Historic homes in Paso Robles: the local rules

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

What Paso Robles's code says

Paso Robles code What Paso Robles's code adds
Changing a historic home	A certificate of no effect or certificate of appropriateness before starting work. Applies: Alterations or repairs to a designated historic resource that are not on the exempt list. § 21.62.080 · code text All proposed alterations or repairs to a designated historic resource that are not listed in Paragraph 21.62.080(A)3. (Alterations that are Exempt from Review), shall receive a certificate of no effect or a certificate of appropriateness from applicable review authority prior to the commencement of any work.
Demolishing an older or historic home	A demolition permit from the building official. Applies: Any building or structure, not only historic ones. § 21.62.080 · code text No person shall demolish any building or structure until a permit has been issued by the building official in accordance with the provisions set forth in Municipal Code Chapter 17.16 (Demolition of Buildings and Structures). Planning commission recommendation and city council final determination. Applies: Building or structure determined to be a designated historic resource. § 21.62.080 · code text If the zoning administrator determines that the building or structure proposed for demolition is a designated historic resource, the planning commission shall make a recommendation to the city council, who will make the final determination per the procedures outlined in Municipal Code Section 17.16.050 (Processing Procedures) after conducting a public hearing. City council may require a 180-day continuance, extendable by another 180 days. Applies: Demolition permit request for a designated historic resource. § 21.62.080 · code text The city council may require a one-hundred-eighty-day continuance for consideration of the demolition permit request with an option to extend the continuance for an additional one-hundred-eighty-day period should that become necessary. No demolition or alteration permits are issued while a historic designation is pending, for up to 180 calendar days. Applies: Starts when the nomination form is complete; ends at the earliest of the council decision, a council-set end date, or 180 days. § 21.62.050 · code text There shall be a work moratorium beginning the day the nomination form is deemed complete while the planning commission's public hearing or the city council's decision is pending. During the moratorium, demolition or alteration permits will not be issued.
Work that needs no review	Ordinary maintenance and repair that does not change the design, materials, architectural elements or site features. § 21.62.080 · code text The provisions for the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness or a certificate of no effect shall not be construed to prevent ordinary maintenance and repair which does not change the design, materials, architectural elements, or site features of a designated historic resource or a building, structure, object, or site listed in the Paso Robles Historic Resources Inventory. Routine maintenance and minor repairs. § 21.62.080 · code text a. Routine maintenance and minor repairs; Exterior painting. § 21.62.080 · code text b. Exterior painting; Replacing deteriorated roofing materials with the same type of material already in use. § 21.62.080 · code text c. Replacing deteriorated roofing materials with the same type of material already in use; Addition or removal of screens, awnings, canopies and similar incidental appurtenances. § 21.62.080 · code text d. Addition or removal of screens, awnings, canopies and similar incidental appurtenances; Addition or removal of landscape walls and fences. § 21.62.080 · code text e. Addition or removal of landscape walls and fences; Addition or removal of exterior lighting. § 21.62.080 · code text f. Addition or removal of exterior lighting; Addition or removal of landscaping. § 21.62.080 · code text g. Addition or removal of landscaping; Addition or removal of driveways and walkways. § 21.62.080 · code text h. Addition or removal of driveways and walkways; Interior alterations. Applies: Unless a historic resource designation includes interior features. § 21.62.080 · code text i. Interior alterations (unless a historic resource designation includes interior features).

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What rules apply to a historic home in Paso Robles?

Paso Robles's code: A certificate of no effect or certificate of appropriateness before starting work. (Alterations or repairs to a designated historic resource that are not on the exempt list.) (§ 21.62.080); A demolition permit from the building official. (Any building or structure, not only historic ones.) (§ 21.62.080).

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