Historic Homes Protected in Designated Districts
An ordinance establishing Historic Preservation Overlay Zones in Los Angeles was passed in 1979. Within the boundaries of such a zone, design controls prevent inappropriate exterior alterations, additions and demolitions.
Zone designation requests generally come from homeowners in a given neighborhood and are processed by the city Planning Department. In surveying the buildings of a proposed historic district, city planners designate structures as contributing, contributing but altered or not contributing to the historic architectural characteristics of the area.
Once the City Council establishes a district as a preservation zone, a five-member residential review board is formed, including at least one architect and one real estate professional. The board, which serves as advisor to the Planning Department, holds public meetings as often as twice a month to review proposals for alteration. Similar reviews are conducted by the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission.
Preservation zone boards also can serve as informal consultants to residents interested in cost-effective restoration of historic homes.
Many other cities in the Southland have historic district ordinances, if not residential review boards. Most cities, including Los Angeles, use as reference the Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, a set of 10 principles published by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.
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Historic Preservation Overlay Zones in the City of Los Angeles
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Contributing Community Year Adopted Structures (Approx.) Angelino Heights 1981 800 South Carthay 1984 350 Melrose Hill 1988 45 Miracle Mile North 1990 540 Whitley Heights 1992 240 Spaulding Square 1993 160 Highland Park 1994 2,000 Van Buren Place 1996 12 Carthay Circle 1998 383 University Park 2000 436 West Adams-Normandie 2000 526 Lafayette Square 2000 204 Harvard Heights 2000 573 Western Heights 2000 127
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For information about historic districts in other cities, contact that city’s Planning Department.
