Monrovia — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Monrovia’s Historic Preservation program is codified in the municipal zoning ordinance (Title 17) through a dedicated Historic Preservation chapter and related sections that govern downtown historic resources, demolition review for older residences, and neighborhood compatibility. The rules are administered by the Historic Preservation Commission and apply citywide to designated Historic Landmarks, Historic Districts, and potential/historic review sites; they require a certificate of appropriateness for most exterior work and set out nomination, review, incentive, and enforcement procedures. For context on how preservation interacts with other review tools in Monrovia, see the citywide Monrovia zoning & planning overview and the code chapters on design review, development standards, and parking.

(Primary preservation authority: § 17.40.010–§ 17.40.150.)

How the rules are organized (quick map)

• Citywide Historic Preservation Chapter: Chapter 17.40 — definitions, Commission authority, designation criteria and procedure, certificate of appropriateness, economic hardship, maintenance, incentives and enforcement. § 17.40.030–§ 17.40.150.
• Downtown-specific: Historic Commercial Downtown (HCD) Zone — separate preservation rules and mandatory HPC review for exterior work in the HCD. § 17.14.010–§ 17.14.050.
• Residential demolition review (50+ year homes): Chapter 17.10 — demolition/alteration review for main residential buildings 50+ years old; documentation & hearing steps. § 17.10.010–§ 17.10.080.
• Neighborhood compatibility / design review that frequently overlaps preservation issues: Chapter 17.12.

District-by-district breakdown (how preservation rules interact with specific zones)

HCD (Historic Commercial Downtown)

• Purpose: To preserve and promote Monrovia’s historic downtown character; exterior changes that require building or demolition permits are subject to the HCD preservation review. § 17.14.010; § 17.14.050.
• Typical permitted uses: Downtown commercial/retail/office uses are listed in the HCD use table (street-level vs. non-street-level rules). See § 17.14.020 for the official use matrix.
• Key preservation rules: Any work affecting the exterior architectural appearance in the HCD requires review and approval by the Historic Preservation Commission before a building or demolition permit is issued; demolition in the HCD can be allowed only when the economic hardship standard is met (see economic hardship rules). § 17.14.050; § 17.14.050(H).
• Where it applies: The HCD zone is mapped on the Official Zoning Map and applies to the downtown retail district — consult the map at the Community Development counter or the Official Zoning Map. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Residential zones (examples: RF, RE, RL, RM3500, RM3000, RM/RH, RH)

• Purpose: These zones implement residential density and development standards; preservation overlays/provisions apply to resources within these zones through Chapter 17.40 and the demolition review chapter. § 17.04.030; § 17.40.030; Chapter 17.10.
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family and multi-family residential uses as defined in the use tables for each residential district (see § 17.04.030/§ 17.08.010).
• Key preservation rules that affect residential zones:
  • Buildings 50 years or older that meet the "main residential building" definition are subject to demolition/alteration review (Chapter 17.10). § 17.10.010–§ 17.10.030.
  • The City offers incentives and possible deviations to retain qualifying residential structures that are 50+ years old and have architectural value. § 17.12.060.
  • Neighborhood compatibility design review (Chapter 17.12) will review additions and new houses for compatibility; many preservation issues are handled through that process. § 17.12.005.
• Where it applies: Across the mapped residential zones in § 17.04.030; if a structure is older than 50 years or a "historic review site" (70 years), protective review applies. § 17.10.020; § 17.40.040 (Historic Review Site definition).

Commercial / Industrial zones (examples: NC, CRS, RCC, RCM, O/RD/LM, BE, M)

• Purpose: Standard commercial/industrial regulation with special protection where historic resources are present; Chapter 17.40 applies citywide to cultural and historic resources within these zones. § 17.40.030.
• Typical permitted uses: See the use tables for each zone (Chapter 17.08 and commercial development standards in Chapter 17.16). Preservation review does not change which uses are allowed but controls exterior changes to designated resources.
• Key preservation rules: Alterations or demolition of designated Historic Landmarks or contributors in Historic Districts require a certificate of appropriateness before work may proceed. § 17.40.090.
• Where it applies: Applies across mapped commercial and industrial zones when a property is designated or deemed a potential historic resource. § 17.40.030.

Historic Landmark / Historic District (designation mechanism)

• Purpose: A designation (by City Council on nomination from the Historic Preservation Commission) that imposes preservation standards and review over identified resources. § 17.40.060–§ 17.40.070.
• Typical outcomes: A designation is memorialized in a designation statement that lists contributing features and prescriptive standards or design guidelines (minimum: Secretary of the Interior’s Standards). Definition and designation statement rules: § 17.40.040; § 17.40.060.
• Key process notes: Nominations require owner consent for single landmarks and 50%+1 consent of affected properties for districts; notice and public hearings are required; the Council issues the final designation recorded with the County Recorder. § 17.40.070.

Potential Historic Resources / Historic Review Sites (age thresholds)

• Terms:
  • Historic Review Site: properties/improvements that have attained 70 years of age. Definition: § 17.40.040.
  • Main residential building subject to demolition review: buildings constructed 50 or more years prior to application. Chapter 17.10.
• How they’re handled: potential landmarks/districts get advisory Commission review; alterations and demolitions may be deferred so the Commission can evaluate designation potential. Exceptions exist (minor repairs, accessory structures, non-contributors). § 17.40.110.

Key standards & decision matrix (short table)

Checklist (what an applicant must provide / expect)

• Confirm whether the property is a designated Historic Landmark or within a Historic District (verify with Planning). § 17.40.030.
• For nominated designations: owner consent (landmark) or 50%+1 owner consent (district) as required. § 17.40.070(A–B).
• If altering or demolishing a designated contributor/landmark: submit application for a certificate of appropriateness with plans, specifications, and fee to the Planning Division. § 17.40.090(B).
• If proposing demolition or major alteration of a main residential building 50+ years old, submit a materials removal plan, CEQA documentation, and either survey documentation or a historic assessment by an approved expert. § 17.10.050.
• Expect a public meeting/hearing (notice to property owners within 100 ft for historic hearings; other notice thresholds in demolition/designation process). § 17.40.090(C); § 17.40.070(F).
• If seeking economic hardship relief as part of a certificate of appropriateness, prepare financial documentation per the Commission’s listed requirements. § 17.40.100(B).
• If in HCD, submit any building permit affecting exterior appearance to the Historic Preservation Commission (see HCD use/compatibility criteria). § 17.14.050.
• Where applicable, request incentives (Mills Act, fee relief) and note State Historical Building Code applicability for preservation projects. § 17.40.140(A–C).

Note: neighborhood compatibility/design-review rules (Chapter 17.12) will also apply to many projects; see the city’s design review and development standards pages for those parallel requirements. The California Building Standards Code may control structural/safety compliance for preservation projects.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If your Monrovia property is designated as a Historic Landmark or sits in a Historic District, or if it’s an older (50+ year) house under demolition review, you usually must get approval from the Historic Preservation Commission before changing or demolishing exterior parts of the building — that approval is called a certificate of appropriateness. Chapter 17.40 lays out what gets protected, how landmarks/districts are nominated, what paperwork you must file, the exceptions for routine repairs, and available incentives like Mills Act eligibility and permit-fee relief. Verify designation and required submittals with Planning before you prepare construction drawings. § 17.40.090; § 17.10.050; § 17.40.140.

Source References

• Monrovia Zoning Code — Historic Preservation Chapter (Title 17): § 17.40.010 – § 17.40.150.
• Certificate of Appropriateness and review procedures: § 17.40.090.
• Designation criteria and procedure for Historic Landmarks/Districts: § 17.40.060; § 17.40.070.
• HCD (Historic Commercial Downtown) preservation rules and HCD use table: § 17.14.010; § 17.14.020; § 17.14.050.
• Demolition review of main residential buildings (50+ years): Chapter 17.10 (§ 17.10.010–§ 17.10.080).
• Incentives (State Historical Building Code, Mills Act, permit fee relief, setback flexibility): § 17.40.140 (A–F).
• Neighborhood compatibility / design review and residential retention incentives: § 17.12.005; § 17.12.060.

Primary public source (official online host of the Monrovia municipal code): codelibrary.amlegal.com — Monrovia Municipal Code (Title 17 Zoning). Verify current text and maps with the City of Monrovia / Community Development. (Uploaded excerpts used above.)

Retrieved passages

• Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.40.080) High relevance show source text
• Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.40.070) High relevance show source text
• Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.40.050) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 17.40.110 (§ 17.40.110) High relevance show source text
• Monrovia Zoning Code (Chapter 2.54) High relevance show source text
• Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.40.030) High relevance show source text
• Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 10) High relevance show source text
• Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.40.100) High relevance show source text
• Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.32.100) High relevance show source text
• Monrovia Zoning Code (Chapter 17.28.) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 18950 (§ 18950) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Monrovia Zoning Code — Historic Preservation Chapter (Title 17): **§ 17.40.010 – § 17.40.150**. (Title 17)
• Certificate of Appropriateness and review procedures: **§ 17.40.090**. (§ 17.40.090)
• Designation criteria and procedure for Historic Landmarks/Districts: **§ 17.40.060; § 17.40.070**. (§ 17.40.060)
• HCD (Historic Commercial Downtown) preservation rules and HCD use table: **§ 17.14.010; § 17.14.020; § 17.14.050**. (§ 17.14.010)
• Demolition review of main residential buildings (50+ years): **Chapter 17.10 (§ 17.10.010–§ 17.10.080)**. (Chapter 17.10)
• Incentives (State Historical Building Code, Mills Act, permit fee relief, setback flexibility): **§ 17.40.140 (A–F)**. (§ 17.40.140)
• Neighborhood compatibility / design review and residential retention incentives: **§ 17.12.005; § 17.12.060**. (§ 17.12.005)
• Monrovia_ZoningCode.md

• Official Monrovia code library