Plumas County — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In unincorporated areas of Plumas County, historic preservation is implemented through the Special Plan Combining Zone, a set of overlay designations in Title 9 (Planning and Zoning) that include Historical Areas and Historical Buildings. These Special Plan (SP) overlays require a project-specific “special plan review” before any physical work proceeds, and are administered by a Special Plan Review Committee where one is appointed. The SP overlays are mapped and described in the County’s General Plan and applicable community plans; they are not countywide.

Core rule: No physical aspect of a property regulated by a Special Plan Area may be altered in any way without special plan review and approval. See § 9-2.3703(a).

Use this page with the County’s broader zoning, land use, development standards, design review, and overlay districts guides.

How Historic Preservation works in Title 9

• The Special Plan Combining Zone (SP) administers Design Review Areas (DRA), Scenic Areas (ScA), Scenic Roads (ScR), Historical Areas (HA), and Historical Buildings (HB) in unincorporated areas. Each Special Plan Area’s requirements are adopted into the General Plan.
• Triggers: Any physical alteration on a parcel regulated by a Special Plan Area needs a special plan review approval before work.
• Review body: The Special Plan Review Committee (appointed by the Board of Supervisors) conducts review for areas where a Committee exists; otherwise the Planning Department conducts it. Committees include members with interest or expertise in historical architecture/design and local stakeholders; they establish review standards and guidelines subject to Board adoption. Appeals follow Article 10 procedures.
• Demolition of historical buildings: For properties designated as Historical Buildings, special plan review specifically requires consideration of the “value of the public interest” before approving a building permit to demolish.
• Where SP applies: Special Plan Areas are identified in the General Plan (e.g., community plans), which specify the qualities to protect/preserve (DRA, ScA, ScR, HA, HB).
• Interaction with other standards: Some County standards reference SP–HA/HB and historic resources explicitly. Example: reduced setbacks for telecommunications facilities cannot be granted if a site is in an SP–HA or SP–HB area unless the design will not adversely impact the overlay’s purpose, and similar protections apply within 500 feet of properties on local/state historic lists.

District-by-district (overlay-by-overlay) breakdown

Below are the two Special Plan overlays that directly implement historic preservation in unincorporated Plumas County.

SP–HA (Special Plan — Historical Area)

• Purpose: Protect the historic character of designated Historical Areas (mapped in the General Plan).
• Typical permitted uses: Not specifically listed in Title 9 for SP–HA. Base-district uses govern; the SP overlay adds review requirements. Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key dimensional standards: Title 9 does not add height/setback standards specific to SP–HA. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Special procedures:
  • Any physical alteration requires special plan review; reviewed by a Special Plan Review Committee where one exists.
  • Appeals follow Article 10.
• Where it applies: Only to parcels designated as Historical Areas in the General Plan/area plans.

SP–HB (Special Plan — Historical Building)

• Purpose: Protect integrity of specifically designated Historical Buildings.
• Typical permitted uses: Not specifically listed for SP–HB in Title 9. Base-district uses govern; the SP overlay adds review requirements. Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key dimensional standards: Title 9 does not add height/setback standards specific to SP–HB. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Special procedures:
  • Any physical alteration requires special plan review.
  • Demolition proposals must be weighed against the “value of the public interest” as part of special plan review prior to a building permit for demolition.
  • Committee composition, guidelines, and appeals per the SP Committee provisions.
• Where it applies: Only to buildings individually designated as Historical Buildings in the General Plan/area plans.

Key historic-preservation controls (what matters most)

Practical tie-ins:

• If your historic project affects parking, signs, or site features, expect the SP review to look at design cohesion; separate approvals may be needed under parking, signage, and landscaping and screening.
• If strict standards create hardship, relief routes exist (e.g., variances and exceptions); approvals remain discretionary and must meet County findings.
• Existing lawful nonconforming conditions on historic properties may still be regulated under nonconforming uses. Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the jurisdiction.

Process overview (historic projects in SP areas)

1. Confirm mapping: Determine if your parcel is within an SP–HA or SP–HB area identified in the General Plan/community plan.
2. Scope the work: Any physical alteration (exterior changes, additions, sitework) triggers special plan review before work proceeds.
3. Meet the reviewers: Determine if a Special Plan Review Committee exists for your area or if the Planning Department will conduct the review.
4. Apply for special plan review: Use adopted guidelines/standards for that SP area where available; Committees may establish standards and propose new guidelines for Board adoption.
5. Coordinate other approvals: Where a building permit is required, obtain a zoning clearance certificate; time it so special plan review is complete first.
6. For demolition of a Historical Building: Expect explicit consideration of the public interest before any demolition permit is approved.
7. Appeals: Committee decisions may be appealed under Article 10.

Checklist

• Verify if the property lies in an SP–HA or SP–HB overlay per the General Plan.
• Identify applicable SP guidelines/standards for your area (ask Planning if not published).
• Prepare a clear scope of “physical alterations” (plans, elevations, materials) for special plan review.
• Determine the reviewing body (Special Plan Review Committee vs. Planning Department).
• If demolition of a Historical Building is proposed, document how public interest is addressed.
• Coordinate any required zoning clearance certificate prior to the building permit.
• If telecom equipment is part of the project, analyze SP–HA/HB constraints and proximity to listed historic resources.
• Consider whether relief (variance) is needed and support findings if sought.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If your property in unincorporated Plumas County sits in a mapped Historical Area (SP–HA) or is a designated Historical Building (SP–HB), you must get special plan review approval before making physical changes. A local Committee or the Planning Department checks your plans against area-specific historic guidelines, and demolition of a designated historic building gets extra scrutiny to protect the public interest.

Source References

• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Special Plan Combining Zone: purpose, identification, review triggers, demolition of Historical Buildings (§§ 9-2.3701–9-2.3703)
• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Special Plan Review Committee: designation, membership, powers, guidelines, appeals (§ 9-2.3704)
• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Telecommunications references to SP–HA/HB and historic resources (§ 9-2.4108(a)(3)(ii)(ab)–(ac); § 9-2.4108(p))
• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Zoning clearance certificate (§§ 9-2.651–9-2.653)
• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Variances (§§ 9-2.801–9-2.805)
• For context and how this page fits: Plumas County zoning & planning overview, overlay districts, design review

Information Gaps

• List of designated SP–HA areas and SP–HB properties; map locations; and any adopted SP guidelines for specific communities — Not found in retrieved materials.
• Any HA/HB-specific permitted uses or dimensional standards — Not found in retrieved materials.

Retrieved passages

• Plumas County Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Plumas County Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Plumas County Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (Section 9-4.348.) Medium relevance show source text
• Plumas County Zoning Code (Title 9) Medium relevance show source text
• Plumas County Zoning Code (Title 9) Medium relevance show source text
• Plumas County Zoning Code (§ 65915) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 18955 (Section 18955) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Special Plan Combining Zone: purpose, identification, review triggers, demolition of Historical Buildings (§§ 9-2.3701–9-2.3703) (Title 9)
• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Special Plan Review Committee: designation, membership, powers, guidelines, appeals (§ 9-2.3704) (Title 9)
• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Telecommunications references to SP–HA/HB and historic resources (§ 9-2.4108(a)(3)(ii)(ab)–(ac); § 9-2.4108(p)) (Title 9)
• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Zoning clearance certificate (§§ 9-2.651–9-2.653) (Title 9)
• Title 9, Planning and Zoning — Variances (§§ 9-2.801–9-2.805) (Title 9)
• For context and how this page fits: Plumas County zoning & planning overview, overlay districts, design review
• PlumasCounty_ZoningCode.md

• Official Plumas County code library