Skip to content

Carmel-by-the-Sea · Building on your lot

Historic homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea's own rules on historic homes, with the code text for every value.

Ask about historic homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea See coverage

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

What Carmel-by-the-Sea's code says

Carmel-by-the-Sea code What Carmel-by-the-Sea's code adds
When a building counts as historic
  • At least 50 years old, and meeting at least one of the 4 California Register criteria.
    Applies: Eligibility for the Carmel Inventory of historic resources.
    § 17.32.040 · code text
    Should be a minimum of 50 years of age and shall meet at least one of the four criteria for listing in the California Register at a national or Statewide level of significance (primary resource) or at a regional or local level of significance (local resource) per CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5(a)(3):
  • A resource under 50 years old may be eligible.
    Applies: It is of exceptional importance to the City, State or nation, or is an integral part of a historic district.
    § 17.32.040 · code text
    A resource less than 50 years old may be eligible if it is of exceptional importance to the City, State, or nation based on its unusually strong contribution to history, architecture, engineering or culture, or because it is an integral part of an historic district.
Changing a historic home
  • Required first: a determination of consistency with the Secretary's Standards, CEQA compliance, and a building permit or other city permit.
    Applies: Altering, remodeling, demolishing, grading, relocating, reconstructing or restoring a historic resource.
    § 17.32.120 · code text
    It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, association, partnership or other legal entity to directly or indirectly alter, remodel, demolish, grade, relocate, reconstruct or restore any historic resource without first obtaining a determination of consistency with the Secretary's Standards, complying with the requirements of the CEQA, and obtaining a building permit or other applicable permit from the City.
Demolishing an older or historic home
  • Demolition is prohibited, except as provided in CMC § 17.30.010.
    Applies: Structures identified as historic resources on the Carmel Inventory.
    § 17.32.120 · code text
    Demolition of structures identified as historic resources on the Carmel Inventory is prohibited except as provided in CMC § 17.30.010.
Work that needs no review
  • Ordinary maintenance or repair of exterior improvements or features is allowed without a change in design, materials, or external appearance.
    § 17.32.120 · code text
    Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior improvement or any exterior architectural feature in or on any historic resource that does not involve a change in design, materials, or external appearance thereof
  • Alteration, restoration, demolition, removal, or relocation is allowed when required for public safety due to an unsafe or dangerous condition.
    Applies: The Department certifies to the Historic Resources Board that public safety requires it and the California Historical Building Code cannot remedy the condition.
    § 17.32.120 · code text
    nor does this chapter prevent the alteration, restoration, demolition, removal, or relocation of any such improvement or architectural feature when the Department certifies to the Historic Resources Board that such action is required for the public safety due to an unsafe or dangerous condition and cannot be remedied under the California Historical Building Code.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What rules apply to a historic home in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea's code: At least 50 years old, and meeting at least one of the 4 California Register criteria. (Eligibility for the Carmel Inventory of historic resources.) (§ 17.32.040); A resource under 50 years old may be eligible. (It is of exceptional importance to the City, State or nation, or is an integral part of a historic district.) (§ 17.32.040).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Carmel-by-the-Sea property

Ask GoCodebook how Carmel-by-the-Sea's historic homes rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on building on your lot in Carmel-by-the-Sea

All building on your lot rules in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Tree removal in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Pets, chickens and bees in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Home alarm permits and false alarms in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea Municipal Code — full text