Main Menu Close Menu

mail Contact

Search Close

Translate

Department

Community Development

Department

Community Response

Department

Convention and Cultural Services

Department

Finance

Department

Fire Department

Department

Human Resources

Department

Information Technology

Department

Mayor and Council

Department

Office of Public Safety Accountability

Department

Office of the City Attorney

Department

Office of the City Auditor

Department

Office of the City Clerk

Department

Office of the City Manager

Department

Office of the City Treasurer

Department

Police Department

Department

Public Works

Department

Utilities

Department

Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment

Category

hiking Activities

Arts & Culture

Camps

Classes & Group Activities

Community Centers

Events & Entertainment

Sports

Swimming

Category

pets Animals & Pets

Animals & Pets

Category

domain_add Building & Planning

Construction

Inspections

Planning

Property Lines & Surveying

Zoning

Category

store Business

Business

Cannabis

Economic Development

Innovation

Suppliers & Vendors

Category

account_tree City Administration

Accountability & Oversight

Boards & Commissions

City Attorney

City Manager

City Structure & Policies

Customer Service

Elections

Mayor & City Council

Transparency

Category

category City Assets & Data

City Buildings & Property

City Vehicles

Records

Transparency

Category

explore City Regions

Council Districts

Neighborhoods

Property Lines & Surveying

Zoning

Category

diversity_4 Community Support

Accessibility

Community Centers

Community Engagement

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Homelessness

Housing

Older Adults

Volunteering

Youth

Category

theater_comedy Culture & History

Arts & Culture

Events & Entertainment

Sacramento History

Category

business_center Employment

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Employees & Retirees

Employment

Volunteering

Workforce Development

Category

directions Infrastructure

Bridges

Drinking Water

Information Technology

Infrastructure Finance

Stormwater & Flooding

Streets & Roads

Trails

Wastewater & Sewer

Category

gavel Law, Code & Compliance

Code Enforcement

Inspections

Law & Code

Permits

Category

payments Money

Accounting

City Budget

Claims, Rebates & Discounts

Debt Management

Economic Development

Grants

Infrastructure Finance

Investment & Cash Management

Payments & Fees

Taxes

Category

park Outdoors & Sustainability

Bicycles

Boating

Camps

Climate & Sustainability

Parks

Scooters

Sports

Swimming

Trails

Trees

Weather

Category

local_police Safety

Alternative Response

Crime

Emergency Management

Emergency Response

Fire

Inspections

Police Department

Prevention & Personal Safety

Stormwater & Flooding

Weather

Category

directions_car Transportation

Bicycles

Boating

Driving

Electric Vehicles

Parking

Public Transportation

Scooters

Traffic

Walking

Category

delete_sweep Utility Services

Drinking Water

Recycling

Trash

Wastewater & Sewer

Back to categories Back to Departments

Search for content

SITE NAVIGATION

Planning

Historic Preservation

Planning

Historic Preservation

The City's Historic Preservation program began in 1974 with the City Council’s adoption of the City’s first preservation ordinance and in early 1975 the City Council appointed the first “Preservation Board.” Since then, the program has become a city-wide “Certified Local Government” program with a seven-member Preservation Commission and a Historic & Cultural Resources Element of the City’s General Plan. The program’s primary objectives are to identify, protect, and assist in the preservation, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and awareness of the City’s historic and cultural resources.

Check the address to determine if a property is a historic Landmark, within a Historic District, or a Contributing Resource within a historic district by visiting the Planning Land Use Informational portal.

Preservation outreach

Be sure to sign up for news and alerts from the City’s Historic Preservation team to learn about changes in the design review process, preservation incentive programs, and special preservation projects.

Preservation site plan and design review process

Site Plan and Design Review is a city-wide permitting program intended to improve Sacramento’s built environment for the benefits of all residents and visitors. If a property has been designated a historic Landmark, or is located within a Historic District, preservation staff are responsible for overseeing the Site Plan and Design Review and process prior to an applicant applying for a building permit. Preservation staff may also be involved reviewing potentially-eligible properties as part of the city-wide Site Plan and Design Review process.

If the work involves the exterior of a building (including windows and doors), construction on the site, or involves significant, publicly-accessible interiors (i.e., lobbies, auditoriums, train station, restaurants), then a Planning Entitlement Application for Preservation, Site Plan and Design Review will likely be required from the City’s Planning Division. Many small projects, such as maintenance, is exempt from Site Plan & Design Review.

Learn More about Site Plan Design Review Process

Identification of historic & cultural resources

The Preservation Director is responsible for maintaining and updating the Sacramento Register of Historic & Cultural Resources. Properties listed on the Sacramento Register are either individually as historic Landmarks, Historic Districts, or Contributing Resources within historic districts. View the Sacramento Register of Historic & Cultural Resources.

Preservation Incentive Programs, Mills Act Program

The Mills Act Historical Property Contract Program is intended to offset the cost of preserving historic properties by offering property owners a property tax reduction in exchange for agreeing to preserve and maintain their historic building. A property must be listed on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources, the California Register of Historical Resources, or the National Register of Historic Places to be eligible for the program.

Learn more about the Mills Act Program

Sacramento Historic Property Plaque Program

Owners of historical properties that have been designated by the City of Sacramento as either a Historic Landmark or a Contributing Resource within a City-designated Historic District are eligible to apply for a Sacramento Historic Property Plaque. Owners can download and complete the Sacramento Historic Property Plaque application and email to planning@cityofsacramento.org.

Historic Places Grant Program

The City of Sacramento and Sacramento Heritage, Inc. jointly administer the Historic Places Grant Program. The grant program is a matching grant program that funds projects between $1,000 and $24,999, and is intended to facilitate the preservation of historic properties (residential and commercial structures and sites) throughout the City of Sacramento.

Learn More about the Historic Places Grant Program

Historic Preservation: Special Projects

Historic Preservation Staff is often involved in a series of special projects to identify historic and cultural resources, and maintain the City’s status as a Certified Local Government. Click on any of the links below to learn about some of the special projects staff has been working on to preserve Sacramento’s historic and cultural resources.

The LGBTQ+ Experience Project

The LGBTQ Experience Project will rely on community involvement, historic records, and extensive research. Public meetings, oral history interviews, and the collection of documents and photos will be integral to identifying historic sites and building a comprehensive archive that encapsulates the LGBTQ experience and journey in Sacramento.