Article 3 — Designation of Landmarks and Historic Districts

Nominations of an historic resources as a landmark shall be made only by application of the property owner or property owners representing a majority or controlling interest in the property on which the resource is located, and the owner or owners representing a majority or controlling interest in the improvement if such improvement has been legally severed. (§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989)

In order to be eligible for consideration as a landmark, an historic resource must be at least 50 years old; with the exception that an historic resource of at least 30 years of age may be eligible if the Commission determines that the resource is very exceptional, or that it is threatened by demolition, removal, relocation, or inappropriate alteration.

(§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989, and Ord. 3305-25 c.s., eff. November 13, 2025)

The initiation of a proposed historic district may arise from a property owner or group of property owners in a potential historic district, or by the City based on information of a historic survey. When such an initiation is proposed, the City will assist in preparing the defining characteristics of a geographical district or a thematic district, whichever the case may be. Only those properties for which the property owners submit a nomination to be included in a proposed or existing district will be considered to be within the district. The district boundary will not include any property without the written consent of the property owner of said property. (§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989, as amended by § 1, Ord. 2638 c.s., eff. September 5, 1991, and § 4, Ord. 2933 c.s., eff. June 3, 2004)

In order to be eligible for consideration as an historic district, at least 75% of the buildings in the proposed district (excluding accessory buildings) must be at least 50 years old or otherwise meet the requirement of § 10-4.302. In addition, no more than 25% of the buildings in the proposed district (excluding accessory buildings) may be noncontributing. Noncontributing buildings may be included as part of an historic district only to the extent that the Commission determines them to be essential to the geographic integrity of the district. The Commission shall make determinations identifying any noncontributing buildings within an historic district as part of the review process.

(§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989, as amended by Ord. 3305-25 c.s., eff. November 13, 2025)

Once a completed application has been accepted for the designation of a landmark or an historic district, no building, alteration, demolition, removal, or relocation permits for any historic resource, improvement, building, or structure relative to a proposed landmark or within a proposed historic district shall be issued until a final determination is made regarding the proposed designation, except as provided under Article 6 of this chapter.

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City of Redondo Beach, CA

PLANNING AND ZONING

§ 10-4.305

§ 10-4.310

(§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989)

Notice of the date, place, time and purpose of hearings shall be given by first class mail to the owner(s) of all nominated resource(s) at least 10 days prior to the date of the public hearing, using the names and addresses of such owners as shown on the latest equalized assessment rolls and shall be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation at least 10 days prior to the hearing. Failure to send any notice by mail to any property owner where the address of such owner is not a matter of public record shall not invalidate any proceedings in connection with the proposed designation. The Preservation Commission may also give such other notice as they deem desirable and practicable.

(§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989)

A property owner who has signed an application for inclusion of his or her property in a proposed historic district may withdraw such consent by filing a written notice of withdrawal with the City Clerk at any time prior to the close of the public hearing thereon before the Commission or before the City Council on appeal, if any.

(§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989, as amended by § 1, Ord. 2638 c.s., eff. September 5, 1991, and Ord. 3305-25 c.s., eff. November 13, 2025)

Upon acceptance of a completed application for the designation of a landmark or historic district, a public hearing shall be scheduled before the Commission to study the proposed designation and to determine its eligibility and qualifications. Following the public hearing, the Commission shall decide to approve, in whole or in part, or disapprove the designation. All decisions to approve or disapprove designations shall be made by resolution, and shall set forth the findings and reasons relied upon in making the determination.

(§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989, as amended by § 5, Ord. 2933 c.s., eff. June 3, 2004, and Ord. 3305-25 c.s., eff. November 13, 2025)

Notice of the designation of a landmark or an historic district shall be transmitted to all appropriate City departments and any other interested governmental and civic agencies. Each City department shall incorporate the notice of designation into its records, so that future decisions or permissions regarding or affecting a landmark or historic district shall be made with the knowledge of the designation. For projects to be carried out by the City, or subject to discretionary approval by the City, that have a direct adverse effect on a landmark or properties within an historic district as determined by the responsible department, notice shall be given to the Commission. The Commission may review such projects and provide comments and recommendations to the reviewing or decisionmaking body.

(§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989, as amended by Ord. 3305-25 c.s., eff. November 13, 2025)

• (a) In the event of substantial destruction of a landmark or historic district, the owner or owners

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City of Redondo Beach, CA § 10-4.310

REDONDO BEACH

§ 10-4.314

of a landmark or owners representing a majority or controlling interest in a minimum of 51% of the parcels in an historic district may apply for removal of designation. The Commission or City Council may also initiate removal in such circumstances. The removal of a designation for this reason shall be processed and decided in the same manner as designations as set forth in this article, with the additional requirement that the determination of substantial destruction shall be set forth in the findings of the Commission.

• (b) The complete demolition or removal of a landmark shall result in the removal of the landmark designation.

• (c) Once a landmark or historic district designation has been removed, affected properties shall no longer be subject to any provision or regulation of this chapter.

• (§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989, as amended by Ord. 3305-25 c.s., eff. November 13, 2025)

The property owner of a property identified by the City as a potential historic resource may request that the property be removed from the list if he or she provides specific written and verifiable documentation refuting that the property meets the criteria for designation as a landmark as described herein. An example would be that documentation is discovered that an unknown architect designed a property that was thought to have been designed by a famous architect, or the structure has been altered to an extent that the historic integrity has been lost. The Commission shall review the request for removal following the same procedures identified in Sections 10-4.306, 10-4.308 and 10-4.309 herein.

(§ 6, Ord. 2933 c.s., eff. June 3, 2004)

All repairs, alterations, restorations, or changes in use of existing buildings and structures designated as landmarks or included as part of an historic district, or otherwise considered a historic resource under state law, may conform to the standards of the California Historical Building Code as an alternative to complying with building standards as set forth in Title 9 of this Code, notwithstanding the fact that such buildings may be nonconforming. (§ 2, Ord. 2554 c.s., eff. August 31, 1989, as amended by §§ 6, 7, Ord. 2933 c.s., eff. June 3, 2004)

Historic variances may be applied to local landmarks and contributors in historic districts. The landmark constitutes a property condition for the purposes of determining whether the property owner is denied privileges enjoyed by other property owners in the vicinity and within the same zoning district. Procedures and requirements of Section 10-2.2516 of the Zoning Ordinance and 10-5.2516 of the Coastal Plan Implementing Ordinance must be followed for the variance process.

(§ 8, Ord. 2933 c.s., eff. June 3, 2004)

A Historic Overlay Zone (H) may be created pursuant to Section 10-2.1400-1420 of the Zoning

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City of Redondo Beach, CA

PLANNING AND ZONING

§ 10-4.314

§ 10-4.314

Ordinance and Section 5.1400-1420 of the Coastal Plan Implementing Ordinance. An H zone may contain development standards, uses (including adaptive re-uses), and other provisions that are unique to the zone.

(§ 8, Ord. 2933 c.s., eff. June 3, 2004)

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City of Redondo Beach, CA