What rules apply to a historic home in Gilroy?

Gilroy's code: A demolition request for a building over 50 years old gets a 30-day review before the permit. (Building outside a historic site or neighborhood district that meets one of four listed criteria.) (§ 30.27.53); The historic heritage committee and planning commission review it. The commission denies it or recommends approval to the city council. (Historically or culturally important structure in a historic site or neighborhood combining district.) (§ 30.27.50).

Historic homes in Gilroy: the local rules

Gilroy code What Gilroy's code adds
When a building counts as historic	A demolition request for a building over 50 years old gets a 30-day review before the permit. Applies: Building outside a historic site or neighborhood district that meets one of four listed criteria. § 30.27.53 · code text Each request for the demolition of any building over fifty (50) years old which is not in a historic site or neighborhood combining district, but meets any of the four (4) findings of criteria defined under section 30.27.30(b) as determined by the planning division, shall be accompanied by one (1) clear photograph, of the front of the building, submitted by the applicant.
Demolishing an older or historic home	The historic heritage committee and planning commission review it. The commission denies it or recommends approval to the city council. Applies: Historically or culturally important structure in a historic site or neighborhood combining district. § 30.27.50 · code text All demolition applications for historically or culturally important structures located in either a historic site or neighborhood combining district shall be reviewed by the historic heritage committee which shall forward its recommendations to the planning commission. A zone change removing the historic site designation is required before demolition or relocation. Applies: Historically significant structure in a historic site combining district. § 30.27.52 · code text Demolition or relocation of a historically significant structure within a historic site combining district shall first require removal of the historic site combining district designation through the zone change process as provided in this chapter. Planning commission or city council may suspend action up to 180 days to allow steps to preserve the structure. Applies: Request to remove the historic site designation and demolish. § 30.27.52 · code text The planning commission or city council may suspend action on removal of the historic site combining district designation and demolition application for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days to allow sufficient time for necessary steps to be taken to preserve the structure. No demolition permit for up to 30 days to document and preserve; chief building inspector may waive for imminent danger. Applies: Building over 50 years old outside a historic site or neighborhood district that meets one of four listed criteria. § 30.27.53 · code text A demolition permit shall not be issued for such building until the planning director, with assistance from the historic heritage committee, has had a period not to exceed thirty (30) days to investigate, document and photograph the building and attempt to arrange for the preservation of the building. An immediate demolition permit may be issued. Applies: Structure substantially destroyed by fire, explosion, earthquake or flood, and both officials determine imminent danger and obvious non-restorability. § 30.27.50 · code text Upon application for demolition where a structure or portion of a structure in a historic site or neighborhood combining district has been substantially destroyed by fire, explosion, earthquake or flood, the chief building inspector and planning director, after inspection of the damage, may issue the demolition permit immediately, only when they both determine that there is imminent danger to life, limb or health of the public and the structure is obviously not restorable due to such damage.

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