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Historic homes in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County's own rules on historic homes, with the code text for every value.

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

What Santa Cruz County's code says

Santa Cruz County code What Santa Cruz County's code adds
Changing a historic home
  • Apply to the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure for historic resource preservation plan approval (or sign review).
    Applies: Designated historic resources.
    § 16.42.060 · code text
    Applications for historic resource preservation plan approval or sign review shall be filed with the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure in accordance with the administrative application requirements as established by the Historic Resources Commission.
  • A public hearing before the Historic Resources Commission.
    Applies: Alteration applications.
    § 16.42.060 · code text
    Alteration applications shall require a public hearing before the Historic Resources Commission.
  • The Director may approve or deny without a public hearing.
    Applies: Minor historic alteration project applications.
    § 16.42.060 · code text
    Minor historic alteration project applications may be approved or denied by the Director without public hearing.
Demolishing an older or historic home
  • Public hearing and recommendation by the Historic Resources Commission, then public hearing and final action by the Board of Supervisors.
    Applies: Complete demolition of the entirety of an historic resource.
    § 16.42.060 · code text
    The complete demolition of the entirety of an historic resource shall require a public hearing and recommendation by the Historic Resources Commission and a public hearing and final action by the Board of Supervisors.
  • Public hearing and final action by the Historic Resources Commission.
    Applies: Partial demolition of an historic resource.
    § 16.42.060 · code text
    The partial demolition, as defined in SCCC § 16.42.030(C), of an historic resource shall require a public hearing and final action by the Historic Resources Commission.
  • The Director may approve or deny without a public hearing.
    Applies: Lesser demolition of a landmark or contributing resource not meeting the definition of demolition.
    § 16.42.060 · code text
    Lesser demolition, not meeting the definition of "demolition" in SCCC § 16.42.030(C), of a landmark or contributing resource may be approved or denied by the Director without public hearing.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What rules apply to a historic home in Santa Cruz County?

Santa Cruz County's code: Apply to the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure for historic resource preservation plan approval (or sign review). (Designated historic resources.) (§ 16.42.060); A public hearing before the Historic Resources Commission. (Alteration applications.) (§ 16.42.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Santa Cruz County's historic homes rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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