Historic homes in Beverly Hills: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Beverly Hills Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Beverly Hills's code says

Beverly Hills code What Beverly Hills's code adds
When a building counts as historic	The property must be at least 45 years old, or a property of extraordinary significance. Applies: For landmark designation. The code's other criteria must also be met. § 10-3-3212 · code text It is at least forty five (45) years of age, or is a property of extraordinary significance;
Changing a historic home	A certificate of appropriateness (or economic hardship) is required before altering, restoring, relocating or changing exterior appearance. Applies: Designated landmarks or contributing properties. Ordinary maintenance and repair is excepted. § 10-3-3219 · code text No person, owner, or other entity shall alter, restore, reconstruct, relocate, rehabilitate, stabilize, demolish, or change the exterior appearance of a designated landmark or contributing property without first having applied for and been granted a certificate of appropriateness or certificate of economic hardship, unless the work proposed qualifies as "ordinary maintenance and repair" as defined in this article. A certificate of appropriateness may be required. Applies: Noncontributing properties in a designated historic district. § 10-3-3219 · code text Furthermore, a certificate of appropriateness or certificate of economic hardship may be required for alterations, demolition, new construction, and exterior changes in appearance of noncontributing properties in a designated historic district, as provided below.
Demolishing an older or historic home	Alteration and demolition are prohibited, and no permits issue, while designation or related appeals are pending. Applies: Proposed landmarks and properties in proposed historic districts. The director may waive the hold for work not altering character-defining features. § 10-3-3217 · code text Upon the initiation of designation proceedings, any alteration, restoration, reconstruction, relocation, rehabilitation, stabilization, or demolition, in whole or in part, of a proposed landmark or a property located in a proposed historic district is prohibited, and no permits shall be issued by any city department, board, or commission, including, but not limited to, a conditional use permit, a tentative tract map or tentative parcel map permit, a development review permit, any administrative approval, design review approval, or architectural review approval. A certificate of appropriateness (or economic hardship) is required before demolition. Applies: Designated landmarks or contributing properties. § 10-3-3219 · code text No person, owner, or other entity shall alter, restore, reconstruct, relocate, rehabilitate, stabilize, demolish, or change the exterior appearance of a designated landmark or contributing property without first having applied for and been granted a certificate of appropriateness or certificate of economic hardship, unless the work proposed qualifies as "ordinary maintenance and repair" as defined in this article.
Work that needs no review	Ordinary maintenance and repair does not need a certificate of appropriateness. Applies: Designated landmarks or properties within a historic district. § 10-3-3219 · code text A certificate of appropriateness shall not be required for ordinary maintenance and repair of a designated landmark or property within a historic district. Ordinary maintenance and repair needs no permit by law, is regular care, and does not change design, material or appearance. Applies: Landmark properties or properties within a historic district. § 10-3-3219 · code text Ordinary maintenance and repair shall mean work on a landmark property or property within a historic district that meets all of the following conditions:

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What rules apply to a historic home in Beverly Hills?

Beverly Hills's code: The property must be at least 45 years old, or a property of extraordinary significance. (For landmark designation. The code's other criteria must also be met.) (§ 10-3-3212); A certificate of appropriateness (or economic hardship) is required before altering, restoring, relocating or changing exterior appearance. (Designated landmarks or contributing properties. Ordinary maintenance and repair is excepted.) (§ 10-3-3219).

Historic homes in Beverly Hills

What Beverly Hills's code says

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