Grand Terrace — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Grand Terrace's Title 18 (Zoning) does not contain a standalone, full historic‑preservation chapter or a local landmarks register inside the zoning text provided. Instead, historic preservation shows up as constraints and considerations inside specific chapters: site and architectural review (for design/alteration control), accessory/second‑unit rules (exemptions/limits inside historic districts), and development/design standards that the City uses when reviewing projects. See the City's zoning map and district list in § 18.09.020 for where those rules will apply citywide .

Important links (first natural mention of each topic):

• Grand Terrace zoning: Grand Terrace Zoning — the rules below live inside Title 18.
• Design review: Grand Terrace Design Review and the implementing Site & Architectural Review chapter § 18.63.010–.070 govern how historic character is considered in projects .
• Development standards / setbacks: Grand Terrace Development Standards; the second‑unit/ADU rules reference objective design and setback standards (see § 18.65.040 and § 18.65.060) .
• ADUs: Grand Terrace ADUs; accessory dwelling unit rules explicitly treat properties in architecturally/historically significant districts differently (see § 18.69.050 (ADU limits/locations)) .
• Parking: Grand Terrace Parking — parking rules and parking exceptions for ADUs/second units are in § 18.65.040(F) and the ADU chapter (see § 18.69.050.D–F) .
• Overlay districts: Grand Terrace Overlay Districts — overlay districts (for example FP, AG, R3‑24 overlay, BRSP, GSP) are listed in § 18.09.020 and have their own rules where applicable .
• California Building Standards Code (Title 24): California Building Standards Code — local application of the California Historical Building Code and Title 24 exceptions is relevant for qualified historic buildings (see CHBC excerpts in the materials) .

How Grand Terrace treats historic preservation in the zoning code (summary of controls)

• Design Review is the primary tool. The Site & Architectural Review chapter requires that new development and alterations be visually harmonious, preserve character, and consider materials/colors, landscaping, and context — findings the reviewing authority must make before approval (see § 18.63.010–.060) .
• ADU / second‑unit special rules. The second‑unit (Chapter 18.65) and ADU (Chapter 18.69) chapters both call out architecturally or historically significant districts: certain ministerial parking and demolition relaxations do not apply if the lot is within a historic district, and other restrictions may apply. The code explicitly states some development types “shall not be located within a historic district or on property included on the State Historic Resources Inventory … or within a site that is designated or listed as a City or County landmark or historic property or district pursuant to a City or County ordinance” (see the historic‑district exclusion language appearing in Chapter 18.65 and tied to the ADU/second‑unit rules) .
• Objective design standards apply to additions/ADUs but the City will not enforce a standard that would physically preclude a required ADU size except as specifically allowed in the ordinance (see § 18.65.040(B)(4); § 18.65.060) .
• State and building‑code exceptions for historic resources. Where a property qualifies as historic, the California Historical Building Code (Part 8 of Title 24) allows alternative life safety and accessibility approaches — local permitting will coordinate with Title 24 provisions for qualified historic structures (CHBC excerpts included in the materials) .

District-by-district breakdown (where zoning / historic review interacts)

The zoning code establishes the districts in § 18.09.020; that section (and the referenced tables/chapters) is the controlling citation for the descriptions below . For each district I list the code name in bold, the code purpose or where described, permitted use pointers, a short note on dimensional/development controls where the code states them, and where to verify parcel‑specific application.

Note: where the Title 18 text does not provide numeric dimensional standards in the retrieved excerpts, I state "Not found in retrieved materials" and tell you where the code says those standards are enforced (development standards chapter, specific district chapters, or the official zoning map).

R1-20 (Very Low Density Single Family Residential)

• Purpose / where described: established in § 18.09.020; single‑family fabric and low intensity residential uses apply .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes, accessory structures, ADUs as permitted under Chapter 18.69 (subject to the ADU rules and historic‑district exceptions) .
• Key dimensional standards: numeric front/side/rear setbacks, lot coverage and height limits — Not found in retrieved materials (verify with Chapter 18 development tables and zoning map) .
• Where it applies: see the official zoning map on file with Planning (per § 18.09.030) .

R1-10, R1-7.2 (Low / Standard Single Family Residential)

• Purpose and uses: same approach as R1-20; details and permitted accessory uses referenced to Title 18 and Chapter 18.69 for ADUs .
• Dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials — verify with Grand Terrace Development Standards and the zoning map.

R2, R3, R3-S, R3-20, R3-24 (Multi‑family / Medium → High Density Residential)

• Purpose / uses: multi‑family housing, senior housing (R3-S), and higher density options; some multi‑family projects and second‑unit proposals require Site & Architectural Review (Chapter 18.63) and may be processed administratively in certain overlay cases (see § 18.63.020 and R3‑24 overlay rules) .
• Key standards: ADUs allowed per Chapter 18.69; second‑unit design and separation rules in § 18.65.040 (heights limited to two stories, minimum separations, and side/rear setbacks) .
• Where it applies: zoning map; R3‑24 overlay contains special density rules (see Chapter 18.48) .

AP, C2, CM (Office / General Business / Commercial Manufacturing)

• Purpose / uses: non‑residential and commercial uses listed in Table 18.27.010 (see that Table for permitted vs. conditional uses) — e.g., antique shops, banks, retail uses appear in the table and are regulated by district rules and Site & Architectural Review where required .
• Dimensional standards / design review: commercial projects are subject to Chapter 18.63 and design/layout/landscaping findings § 18.63.010–.060 .
• Where it applies: official zoning map per § 18.09.030 .

MR, M2 (Manufacturing / Industrial)

• Purpose / uses: industrial activity; uses shown in Table 18.27.010 and subject to design and site review in relevant cases .
• Historic interaction: industrial conversions that might affect historic resources will be subject to site & architectural review findings § 18.63.060 .

PUB (Public Facilities District)

• Purpose / uses: public institutions and facilities; the PUB district explicitly applies Site & Architectural Review via § 18.43.080 referencing Chapter 18.63 for review procedures and design consistency .

Overlay and Specific‑Plan districts: FP (Floodplain Overlay), AG (Agricultural Overlay), BRSP (Barton Road Specific Plan), GSP (Gateway Specific Plan), R3‑24 Overlay

• Purpose / uses: overlays add requirements or allow alternatives (for example, R3‑24 overlay allows higher density at owner request) — overlays are defined in § 18.09.020 and their chapters (e.g., Chapter 18.48 for R3‑24) and will interact with review and preservation rules as shown in their chapters .
• Historic interaction: overlay or specific plan areas may include additional design guidelines that interact with the City's design review standards; confirm with the specific plan chapter for that area (see Chapter 18.20 descriptions) .
• Dimensional standards: vary by overlay chapter — Not found in retrieved materials for every overlay; verify with the specific plan text or overlay chapter.

Key decision‑relevant table (permits / standards at a glance)

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a project affecting a historic resource or within a historic district)

• Confirm whether the parcel is within an architecturally or historically significant historic district or is listed on any State/federal/local historic inventory (Not found in retrieved materials; verify with Planning). Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Prepare a Site & Architectural Review application package that addresses compatibility, materials, colors, landscaping, and relationship to surrounding structures per § 18.63.030 and § 18.63.060 .
• For ADUs or second units: show compliance with the Chapter 18.69 and 18.65 development standards (setbacks, separation, parking exceptions) and note any historic‑district restrictions § 18.65.040, § 18.65.060, § 18.69.050 .
• If demolition is proposed, confirm the demolition rules and whether additional findings or historic‑resource review is triggered (ADU/garage demolition rules call out extra review for historically significant districts) § 18.69.050 and related code language .
• If the resource is qualified historic, coordinate with building code exceptions under the California Historical Building Code (Title 24 Part 8) for alternative life‑safety solutions; document qualification with the enforcing agency .
• Submit any required notices and fees and be prepared for public hearing/appeal timelines per § 18.63.050–.070 and appeals rules § 18.63.070 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Grand Terrace does not have a self‑contained historic‑preservation chapter in the retrieved Title 18 text. Instead, historic resources are protected by applying the Site & Architectural Review findings to sensitive properties and by special rules in the ADU and second‑unit chapters that treat properties inside historic districts differently; qualified historic buildings are handled with the California Historical Building Code when building‑code issues arise. For parcel‑specific status (is my house in a historic district?) and numeric setback/height rules, verify with the City — those details are not fully listed in the excerpts I reviewed .

Source References

• Title 18 — Zoning (Grand Terrace): district list and map, § 18.09.020–.030 .
• Chapter 18.63 — Site & Architectural Review (purpose, scope, findings, procedures), § 18.63.010–.070 .
• Chapter 18.65 — Second units / two‑unit development (development standards, design standards, historic‑district exclusion language in the chapter context) — see § 18.65.040, design standards § 18.65.060, and the historic exclusion text in Chapter 18.65 (context around § 18.65.020 in the retrieved materials) .
• Chapter 18.69 — Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (general ADU rules, special treatment within architecturally and historically significant districts), § 18.69.050–.090 .
• Table 18.27.010 — Nonresidential land‑use regulations / permitted uses table (commercial/industrial uses) .
• Fence and wall standards (example of development standards applied by district), § 18.73.070 .
• California Historical Building Code (Title 24, Part 8) excerpts on qualified historic buildings and CHBC application (for building‑code exceptions for historic structures) .
• Grand Terrace ADU handbook and state ADU guidance (uploaded materials showing state law context for ADUs and historic resources) .

(If you want, I can pull the exact local zoning map parcel status or extract the numeric development standards per district from the full Title 18 tables — tell me a parcel APN or the exact street address and I will request the map/verify with Planning or extract the relevant sections from the full code.)

Retrieved passages

• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Section 5020.1) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 4 (Chapter may) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Chapter 18.63) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Chapter 18.03) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Chapter 18.63) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 18955 (Section 18955) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Title and) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 1 (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Section 18.63.070) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 8 (SECTION 8-301) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 18 — Zoning (Grand Terrace): district list and map, **§ 18.09.020–.030** . (Title 18)
• Chapter 18.63 — Site & Architectural Review (purpose, scope, findings, procedures), **§ 18.63.010–.070** . (Chapter 18.63)
• Chapter 18.65 — Second units / two‑unit development (development standards, design standards, historic‑district exclusion language in the chapter context) — see **§ 18.65.040**, design standards **§ 18.65.060**, and the historic exclusion text in Chapter 18.65 (context around **§ 18.65.020** in the retrieved materials) fileciteturn1file2. (Chapter 18.65)
• Chapter 18.69 — Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (general ADU rules, special treatment within architecturally and historically significant districts), **§ 18.69.050–.090** fileciteturn1file14. (Chapter 18.69)
• Table 18.27.010 — Nonresidential land‑use regulations / permitted uses table (commercial/industrial uses) .
• Fence and wall standards (example of development standards applied by district), **§ 18.73.070** . (§ 18.73.070)
• California Historical Building Code (Title 24, Part 8) excerpts on qualified historic buildings and CHBC application (for building‑code exceptions for historic structures) . (Title 24)
• Grand Terrace ADU handbook and state ADU guidance (uploaded materials showing state law context for ADUs and historic resources) .
• GrandTerrace_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Historical Building Code.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official Grand Terrace code library