Martinez — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Martinez’s local historic-preservation rules are codified primarily in the Historic Resources Provisions, Chapter 22.47, and the Downtown Historic Overlay District rules in Chapter 22.27 of the Municipal Code. Chapter 22.47 creates citywide definitions, a designation process for individual cultural resources and historic districts, and a permit/review requirement for work on designated resources; Chapter 22.27 spells out mandatory standards for listed downtown buildings and advisory guidelines for other properties in the downtown overlay, and ties those standards to the Downtown Specific Plan and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. See § 22.47.010–080 and § 22.27.010–050 for the controlling provisions.

Note on related rules: projects affecting historic resources are processed through the city’s design review procedures and must still meet applicable development standards (e.g., setbacks, height); historic resources also interact with rules on parking and overlay requirements. Owners may voluntarily choose to use the California Building Standards Code historic-code provisions (State Historical Building Code) where noted.

How the código is organized (what matters)

• Citywide preservation framework: Chapter 22.47 — Historic Resource Provisions (purpose, definitions, designation, permit controls, appeals). § 22.47.010–080.
• Downtown overlay (mandatory standards for listed buildings; advisory guidelines and design review for other properties): Chapter 22.27 — Downtown Historic Overlay District. § 22.27.010–050.
• Design review process used as the review mechanism: Chapter 22.34 (plan submittal and design criteria) and related design-review procedures referenced in the historic chapters (§ 22.34.010–040; § 22.34.045).

District-by-district breakdown

Downtown Historic Overlay District (the Overlay)

• Purpose: The Downtown Historic Overlay District exists to “promote the preservation and rehabilitation of historic commercial, civic and mixed‑use buildings in the Downtown Core and Civic Districts,” establish mandatory protections for buildings listed on the National/State Registers, and provide advisory guidelines and a voluntary option to use the State Historical Building Code. § 22.27.010.
• Typical permitted uses: Uses and densities remain those of the underlying zone; the overlay does not itself change permitted uses—see § 22.27.020 (the overlay defers to the underlying district regulations). § 22.27.020.
• Key standards and controls:
  • Listed buildings (those individually on the National/State Registers or designated locally) must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation for demolition/substantial modification (mandatory). § 22.27.050(A).
  • Owner may voluntarily elect to use the State Historical Building Code for listed or qualified structures (advisory; see Downtown Specific Plan references). § 22.27.050(B).
  • For demolition/substantial modification, projects are subject to the City’s standard design review process and are referred to the Martinez Historical Society for comment. § 22.27.040.
• Where it applies: Downtown core and civic areas identified in the Downtown Specific Plan; the overlay sits above the applicable underlying commercial/civic districts. § 22.27.010–030.

Citywide Historic Resource Provisions (Chapter 22.47)

• Purpose: The Historic Resources Provisions apply citywide to provide a framework for identifying, designating, preserving, and reviewing cultural resources and historic districts. § 22.47.010–020.
• Typical permitted uses: Chapter 22.47 does not itself re‑zone property or change permitted uses; instead it establishes designation and permit controls that overlay whatever uses the underlying zoning already allows. § 22.47.020; § 22.47.050(A).
• Key standards and controls:
  • Definitions: “Cultural or historic resources,” “historic district,” “contributing structure,” and related terms are defined in § 22.47.030 and drive how properties are treated. § 22.47.030.
  • Designation procedure: Any resident may request designation of an individual structure via the Martinez Historical Society; historic-district designation can be initiated by owners or the City, requires Planning Commission review and City Council action, and final designation requires confirmation by two‑thirds of owners in the proposed district. § 22.47.050.
  • Permit controls: It is unlawful to demolish, substantially alter, remove, or construct on a designated cultural resource or within an historic district without a permit; work must be approved by the Planning Commission and processed via the City’s design review procedures (Design Review Chapters 22.34.010–040). § 22.47.060.
  • Demolition waiting period: For demolition of a designated structure or a contributing structure to an historic district the Commission may require a 120‑day waiting period (extendable by an additional 120 days by City Council) to seek alternatives to demolition. § 22.47.060.
  • Appeals: Appeals of Commission decisions on designation and permits follow the standard appeal rules referenced in § 22.34.060–070. § 22.47.070.

Underlying commercial districts commonly affected (example: Central Commercial — CC)

• Purpose & where it applies: The Central Commercial (CC) district is an underlying commercial district that covers the downtown/central commercial areas referenced by the Downtown Specific Plan and the Overlay. See Development Standards tables in the Code. See Table 22.16.195; § 22.16.200.
• Typical permitted uses: Standard commercial and mixed‑use uses allowed by the CC zone; when within the Downtown Historic Overlay, uses remain those of the underlying zone per § 22.27.020. § 22.27.020.
• Key dimensional standards (examples found in Title 22):
  • Maximum FAR (Table 22.16.195)—e.g., CC: 3.0 (maximum listed in the code table; incentives can change this). § 22.16.195.
  • Height limits—CC maximum 40 ft / 3 stories (may be increased with incentives). § 22.16.200.
• How historic rules modify application: Projects in CC that are listed or are within the Downtown Historic Overlay must also follow the mandatory downtown/design guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards where applicable. § 22.27.050; § 22.27.040.

(If you need parcel-specific zoning status or overlay boundaries, verify with the Planning Division — verify with the jurisdiction.)

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant standards and triggers

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy before permits are issued

• Confirm whether the property is a designated cultural resource, a contributing structure, or lies within the Downtown Historic Overlay (check local register; consult Martinez Historical Society). § 22.47.050.
• Prepare full plan set for design review (site plans, elevations) as required by § 22.34.040–045 and the Downtown Specific Plan (Chapter 6) when in overlay. § 22.34.040; § 22.34.045; § 22.27.050.
• If the building is listed, demonstrate how the project meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards (mandatory for listed buildings). § 22.27.050(A).
• If demolition is proposed for a designated/contributing structure: submit materials that address alternatives and expect a 120‑day Commission waiting period (possibly extended). § 22.47.060.
• Confirm applicable development standards (setbacks, height, FAR in Table 22.16.195, parking requirements) and note where the overlay refers you back to underlying district rules. § 22.16.195; § 22.27.020.
• Expect referral to the Martinez Historical Society and possible additional expert review; be prepared to document historic significance, materials, and treatment approach. § 22.27.040; § 22.47.040.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English summary

If your building is listed or sits inside a Martinez historic district, you cannot demolish or substantially alter it without Planning Commission approval through the City’s design‑review process; listed downtown buildings must follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and the Downtown Specific Plan design guidelines, and demolition proposals may trigger a mandatory 120‑day delay while alternatives are explored. § 22.47.060; § 22.27.050.

Source References

• Martinez Municipal Code — Chapter 22.47 (Historic Resource Provisions), § 22.47.010–080.
• Martinez Municipal Code — Chapter 22.27 (Downtown Historic Overlay District), § 22.27.010–050.
• Martinez Municipal Code — Design Review (Ch. 22.34, esp. § 22.34.040–045) — plan submittal and criteria referenced by the historic provisions.
• Martinez Municipal Code — Downtown design-standards references (Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, State Historical Building Code references) — § 22.27.050 and related Downtown Specific Plan citations (Chapter 6 referenced).
• Martinez Municipal Code — Demolition/permit procedure and waiting period for historical resources — § 22.47.060 (permits, 120‑day delay).
• Martinez Municipal Code — Development standards examples (FAR table and height limits) — Table 22.16.195; § 22.16.200.

If you want the actual local register entries, the Downtown Specific Plan Chapter 6 design guidelines, or parcel-level overlay mapping, I can pull those references and annotate how they apply to a specific address — verify with the City’s Planning Division.

Retrieved passages

• Martinez Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (section of) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (§ 10) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 22.27.020 (§ 22.27.020.) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 22.26.010 (CHAPTER 22.26) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 22.26.040 (§ 22.26.040.) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (§ 22.47.050) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (§ 22.28.010.) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Martinez Municipal Code — Chapter **22.47** (Historic Resource Provisions), **§ 22.47.010–080**. (§ 22.47.010)
• Martinez Municipal Code — Chapter **22.27** (Downtown Historic Overlay District), **§ 22.27.010–050**. (§ 22.27.010)
• Martinez Municipal Code — Design Review (Ch. **22.34**, esp. **§ 22.34.040–045**) — plan submittal and criteria referenced by the historic provisions. (§ 22.34.040)
• Martinez Municipal Code — Downtown design-standards references (Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, State Historical Building Code references) — **§ 22.27.050** and related Downtown Specific Plan citations (Chapter 6 referenced). (§ 22.27.050)
• Martinez Municipal Code — Demolition/permit procedure and waiting period for historical resources — **§ 22.47.060** (permits, 120‑day delay). (§ 22.47.060)
• Martinez Municipal Code — Development standards examples (FAR table and height limits) — **Table 22.16.195; § 22.16.200**. (§ 22.16.200)
• Martinez_ZoningCode.md

• Official Martinez code library