landmarks commission created under § 2-86. Once an area is designated, no zoning permit for exterior alterations, demolition, or new construction inside a historic district may issue without landmarks commission approval; staff may approve only minor work under adopted design guidelines. Three districts, Bodega, Freestone, and Occidental, have board-adopted design guidelines (§ 26-68-025). Commission decisions can be appealed to the planning commission and then the board of supervisors (§ 26-68-040). This applies only to unincorporated county land, not Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, or the other incorporated cities inside the county.
Violations & Fines
Altering, demolishing, or building without required landmarks commission approval is a code violation: up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail under the code's general penalty section, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover property inside the City of Sonoma?
Can I demolish an old building without any review?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California historic preservation overview
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