Historic homes in Fresno: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Fresno Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Fresno's code says

Fresno code What Fresno's code adds
When a building counts as historic	More than 50 years. Applies: Applies to Historic Resource designation with integrity and qualifying significance. § 12-1607 · code text It has been in existence more than fifty years and it possesses aspects of integrity to convey its significance based upon location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling or association, and: Under 50 years old only if it meets Historic Resource criteria and is of exceptional importance in its historical context. Applies: Applies to designation as a Historic Resource. § 12-1607 · code text It has been in existence less than fifty years, it meets the criteria of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section and is of exceptional importance within the appropriate historical context, local, state or national. At least 50% of resources in a proposed Local Historic District must be 50 years old or older. Applies: Applies to designating a Local Historic District. § 12-1607 · code text at least fifty percent of the resources within the proposed Local Historic District are fifty years of age or older
Changing a historic home	A city permit and written approval of the Historic Preservation Commission are required. Applies: Applies to altering, remodeling, demolishing, grading, removing or constructing on a designated Historic Resource. § 12-1617 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, association, partnership or other legal entity to directly or indirectly alter, remodel, demolish, grade, remove, construct, reconstruct or restore any Historic Resource without first obtaining a city permit and the written approval of the Historic Preservation Commission. A city permit, Design Review Committee review and written Historic Preservation Commission approval are required. Applies: Applies to any property within a Historic District. § 12-1618 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, association, partnership or other legal entity to directly or indirectly alter, remodel, demolish, grade, remove, construct, reconstruct or restore any property within any Historic District without first obtaining a city permit, review by the appropriate Design Review Committee and the written approval of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Demolishing an older or historic home	A city permit and written Historic Preservation Commission approval are required; environmental review comes before a Commission hearing. Applies: Applies to demolition, grading, removal or substantial alteration of a designated Historic Resource. § 12-1617 · code text No hearing shall be held by the Commission for applications or proposals to demolish, grade, remove or substantially alter the Historic Resource until such application or proposal has undergone environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. A city permit, Design Review Committee review, written Commission approval and environmental review before a Commission hearing are required. Applies: Applies to demolition, grading, removal or substantial alteration of any property within a Historic District. § 12-1618 · code text No hearing shall be held by the Commission for applications which propose to demolish, grade, remove or substantially alter a property within any Historic District until such proposal has undergone environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
Work that needs no review	Ordinary maintenance or repair of an exterior architectural feature is exempt if design, materials and external appearance do not change. Applies: Applies to a designated Historic Resource. § 12-1617 · code text Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior architectural feature in or on any Historic Resource covered by this article that does not involve a change in design, materials or external appearance.

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Frequently asked questions

What rules apply to a historic home in Fresno?

Fresno's code: More than 50 years. (Applies to Historic Resource designation with integrity and qualifying significance.) (§ 12-1607); Under 50 years old only if it meets Historic Resource criteria and is of exceptional importance in its historical context. (Applies to designation as a Historic Resource.) (§ 12-1607).

Historic homes in Fresno

What Fresno's code says

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