Dorris — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Dorris’ adopted zoning code (Title 18) contains almost no dedicated historic‑preservation chapter, landmark criteria, or local designation procedure. The code does make a single planning/parking accommodation for projects in a “designated historic district” and otherwise relies on the usual zoning chapters and state building code provisions for work on historic structures. Where the ordinance speaks to related topics (setbacks, permitted uses, ADUs, parking, design rules), those rules live in the district chapters and in the Objective Design Standards chapter; the code does not establish a citywide local historic register, demolition review process, or design‑review rules specific to historic resources in the retrieved materials. See § 18.120.040 for the one explicit historic‑district reference.

What the Dorris code actually says (short list)

• Parking: no parking required for qualifying developments located within a “designated historic district” (see § 18.120.040) .
• Otherwise: historic‑specific controls (landmark designation criteria, local historic district formation, mandatory preservation review, demolition delay or incentives) are Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

(If you are preparing an application, check with planning staff before assuming protections or standards exist — many procedural matters are handled administratively. Verify with the jurisdiction.)

District‑by‑district (how preservation issues intersect with each Dorris zoning district)

Below are the main zoning districts in Dorris where a historic property is likely to sit. For each district I list the district purpose, typical permitted uses, the key dimensional standards that will affect rehabilitation or alterations, and where the district applies in the code (so you can read the exact standards). If you own or are working on a likely historic building, read the district rules and check with planning staff — the code does not add historic‑only design standards except for the parking exemption noted above.

• R-A (Residential Agriculture) — purpose and rules: § 18.16.010–.060. Purpose: apply to large‑lot, agricultural/residential parcels; typical permitted uses include single‑family residential, small agricultural uses and accessory dwelling units; key standards: minimum parcel size 1 acre, minimum front setback 20 ft, height 35 ft; see § 18.16.050–.060.

• R-1 (Low Density Residential) — purpose and rules: § 18.20.010–.060. Purpose: low‑density single‑family neighborhoods; permitted uses include single‑family, residential care homes, and ADUs; key standards: min parcel 6,000 sq ft, max height 35 ft, front setback 20 ft, max lot coverage 35% (residential) — all controls in § 18.20.050–.060.

• R-2 (Medium Density Residential) — purpose and rules: § 18.24.010–.060. Permitted uses include duplexes, multifamily, ADUs; key standards mirror R‑1 but with higher permitted density and different minimum lot dimensions; see § 18.24.020–.060.

• R-3 (High Density Residential) — purpose and rules: § 18.28.010–.060. Intended for denser multifamily development; key standards include max height 45 ft, lot coverage up to 75% and typical setbacks in § 18.28.060.

• M‑U (Mixed Use) — purpose and rules: § 18.32.010–.060. Central mixed commercial/residential areas; permitted uses include multifamily, live/work, retail; setbacks, height, and lot coverage set in § 18.32.050–.060 and will affect façade rehabilitation and additions.

• C‑1 (Community Commercial) — purpose and rules: § 18.36.010–.060. Typical uses are retail, offices, small institutional uses; see permitted uses and development standards at § 18.36.020–.060. Design changes to historic commercial buildings must meet the district development standards.

• C‑2 (General Commercial) — purpose and rules: § 18.40.010–.060. Applies to US‑97 corridor and higher‑intensity commercial uses; shopfront rehabilitation must follow the C‑2 development standards in § 18.40.020–.060.

• M (Manufacturing / Industrial) — purpose and rules: § 18.44.010–.070. Industrial uses; some historic industrial buildings may be reused subject to the M‑district development standards in § 18.44.

• O‑S (Open Space) — purpose and rules: Chapter 18.48; applicable primarily to parks, floodways, etc. Check § 18.48 for site limitations; Not found: historic overlay rules in O‑S.

• P‑A (Public Agency) — purpose and rules: § 18.52.010–.060. Public facilities, parks and institutions; standards at § 18.52.060 apply to publicly owned historic properties.

• P‑D (Planned Development) — purpose and rules: § 18.56.010–.070. Flexible development standards; if a historic property sits inside a planned‑development district, the approved development plan governs the standards (see § 18.56.070).

• RPD (Residential Planned Development) — purpose and rules: § 18.60.010–.070. This is an area‑specific planned district (mapped APNs listed in § 18.60.010) with its own density and design rules in § 18.60.040–.060; rehabilitation within RPD follows those standards.

Note: each district allows ADUs per Chapter 18.104; ADU rules (size, setbacks, compatibility requirements) will apply to conversions of accessory buildings on historic parcels — see § 18.104.

Key ordinance excerpts you need for preservation work

The code has only one explicit historic/district reference: § 18.120.040 (objective design standards — parking exemption for developments within a “designated historic district”). For all other preservation choices (demolition, landmarking, a local historic overlay or preservation permit), the Dorris zoning code as retrieved does not include a local historic‑preservation chapter or explicit landmarking procedure. Where work affects structural or life‑safety elements on a historic structure, the California Historical Building Code / Title 24 processes will apply; consult the California Building Standards Code.

Decision‑relevant table (quick reference)

Practical guidance / interpretation (plain English, Dorris‑specific)

• If your property is in Dorris and you think it might be historic, there is no local ordinance text in the retrieved Title 18 that creates a local landmark list or demolition review. That means there is no written local preservation process you can rely on in the code itself; contact planning staff to confirm whether there is an administrative register, historic survey, or informal review practice. Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction.
• For exterior rehab work you will need to follow the zoning district standards that apply to the parcel (for example, R‑1 rules in § 18.20.060 set setbacks, height, coverage) — those standards govern allowed additions, porches, changes to roof forms and likely drive whether a use permit or variance is needed.
• If you plan to add an ADU on a lot with a historic building: ADUs are allowed by Chapter 18.104, but compatibility standards (architecture, siting) are required; the ADU chapter explicitly contemplates historic resources and state ADU law may allow local objective standards that prevent adverse impacts. See § 18.104 and consult the state ADU law guidance.
• Parking relief: if a project is within a “designated historic district” it may qualify for the parking exemption in § 18.120.040. If you plan to rely on that exemption, the crucial question is whether the city has actually designated the site as inside a historic district — the code does not include a local map or designation procedure in the retrieved materials. Confirm with planning staff.
• Life‑safety and accessibility: when you repair or alter a qualified historic building you may be able to use the California Historical Building Code (CHBC) and the CBC has explicit allowances for historic structures; coordinate building‑permit review with the building official. See the California Building Standards Code for Title 24 provisions.

(Internal links you should check now: the Dorris pages on parking, design review, development standards, overlay districts, ADUs, and Zoning are relevant background reading for applicants. For building‑code compliance on historic work, consult the California Building Standards Code.)

Checklist (what an applicant should prepare)

• Confirm whether the property is inside any local “designated historic district” (city planning). If yes, document the designation so you may rely on § 18.120.040 for parking relief. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Identify the parcel’s zoning district and assemble the applicable district chapter pages (e.g., § 18.20 for R‑1) — use the district development standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage) when designing repairs/additions.
• For any ADU work, follow Chapter 18.104 requirements (size, setbacks, compatibility) and note state ADU rules about historic resources.
• Prepare site plans, elevations and photographs showing existing historic features (many district chapters require photos with use‑permit applications). See general application rules in § 18.80 for use permits/variances.
• If work affects structural or life‑safety systems, consult the building official about using CHBC provisions (Title 24).
• If proposing demolition, do not assume there is a local demolition‑review protection; confirm whether the city imposes any administrative controls or informal review for historic resources — Not found in retrieved materials (verify with the jurisdiction).

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps (what the ordinance did NOT show)

• No local historic‑preservation chapter, local landmark designation criteria, or local designation procedures found in the retrieved Title 18 materials. Not found in retrieved materials.
• No map or list of “designated historic districts” in Title 18 (only a reference to a “designated historic district” in § 18.120.040). Not found in retrieved materials.
• No explicit local demolition‑review, preservation incentive, or retro‑fitting/rehab incentives program in the retrieved code. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Local design‑review rules specific to historic resources are not present in the retrieved materials (design review exists as a topic on the site, but not as a historic procedure in Title 18). Not found in retrieved materials.

Plain‑English summary (for a homeowner)

Dorris’ zoning code does not include a local historic‑preservation chapter or landmarking procedure in the materials provided. The only explicit reference to historic districts is a parking exemption in the Objective Design Standards (see § 18.120.040). For any rehabilitation, additions, ADUs or demolition you must follow the parcel’s zoning district rules (setbacks, height, lot coverage) and building‑permit rules; if you believe your building is historic, talk to city planning and the building official because state historic‑building provisions may apply.

Source References

• Dorris Zoning Code, Title 18 — City of Dorris Zoning Code (October 2023), including: Chapters for R‑1 (Low Density Residential) § 18.20.010–.060 (purpose, permitted uses, standards) .
• Dorris Zoning Code, Title 18 — Mixed Use § 18.32.010–.060 (permitted uses and development standards) .
• Dorris Zoning Code, Title 18 — Planned/Residential Planned Development § 18.56.010–.070 and § 18.60.010–.070 (P‑D and RPD rules) .
• Objective Design Standards, including the historic‑district parking reference: § 18.120.010–.040 (see § 18.120.040) .
• Accessory Dwelling Units: Chapter 18.104 (ADU development standards and compatibility) .
• California Building Standards Code / California Historical Building Code (for repairs/rehab and alternative compliance methods for historic structures) — Title 24 / CHBC references in the retrieved building‑code materials.

(If you need the explicit text for any of the cited sections above, request the specific chapter/section and I will extract the controlling language and cite it for you. Verify with the City of Dorris planning office for any administratively maintained inventories or policies that are not codified in Title 18.)

Retrieved passages

• Dorris Zoning Code (Section 18.128.010) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (section may) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 100 (Chapter 18.68) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (CHAPTER 18.120) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (Section 18.72.150) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 8 (SECTION 8-301) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (CHAPTER 18.60) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (title applicable) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (§ 65915) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § G106 (SECTION G106) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 18.84.130 (Chapter 18.100) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (§ 66314) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (CHAPTER 18.64) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (CHAPTER 18.60) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (TITLE 18) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (Chapter 18.68) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 18.84.190 (Section 18.84.190) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (chapter or) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (section may) Medium relevance show source text
• Dorris Zoning Code (Chapter 18.104) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Dorris Zoning Code, Title 18 — City of Dorris Zoning Code (October 2023), including: Chapters for R‑1 (Low Density Residential) **§ 18.20.010–.060** (purpose, permitted uses, standards) . (Title 18)
• Dorris Zoning Code, Title 18 — Mixed Use **§ 18.32.010–.060** (permitted uses and development standards) . (Title 18)
• Dorris Zoning Code, Title 18 — Planned/Residential Planned Development **§ 18.56.010–.070** and **§ 18.60.010–.070** (P‑D and RPD rules) . (Title 18)
• Objective Design Standards, including the historic‑district parking reference: **§ 18.120.010–.040** (see **§ 18.120.040**) . (§ 18.120.010)
• Accessory Dwelling Units: Chapter **18.104** (ADU development standards and compatibility) .
• California Building Standards Code / California Historical Building Code (for repairs/rehab and alternative compliance methods for historic structures) — Title 24 / CHBC references in the retrieved building‑code materials. (Title 24)
• Dorris_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md