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Historic homes in Grass Valley

Grass Valley's own rules on historic homes, with the code text for every value.

Ask about historic homes in Grass Valley See coverage

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

What Grass Valley's code says

Grass Valley code What Grass Valley's code adds
When a building counts as historic
  • Under 50 years old.
    Applies: Historic districts: buildings under 50 years old, or that lost their original character, are non-contributing (rated Priority 3 and 4).
    § 17.52.050 · code text
    Buildings, properties and other features in historic districts, which are less than fifty years old, have not retained their original architectural character, or which do not support the prevailing historic character of the district, and are rated as Priority 3 and 4 properties in the Inventory of Historic Resources.
Changing a historic home
  • The Director reviews the project as part of the building permit review.
    Applies: Projects exempt from a development review permit (exempt and minor projects).
    § 17.52.070 · code text
    Projects exempt from a development review permit pursuant to Section 17.72.030. These projects are reviewed by the director as part of a building permit review process.
  • Development review committee and/or planning commission review.
    Applies: Major projects that need a development review permit.
    § 17.52.070 · code text
    Projects subject to a development review permit pursuant to Section 17.72.030. These projects are reviewed by the development review committee and/or planning commission as part of the development review process. These include projects that are defined as a major project as used in this chapter.
Work that needs no review
  • Routine maintenance and restoration, including in-kind replacement of deteriorated or damaged historic fabric and materials.
    § 17.52.070 · code text
    Exempt Projects. The routine maintenance and restoration of buildings, which includes in-kind replacement of deteriorated or damaged historic fabric and materials;

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What rules apply to a historic home in Grass Valley?

Grass Valley's code: Under 50 years old. (Historic districts: buildings under 50 years old, or that lost their original character, are non-contributing (rated Priority 3 and 4).) (§ 17.52.050); The Director reviews the project as part of the building permit review. (Projects exempt from a development review permit (exempt and minor projects).) (§ 17.52.070).

General information, not legal advice.

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Grass Valley Municipal Code — full text