Frequently Asked Questions

This section contains frequently asked questions about historic preservation in the City of San Diego. Information is provided on topics including the Historical Resources Board, retaining a historical consultant, how a property becomes historical, appealing a historical designation, applying for the Mills Act for potential property tax reductions and other benefits, historical surveys and historical districts, fixing up a historical site, and altering or demolishing a building that is over 45 years in age. Scroll down to view all topics, and click on the appropriate link to view answers to these frequently asked questions.

What is the Historical Resources Board?

• Who is on the Historical Resources Board?
• When does the Historical Resources Board meet?
• What are the subcommittees of the Historical Resources Board?
• What does the Historical Resources Board do?

Find a historical consultant

• Is there someone who can prepare a historical study for my property? (PDF: 149K)

Learn how a property becomes historical

• Who decides what is historical?
• What is required to be in the historical study?
• What makes a property historically significant?

Appeal of designation

• Can historical designations be appealed?
• How do I file an appeal?

Benefits and responsibilities of historical designation

• What are the benefits and responsibilities of historical designation?
• Are there property tax advantages to historical designation?
• I'm not sure I want any restrictions placed on the use of my own property. If I lived in a new house, would I have any restrictions?
• What are some intangible benefits from historical designation that I may not know about?
• What will happen to my property values?

Get information on the Mills Act property tax reduction

• What is the Mills Act?
• How much will I save on my property taxes?
• Is my building eligible for the Mills Act without local historical designation?
• How do I apply for the Mills Act?
• What is the term of the Mills Act agreement?
• What are the responsibilities of a Mills Act agreement?
• If I sell my property, does the new owner have to apply again to obtain the Mills Act?
• Is the Mills Act available to all local individual historically designated structures and those in established local historical districts?

Find out about the California Historical Building Code

• What is the California Historical Building Code?
• If I have a historically designated building, would I be able to use the California Historical Building Code for repairs to it?
• What advantage would it be to me to use the California Historical Building Code?

Fix up a historical site

• What are my new responsibilities as an owner if my property is on a site that has been historically designated, in contrast to what they were before designation?
• What are the Secretary of the Interior's Standards that apply to historically designated properties?
• Would I have to get a permit to paint my property, or to change the paint color?
• Would I be allowed to build an addition to my property?
• Would I be allowed to change the interior of my building?
• Can I change the landscaping?

Fix up, change or demolish a building 45 years old or older

• Is there any special review that is required for a project if my property has a building that is 45 years old or older?
• What do I do if I have to submit a site specific historical study?
• What if the historical study concludes that my property is potentially significant?
• Is there any way to avoid having my property designated but still be able to do my project?
• What if the project just cannot accommodate preservation of the potential resource and I need to demolish it, relocate it or substantially alter it?

Find out about historical surveys

• What is a historical survey?
• What is a Reconnaissance Survey?
• What is an Intensive Survey?
• How is potential historical significance determined?
• What is a Context Statement?
• What does it mean if my property is included in a historical survey?

View historical surveys

Find information on becoming a historical district

• What is a historical district?
• What kinds of historical districts are recognized by the City of San Diego?
• What criteria does a historical district need to meet in order to become designated?
• What information is included in a Historical Survey Report to create a historical district?
• How are contributing sites identified?
• What is a potentially contributing site within a Geographic/Traditional District?
• What is a potentially contributing site in a Voluntary Traditional Historical District?
• What is a non-contributing site?
• Can non-contributing sites become contributors?
• What is the difference between a Geographic/Traditional District, a Voluntary/ Traditional District and an Emerging District?
• What can I expect of the process to create a historical district?
• What if some of my neighbors object to being part of a historical district?
• How long does it take to get a district designated?
• Why would I want to be part of a historical district?
• What are Development Guidelines?
• If I want to remodel or demolish my property, and it is located in a historical district, what do I have to do?

View established historical districts

Find out about state and federal requirements

• If the area is eligible as a National Register Historic District, what is the possibility of actually getting the district listed on the National Register?
• Are there other requirements if a project uses federal funding or a federal agency is in charge of the project?
• Are there other criteria for historical designation at the state or federal level?

Is my property historical?

• What makes a property historically significant?
• What does it mean if my property is included in a historical survey?

Other frequently asked questions

• Would the public have access to my building, since it is historical?
• Would inclusion in a historical district affect the zoning or density of my lot?