Local zoning · Pasadena

Pasadena — Historic Preservation

Q: If I live in Bungalow Heaven or Garfield Heights, do I follow special rules?

Yes — those landmark districts have adopted Conservation Plans . Where a Conservation Plan conflicts with Chapter 17.62 procedures, the Conservation Plan prevails; review the specific district Conservation Plan and the Chapter. § 17.62.090.A.7 and § 17.62.030.F

Historic Preservation under the Pasadena local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Pasadena's historic preservation rules are located in the Zoning Code under Chapter 17.62 (Historic Preservation). The chapter sets eligibility criteria and formal designation processes for individual resources and landmark/ historic districts, establishes review authorities and review thresholds, and requires Certificates of Appropriateness for most work on designated or eligible resources outside the Central District. See the city's zoning overview for context at Pasadena zoning & planning overview. § 17.62.010

Note: this page covers only what the Pasadena zoning/planning ordinance says about historic preservation — not building-code (Title 24), general permit flows, or tenant/housing law. For Title 24 references consult the California Building Standards Code.

How the program is organized (quick map)

Designation types: historic monument, landmark, historic sign, landmark tree, and landmark (LD) overlay districts; see § 17.62.040 procedures for criteria and types. § 17.62.040
Review authority: Director, Historic Preservation Commission, Design Commission, Planning Commission, City Council — duties summarized in Table 6‑5. § 17.62.020
Project control: Most exterior work on designated or eligible resources outside the Central District requires a Certificate of Appropriateness; the chapter defines Major/Minor project categories and exemptions. § 17.62.090

I link the city pages you will likely use while preparing an application: Pasadena Zoning, Pasadena Zoning & Planning overview, Pasadena Development Standards, Pasadena Design Review, Pasadena Overlay Districts, Pasadena Parking, Pasadena ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code. Use those for related procedure and technical standards (for example, setbacks/coverage live in the development standards not the historic chapter).

District-by-district breakdown (what the Historic Preservation chapter actually says)

Note: the historic preservation chapter imposes review and designation overlay rules that interact with base zoning. The Chapter itself does not re‑state base zoning setbacks, FARs, or parking ratios — those remain in the base district and development standards; see Pasadena Development Standards for numeric dimensional rules.

Central District (CD / CD-RM)

Purpose in preservation context: the ordinance treats the Central District (CD) as an exception area for certain preservation review thresholds. Specifically, the Certificate of Appropriateness requirement is limited to areas outside the Central District, except CD-RM districts where the historic review rules still apply. § 17.62.090.B.1
Typical permitted uses: governed by CD base zoning and Central District design standards — not restated by Chapter 17.62. Verify base uses and design standards via Pasadena Zoning and Pasadena Development Standards.
Key preservation points:
- Projects in the CD may still trigger design review per the design review thresholds in Table 6‑2/Table 6‑3; when a project requires both design review and a Certificate of Appropriateness the design authority consults with the Historic Preservation Commission. § 17.62.090.C.8 and Table 6‑3
- Exemptions and review thresholds for the Central District follow the design review rules; check Pasadena Design Review for thresholds and required materials.

Landmark Overlay Districts (LD overlay — e.g., Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, Banbury Oaks)

Purpose: create an LD overlay to protect a group of properties united historically or aesthetically; designation culminates in a Zone Change Ordinance creating the LD overlay. § 17.62.070 and § 17.62.060
Typical permitted uses: base zoning uses remain; the LD overlay adds Certificate of Appropriateness review and possibly a Conservation Plan that can change review thresholds. § 17.62.070.E.6 and related conservation plan language
Key dimensional / procedural standards and where they apply:
- A proposed LD must show at least 51% owner support at the Planning Commission hearing (petition threshold) to proceed. § 17.62.070.D.3
- Upon adoption, the LD overlay triggers application of the chapter's district rules and, where present, an adopted Conservation Plan (e.g., Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, Banbury Oaks) which may supersede some chapter procedures. § 17.62.090.A and definitions of Conservation Plan § 17.62.030.F
- Interim protections: after the Historic Preservation Commission recommends approval of a proposed LD, contributing properties are subject to a Category 1 review (i.e., cannot undertake a major project without a Certificate of Appropriateness) while designation is pending. § 17.62.070.G.1
- Additions to an existing LD require that at least 60% of properties in the added area be contributing; removal or rescission has its own thresholds. § 17.62.070.H.2–4

Individually designated resources (Historic monument / Landmark / Historic sign / Landmark tree)

Purpose: protect individual resources of architectural or historic significance and to encourage adaptive reuse. § 17.62.010
Typical allowed activity: base zoning uses remain, but most exterior alterations, demolitions, or relocations require a Certificate of Appropriateness (outside the CD) and follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. § 17.62.090.E.4–5
Key procedural standards:
- Applicants may be owners, Council members, Historic Preservation Commission members, or any interested Pasadena resident; Director reviews completeness and initial eligibility within 30 days. § 17.62.050.A.1–3
- Final designation is by City Council resolution, and the declaration is recorded with the County Recorder. § 17.62.050.A.6 and § 17.62.050.C.1–3

"All other" base zoning districts (e.g., R‑1, R‑2, RM, PS, C‑N, C‑2)

Purpose in preservation context: Chapter 17.62 applies citywide to designated and eligible historic resources outside the Central District; however, base uses, setbacks, lot coverage, FAR and parking standards come from the base zoning and the Development Standards chapter. Not found in retrieved materials: numeric setbacks or FAR in Chapter 17.62 — consult Pasadena Development Standards for those values. § 17.62.090.B.1 and general cross-references to other chapters
Interaction with preservation:
- The Director can grant certain administrative reliefs tied to preservation, such as relief from replacement Building Permit requirements, waivers of two‑car covered parking in some cases, and approval of Historic Property Contracts per administrative guidelines. See Table 6‑5 for Director powers/duties. § 17.62.020 and Table 6‑5

Key standards & decision‑relevant table

Issue / Standard	What triggers it	Key requirement or limit	Code Reference
Certificate of Appropriateness required	Major or minor project on designated resource or eligible property outside Central District	Must obtain COA prior to work (with Category 1–3 procedures)	§ 17.62.090
Historic Resource Evaluation (HRE)	Demolition or major work affecting building/site 45+ years old	Applicant must submit HRE (unless recent survey in last 5 years or CEQA study prepared by City)	§ 17.62.080
Demolition of designated/eligible historic resource	Any demolition application affecting contributing resource	Must satisfy CEQA non‑adverse effect or Secretary's Standards; for demolition additional findings required (structural impossibility, economic infeasibility, or compelling public interest)	§ 17.62.090.E.4–5
Interim protection during LD processing	After HPC recommendation for LD designation	Contributing properties subject to Category 1 COA review (interim) — demolition/major projects delayed	§ 17.62.070.G.1
Demolition delay in eligible LDs	Contributing primary structure in eligible LD during Category 3 review	HPC may delay demolition up to 365 days (search for alternatives). If district becomes designated during delay, demolition denied.	§ 17.62.090.C.3.a–c
Design review thresholds (where Historic Preservation is consulted)	Projects triggering both Design Review and COA	For projects requiring both, the Historic Preservation Commission advises design authority; some projects in designated districts are routed to the HPC for review (Table 6‑3).	Table 6‑3 / § 17.61.030

Practical guidance & interpretations

Certificate of Appropriateness is a prerequisite for most exterior work on designated resources outside the Central District. If your project is in the Central District, you still may need design review; check the design review thresholds and coordinate both reviews early. § 17.62.090.B.1 and Table 6‑3
If your structure is 45 years or older and you propose demolition or major exterior change, expect an Historic Resource Evaluation at applicant expense — the Director may prepare it or hire a qualified historian. § 17.62.080.C
For demolition of a contributing, designated, or eligible resource expect detailed findings and possibly a lengthy delay: the Commission may require proof from two qualified professionals that repair or adaptive reuse is not feasible. § 17.62.090.E.5.a–b
When proposing changes within an established LD that has an adopted Conservation Plan (e.g., Bungalow Heaven), the Conservation Plan controls where there is conflict with the chapter. § 17.62.090.A.7 and § 17.62.030.F
The Director has several administrative powers (initial eligibility review, minor COAs, HREs, parking relief in some preservation cases). Table 6‑5 summarizes authorities; if in doubt, meet early with Planning staff. § 17.62.020 / Table 6‑5

(For numeric development standards such as setbacks, lot coverage, parking ratios, consult Pasadena Development Standards and Pasadena Parking. For code compliance and structural matters consult the California Building Standards Code.)

Checklist (what an applicant must expect to satisfy)

Confirm whether the property is designated, eligible, or within an LD overlay (verify contributing/non‑contributing status with the Director). § 17.62.020 and § 17.62.030
If structure is 45+ years and project is demolition or major — prepare/submit a Historic Resource Evaluation (applicant pays for City‑contracted professional if required). § 17.62.080
Prepare a Certificate of Appropriateness application (unless exempt) and the materials needed under Chapter 17.60 filing rules. § 17.62.090
For demolition, assemble structural and economic documentation (two qualified professionals may be required) to address the demolition findings. § 17.62.090.E.5
If the project also triggers design review, prepare for coordination with Design Commission/Director and advisory review from the Historic Preservation Commission. Table 6‑3, § 17.61.030
If seeking exceptions (e.g., parking relief, adjustment permit for preservation), include evidence supporting hardship or preservation benefit. Table 6‑5; Adjustment Permit provisions. § 17.62.020 and Adjustment Permit rules § 17.58 (see code).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Contributing vs non‑contributing status	Controls whether COA/demolition delay applies and what findings are required	Confirm status with the Director and request a status determination; appeals available. § 17.62.020 and § 17.62.030
Central District exception	COA requirement is limited outside the Central District; but design review still applies in CD	If inside CD confirm whether your property is CD‑RM (exceptions) and whether design review thresholds apply. § 17.62.090.B.1 and Table 6‑3
Timing during LD designation	Interim protections and demolition delays can pause construction timelines	If a district is in eligibility/processing, contributing properties may be subject to Category 1 or 3 review and up to 365‑day delay for demolition. § 17.62.070.G and § 17.62.090.C.3
Conservation Plan conflicts	Conservation Plans for Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, Banbury Oaks can supersede some chapter procedures	If in one of those districts, follow the Conservation Plan procedures — the Plan prevails where it conflicts with the chapter. § 17.62.090.A.7 and § 17.62.030.F
Numeric development standards (setbacks, parking, FAR)	Chapter 17.62 does not set these numbers; they affect what variances/adjustments you may need	Verify base zoning and Development Standards; see Pasadena Development Standards and Parking. Not found in Chapter 17.62 — verify with jurisdiction.

Plain‑English Summary

If your Pasadena property is listed as a historic resource, or is in a landmark/historic district, you will usually need a Certificate of Appropriateness before doing major exterior work or demolition (outside the Central District), and the City will require historic evaluations and specific findings for demolition; the Historic Preservation Commission and the Director run the process. § 17.62.090, § 17.62.080, § 17.62.020

Information Gaps (what the retrieved ordinance materials did not establish)

Exact numeric setbacks, lot coverage, FAR, parking minimums for base districts (e.g., R‑1, C‑N) are not stated in Chapter 17.62; these live in the Development Standards and Base District chapters. Verify via Pasadena Development Standards. Not found in retrieved materials in Chapter 17.62.
Full text of Table 6‑2 design review thresholds and the complete list of base zoning district names and numeric standards were not included in the excerpts returned; consult the full Zoning Code files for those tables. Partial Table 6‑3 excerpts exist.

Source References

Pasadena Zoning Code — Chapter 17.62 (Historic Preservation), including: § 17.62.010 (Purpose)
§ 17.62.020 and Table 6‑5 (Administrative and Review Authorities / powers of Director, Historic Preservation Commission, etc.)
§ 17.62.030 (Definitions, including Conservation Plan, Contributing Resource)
§ 17.62.050 (Process for designating individual historic resources)
§ 17.62.060 (Rescission/amendment procedures)
§ 17.62.070 (Designating LD overlay districts; petition thresholds; interim protections)
§ 17.62.080 (Historic Resource Evaluations — 45‑year trigger)
§ 17.62.090 (Alteration, Demolition, Relocation; COA rules; findings; demolition delay)
Table 6‑3 (Design Review thresholds and authorities) — excerpted in file previews.

For related procedural and numeric standards consult these GoCodebook pages:

Pasadena Zoning & Planning overview (/us/california/pasadena)
Pasadena Zoning (/us/california/pasadena/zoning)
Pasadena Land Use (/us/california/pasadena/land-use)
Pasadena Development Standards (/us/california/pasadena/development-standards)
Pasadena Design Review (/us/california/pasadena/design-review)
Pasadena Overlay Districts (/us/california/pasadena/overlay-districts)
Pasadena Parking (/us/california/pasadena/parking)
Pasadena ADUs (/us/california/pasadena/adu)
California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Pasadena Zoning Code (Section 17.50.250.E.1.f) High relevance
Pasadena Zoning Code (Chapter 17.76) High relevance
Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 57) High relevance
Pasadena Zoning Code (Chapter 17.72.) High relevance
Pasadena Zoning Code (Chapter of) High relevance
Pasadena Zoning Code (Section 17.62.090) High relevance
Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance
Pasadena Zoning Code High relevance

Cited sections

Official Pasadena code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Certificate of Appropriateness for work on my Pasadena house?

If the property is a designated historic resource or is contributing to a designated or eligible landmark/historic district outside the Central District, you must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness before undertaking major or minor projects that affect the exterior in public view. Verify exemptions and Central District exceptions with the Director. § 17.62.090

What triggers a Historic Resource Evaluation in Pasadena?

A Historic Resource Evaluation (HRE) is required when an applicant proposes demolition or a major project affecting a building, site, object, or structure that is 45 years of age or older, unless the property was surveyed within the last 5 years or CEQA documentation prepared by the City covers it. § 17.62.080

Can the City delay my demolition if my parcel is in a proposed landmark district?

Yes. For contributing primary structures in an eligible landmark district, the Historic Preservation Commission may delay demolition up to 365 days while alternatives are sought; if the district is designated during the delay, demolition is denied. § 17.62.090.C.3.a–c

Who decides whether my building is contributing or non‑contributing?

The Director initially determines contributing status during evaluations; that determination can be appealed to or called for review by the Historic Preservation Commission or City Council per appeal procedures. § 17.62.020 and § 17.62.030

What findings are required to approve demolition of a designated historic resource?

In addition to the general COA findings (e.g., no significant adverse CEQA effect or compliance with Secretary's Standards), for demolition the Commission must find one of: severe irreparable structural damage (documented by two qualified professionals), no economically reasonable measures to adaptively reuse the building (also documented), or a compelling public interest. § 17.62.090.E.4–5

If I live in Bungalow Heaven or Garfield Heights, do I follow special rules?

Yes — those landmark districts have adopted Conservation Plans. Where a Conservation Plan conflicts with Chapter 17.62 procedures, the Conservation Plan prevails; review the specific district Conservation Plan and the Chapter. § 17.62.090.A.7 and § 17.62.030.F

Does historic preservation change parking or setback numbers for my lot?

Chapter 17.62 itself does not set numeric parking or setback standards; it allows the Director to consider parking relief in historic preservation cases (Table 6‑5 lists Director powers), but the underlying numeric standards remain in the Development Standards and base zoning. Verify parking/setback numbers and any relief with Planning staff. § 17.62.020 (Table 6‑5); numeric standards not in Chapter 17.62.

How much owner support is needed to create a Landmark (LD) overlay?

At the Planning Commission hearing a final petition with signatures from at least 51% of property owners in the proposed area is required for the Planning Commission to consider the LD zoning map amendment. § 17.62.070.D.3

Can I appeal a Director decision on historic designation or COA?

Yes — Director decisions may be appealed or called for review by the Historic Preservation Commission or the City Council following Chapter 17.72 appeal procedures. § 17.62.090.B.3 and Table 6‑5.

If my property is 50 years old but not designated, can the City require an HRE before issuing permits?

Yes — for demolition or major projects affecting properties 45+ years old an HRE is required to determine eligibility; that requirement applies even if the property is not previously designated. § 17.62.080

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