Westmorland — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Westmorland’s zoning ordinance does not establish a local historic preservation program: there is no adopted local register, no “historic district” overlay, and no certificate-of-appropriateness process in the materials retrieved. Instead, potential historic resource issues are addressed through environmental review and a narrow protection referenced in the city’s density bonus provisions. Base zoning still controls land use, development standards, and parking.

Plain-English bottom line: Westmorland’s zoning ordinance provides no dedicated historic districts or landmark procedures. If a project could affect a historic resource, it is handled through environmental review and, in limited cases, constraints on density bonus concessions (§ 4.11, § 4.12, § 6.04) .

How the Zoning Ordinance Treats Historic Resources

• No local historic overlay or register: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Environmental review (CEQA): Projects undergo environmental review per the city’s adopted procedures; CEQA covers historical resources (§ 4.11, § 4.12) .
• Density bonus constraints: The City may deny a requested density bonus concession if it would cause a specific adverse impact to any real property listed in the California Register of Historical Resources, and no feasible mitigation exists (§ 6.04(4)(b)) .
• Conditional Use Permits (CUP): While not historic-specific, the Planning Commission can impose conditions to protect public health, safety, and welfare—this is sometimes used to address context-sensitive design where appropriate (§ 5.02(b)) .
• Nonconforming structures: Older buildings that don’t meet current standards follow the city’s nonconforming rules; these are not tied to “historic” status (§ 5.03) .
• Signs: No special rules for “historic signs” were found; signs are regulated generally by zone (§ 4.08) .

If you’re pursuing design review, note that the retrieved zoning ordinance does not include a standalone design review chapter; any design conditioning appears to occur through CUP authority (§ 5.02(b)) .

District-by-District Implications

Westmorland applies base zones mapped on the official zoning map (§ 2.03) . None of the base zones below include historic-specific standards in the retrieved materials.

R-1 Single Family

• Purpose/uses: Single-family residential; certain civic/institutional uses conditionally allowed (§ 3.01) .
• Key standards: 20 ft front, 5 ft sides (street side 8 ft), 20 ft rear, 35 ft height, 50% lot coverage (§ 3.01(d)) .
• Historic-specific rules: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Wherever mapped; see zoning map (§ 2.03) .

R-2 Low/Medium Density Multi-Family

• Purpose/uses: Two- and three-family dwellings permitted; larger multi-family by CUP (§ 3.02) .
• Key standards: 2,000 sf minimum lot area per unit; 20 ft front; 5/8 ft sides; 20 ft rear; 35 ft height; 50% lot coverage (§ 3.02(d)) .
• Historic-specific rules: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Per official map (§ 2.03) .

R-4 High Density Multi-Family

• Purpose/uses: Higher-density residential; multi-family allowed by CUP (§ 3.03) .
• Key standards: 1,500 sf per unit; 15 ft front; 5/8 ft sides; 20 ft rear; 35 ft height; 50% lot coverage (§ 3.03(d)) .
• Historic-specific rules: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Per official map (§ 2.03) .

C Commercial

• Purpose/uses: Retail, office, and corridor-serving commercial; various civic uses by CUP (§ 3.05) .
• Key standards: 10 ft front; side/rear per Building Code for separation; added yards near R zones; 35 ft height; 80% lot coverage (§ 3.05(d)) .
• Historic-specific rules: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Per official map (§ 2.03) .

I Industrial

• Purpose/uses: Wholesale, manufacturing, storage; certain high-assembly uses by CUP (§ 3.06) .
• Key standards: 15 ft front; added yards by R adjacency; 50 ft height (§ 3.06(d)) .
• Historic-specific rules: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Per official map (§ 2.03) .

OS Open Space

• Purpose/uses: Preservation, outdoor recreation; limited civic/utility uses by CUP (§ 3.07) .
• Key standards: Not specified beyond use allowances in retrieved materials.
• Historic-specific rules: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Per official map (§ 2.03) .

-RV Recreational Vehicle Park Overlay

• Purpose: Allows RV parks in addition to base zoning where designated; the more stringent rule controls (§ 3.04(a)) .
• Key standards: 1.5 acres min site; 15 ft front; 10 ft landscaped edge near R zones; 35 ft height; 80% coverage (§ 3.04(d)) .
• Historic-specific rules: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Where “-RV” is added after a base zone on the map (§ 3.04(a)) .

Decision-Relevant Triggers and Tools

Related topics you may also need: Westmorland Zoning, Westmorland Development Standards, Westmorland Parking, Westmorland Design Review, Westmorland Overlay Districts, Westmorland Nonconforming Uses, Westmorland ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

Note on ADUs and historic resources: The local code does not add historic-specific ADU rules; state guidance confirms ADUs are allowed even in historic contexts, with objective standards to prevent adverse impacts to listed resources (state guidance) .

Checklist

• Confirm whether the site or adjacent parcels are listed on, or eligible for, the California Register of Historical Resources (triggers in § 6.04) .
• Identify your base zoning and any overlays on the city’s zoning map (§ 2.03) .
• Scope your project for potential CEQA review; if it may affect a historical resource, prepare appropriate documentation (§ 4.11–§ 4.12) .
• If seeking a CUP, anticipate context/design conditions to mitigate potential impacts (§ 5.02(b)) .
• For nonconforming older structures, verify limits on alterations/expansions (§ 5.03) .
• If pursuing a density bonus, evaluate whether requested concessions could be denied due to specific adverse impacts on California Register-listed properties (§ 6.04(4)(b)) .
• Coordinate standard signage and site standards; no historic-specific signage provisions were found (§ 4.08) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps

• Local landmark designation procedures: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Historic district overlay boundaries or criteria: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Certificate of appropriateness process: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Historic-specific sign or facade standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

Plain-English Summary

Westmorland’s zoning ordinance does not create historic districts or a landmark approval process. If your project could affect a historic resource, it will be addressed through CEQA environmental review and, in limited housing cases, through density bonus rules that protect state-listed historic properties. Otherwise, your project follows the base zoning standards for its district.

Source References

• City of Westmorland Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 13-01: Table of contents citing zoning map and zone sections (§ 2.03; § 3.01–§ 3.07) .
• Environmental Review (§ 4.11; § 4.12) .
• R-1 Single Family standards (§ 3.01) .
• R-2 Low/Medium Density Multi-Family standards (§ 3.02) .
• R-4 High Density Multi-Family standards (§ 3.03) .
• C Commercial standards (§ 3.05) .
• I Industrial standards (§ 3.06) .
• OS Open Space allowances (§ 3.07) .
• -RV Overlay standards (§ 3.04) .
• CUP conditioning authority (§ 5.02) .
• Nonconforming uses (§ 5.03) .
• Signs (§ 4.08) .
• Density Bonus—protection of California Register historic resources (§ 6.04(4)(b)) .
• State guidance on ADUs and historic resources (HCD ADU Handbook) .

Retrieved passages

• Westmorland Zoning Code (Chapter 5) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (SECTION 5.03) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (ARTICLE I.) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (Section 3.01) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 5.02 (Section 5.02) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (SECTION 5.04) Medium relevance show source text
• CRC § 1.02 (Article I.) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (Chapter 5) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (SECTION 5.02) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 4.5 (Section 4.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (Section 4.5) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• City of Westmorland Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 13-01: Table of contents citing zoning map and zone sections (§ 2.03; § 3.01–§ 3.07) . (§ 2.03)
• Environmental Review (§ 4.11; § 4.12) . (§ 4.11)
• R-1 Single Family standards (§ 3.01) . (§ 3.01)
• R-2 Low/Medium Density Multi-Family standards (§ 3.02) . (§ 3.02)
• R-4 High Density Multi-Family standards (§ 3.03) . (§ 3.03)
• C Commercial standards (§ 3.05) . (§ 3.05)
• I Industrial standards (§ 3.06) . (§ 3.06)
• OS Open Space allowances (§ 3.07) . (§ 3.07)
• -RV Overlay standards (§ 3.04) . (§ 3.04)
• CUP conditioning authority (§ 5.02) . (§ 5.02)
• Nonconforming uses (§ 5.03) . (§ 5.03)
• Signs (§ 4.08) . (§ 4.08)
• Density Bonus—protection of California Register historic resources (§ 6.04(4)(b)) . (§ 6.04)
• State guidance on ADUs and historic resources (HCD ADU Handbook) .
• Westmorland_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md