Cloverdale — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Cloverdale's zoning ordinance embeds a focused historic design review process to protect pre-1939 "conservation" buildings and locally significant historic resources while allowing compatible change. The rules define what qualifies as a conservation or historic structure, prescribe review standards (different rules for local vs. state/national listings), and provide tools—notably the PUD/planned unit approach—to modify development standards to enable preservation. See the city's rules on design review for procedure and submittal expectations.

Note: this page sticks strictly to what Cloverdale's zoning/planning ordinance says about historic preservation. For building-code details see the California Building Standards Code. (/us/california/building-codes)

How this page uses Cloverdale links

First mention of related topics below is linked to the city's internal menu pages for quick cross-reference: design review, development standards, parking, overlay districts, ADUs, California Building Standards Code, signage, and variances and exceptions.

Key ordinance rules (plain-English synthesis, with controlling cites)

• Historic design review is a specific form of design review intended to preserve historic and older buildings by retaining historic designs, materials, and construction techniques; it applies to two resource levels: conservation structures and historic structures. § 18.03.160.

• A conservation structure is defined as structures shown on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps dated 1939; for historic design review the term “structure” also includes the property. § 18.14.030.

• When a property is listed on the National or State registers, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation apply; when a structure is on a local list the ordinance applies the conservation-structure standards to all elevations. § 18.03.160.D.

• The city may designate locally significant historic structures or conservation districts (areas with >50% conservation/historic structures) by resolution after planning commission recommendation; required public notice to owners and properties within 300 feet and hearings before both the planning commission and city council. § 18.03.160.E.

• If you want relief from some zoning standards to preserve a historic building (for example reduced parking or altered setbacks), Cloverdale allows this through a PUD permit or PUD zoning, including explicit authority to modify standards where the proposal implements a preservation plan; an applicant must prepare a historic report per National Register Bulletin 15 and show a preservation plan as part of the PUD application. § 18.05.050.

• Where historic design review stands alone the planning director may approve it; when bundled with other permits the decision body follows the permit-approval table (Table 18.03.100). The planning commission serves as the design review committee and prepares the standards/guidelines. § 18.03.160.B, § 18.02.060, Table 18.03.100.

• Conservation-structure review requires an historic report using Sanborn maps, historic photos, and existing evaluations; if none exist the applicant must prepare a best-estimate of original design and materials and annotate current photos. Additions must be secondary to pre-1939 elements; front and side elevations are prioritized for preservation, with rear elements more modifiable. The ordinance emphasizes preserving pre-1939 materials and windows where feasible; roof replacements and window replacements should match or closely approximate originals. § 18.03.160.C (1–2).

District-by-district breakdown (what the ordinance actually says)

Below are Cloverdale zoning district names used in the ordinance and the ordinance language that is directly relevant to historic-preservation review, designation, or flexible treatment. Where the ordinance text does not provide a particular dimensional number, the item is listed as "Not found in retrieved materials" and you should Verify with the jurisdiction.

• DTC (Downtown Core)

  • Purpose / where it applies: Downtown core areas, including portions fronting Cloverdale Boulevard and specified downtown streets; downtown design emphasis appears in Chapter 18.05 and § 18.05.050.
  • Typical permitted uses: The ordinance discusses mixed commercial/residential and pedestrian-oriented buildings; specific use tables live in Chapter 18.05 (see main code). Not all use lists were included in retrieved excerpts. Not found in retrieved materials for complete use table.
  • Historic-preservation relevance: PUD permits can modify DTC standards to enable residential above/behind commercial uses and to support preservation; historic-designation-based modifications are allowed under PUD rules. § 18.05.050.
  • Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials for explicit numeric setbacks/coverage for DTC; Verify with the jurisdiction or Chapter 18.05 tables.

• O-R (Office / Multifamily)

  • Purpose / where it applies: Intended for conversion and mixed office/multifamily uses and to conserve existing built environment where neighborhoods change to office or mixed use. § 18.05.050.A.
  • Typical permitted uses: Office, multifamily (conversion allowances described). Not all use lists were included in retrieved excerpts. Not found in retrieved materials for complete table.
  • Historic-preservation relevance: PUD permits can reduce parking and modify site standards to preserve an existing house when conversion to office is proposed, subject to conditions that retain residential appearance. § 18.05.050.A.1–3.
  • Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials; verify in Chapter 18.05 and development standards.

• R-1 (Single-Family Residential)

  • Purpose / where it applies: Standard single-family district; referenced as a district where PUD permits may be allowed to better serve preservation objectives. § 18.03.130.
  • Typical permitted uses: Single-family dwellings (detailed use tables not included in retrieved snippets). Not found in retrieved materials for the full permitted-use table.
  • Historic-preservation relevance: Historic design standards apply where a structure qualifies as conservation/historic; PUD or plot-plan options may be tools to preserve a structure. § 18.03.160, § 18.03.130.
  • Key dimensional standards: The ordinance includes residential design guidance (e.g., garage setback, porch visibility) that applies when single-family homes are subject to design review: garage setback minimum 5 ft from front façade and porch/courtyard visible from the street are required where design review applies. § 18.10.050.A–B.

• R-2 (Two-Family / Small Multi) and R-R (Rural Residential)

  • Purpose / relevance: Listed among districts where PUD permit may be allowed to protect existing built environment and historic features. § 18.03.130.
  • Historic-preservation relevance: Same procedural historic-design rules apply if the structure is a conservation/historic structure. § 18.03.160.
  • Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials for specific numbers; verify with the jurisdiction.

• M-1 and M-P (Industrial)

  • Purpose / where it applies: M-1 (General Industrial) and M-P (Industrial Park) are described in § 18.06.020; these districts are primarily employment/industrial and set expectations about locating industrial uses away from residential. § 18.06.020.
  • Historic-preservation relevance: The ordinance does not provide industrial-specific historic exemptions in the retrieved excerpts. Not found in retrieved materials for industrial historic rules; Verify with the jurisdiction.
  • Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

• Planned Development / PUD (overlay/permit tool)

  • Purpose: The PUD is a tool that can be combined with any residential, commercial, or industrial district to achieve site-specific preservation and flexible development standards. PUDs may be used to “achieve goals such as historic preservation, neighborhood conservation.” § 18.08.010.B–C and § 18.03.130.
  • Typical permitted uses: Underlying district uses apply unless modified by the PUD precise plan. § 18.08.010.C.
  • Historic-preservation relevance and standards: A PUD permit may explicitly modify parking, setbacks, lot coverage, and other development standards to conserve historic design, materials and site features when supported by a historic report and preservation plan; see § 18.05.050.
  • Key dimensional standards: Variations to zoning standards are allowed in a PUD but must be shown in the precise development plan; see § 18.08.010.D for allowed variations and limits (e.g., lot-size variation constraints). § 18.08.010.D.

Quick reference table — decision-relevant rules

Checklist — what an applicant must submit / satisfy (minimum items from the ordinance)

• Prepare a historic report (Sanborn 1939 maps, historic photos, prior evaluations) documenting the pre-1939 elements and features to be preserved. § 18.03.160.C.1.
• Show how proposed work preserves front and side elevations and treats rear elements as subordinate (if conservation structure). § 18.03.160.C.2.c.
• If the property is on the State or National register, confirm compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and reference that compliance in submittals. § 18.03.160.D.
• If seeking reduced parking or modified development standards for preservation, prepare a PUD or PUD permit application that includes a preservation plan and the required historic report (National Register Bulletin 15 standard called out). § 18.05.050.A.3.
• File the appropriate design-review or permit forms with the planning department; the planning director will identify which approvals are required and whether the planning commission or director is the decision body. § 18.03.020; § 18.03.160.B.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If your building appears on the Sanborn 1939 map or has been locally designated, Cloverdale requires a historic design review that prioritizes preserving the front and side historic elements, asks for a historic report (Sanborn map + photos), and lets you seek zoning relief (often via a PUD) to keep historic fabric while making adaptive changes; state or national register listings must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. Verify with the planning department about your parcel status and which approvals you'll need. § 18.03.160; § 18.05.050; § 18.14.030.

Source References

• Cloverdale Municipal Code — § 18.03.160 Historic design review (historic-design rules, report requirements, designation steps) — ecode360 Cloverdale. § 18.03.160. — https://ecode360.com/CL4387 (downloaded text present in uploaded file)
• Cloverdale Municipal Code — § 18.03.150 Design review—Major and minor (design-review triggers and levels). § 18.03.150. — https://ecode360.com/CL4387
• Cloverdale Municipal Code — § 18.05.050 PUD permit provisions (zoning relief for historic properties; PUD standards and required historic report reference). § 18.05.050. — https://ecode360.com/CL4387
• Cloverdale Municipal Code — § 18.14.030 Definitions (definition of "conservation structures" = Sanborn 1939). § 18.14.030. — https://ecode360.com/CL4387
• Cloverdale Municipal Code — § 18.02.060 Design review committee and Table 18.03.100 (approval authorities, planning commission role). § 18.02.060; Table 18.03.100. — https://ecode360.com/CL4387
• Cloverdale Municipal Code — § 18.10.050 Residential design standards (garage setback example, porch visibility) § 18.10.050. — https://ecode360.com/CL4387

If you need the exact numeric development standards (setbacks, heights, lot coverage, FAR) that would apply to a specific district or parcel for a preservation project, those are in the zoning district tables and development-standards chapters not fully excerpted in the materials provided—Verify with the planning department or request the relevant sections of Chapter 18.04 / 18.05. Not found in retrieved materials.

Retrieved passages

• Cloverdale Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Cloverdale Zoning Code (§ 18.03.160) High relevance show source text
• Cloverdale Zoning Code (§ 18.03.160) High relevance show source text
• Cloverdale Zoning Code (Chapter 18.09) High relevance show source text
• Cloverdale Zoning Code (section and) Medium relevance show source text
• Cloverdale Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Cloverdale Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Cloverdale Zoning Code (§ 18.03.120.) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Cloverdale Municipal Code — **§ 18.03.160 Historic design review** (historic-design rules, report requirements, designation steps) — ecode360 Cloverdale. **§ 18.03.160**. — (downloaded text present in uploaded file) (§ 18.03.160)
• Cloverdale_ZoningCode.md

• Official Cloverdale code library