Thursday, February 26, 2026
San Diego approves major update to historic preservation rules
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the updates are intended to balance preservation with the city's housing and economic needs.
San Diego City Council on Tuesday approved the first major overhaul of the city's Heritage Preservation Program in more than 25 years, advancing a package of reforms aimed at protecting historic resources while easing the path for new housing and development.
The initiative, called Preservation and Progress, is the first of two planned policy packages. City officials said the second set of reforms is still being drafted and will go before the council at a later date.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the updates are intended to balance preservation with the city's housing and economic needs.
"San Diegans want a city that protects what makes our neighborhoods special while also making it easier to build homes and invest in our future," he said in a statement.
Gloria said the reforms are designed to reduce red tape, clarify rules and speed up decision-making.
The Heritage Preservation Program governs how the city identifies and protects buildings and sites with historical, cultural or architectural significance.
"Much has changed in the 25 years since the city's Heritage Preservation Program was last comprehensively addressed and updated, including historic preservation best-practices, a growing climate and housing crisis, and the better awareness of the need to foster equitable outcomes across all planning efforts, including historic preservation," she said in a statement. "Preservation and Progress will prioritize preservation of important historical resources, provide clearer guidance on how those resources can be adaptively reused and expanded to continue to meet our housing needs, streamline review processes for properties that are not historically significant, and build a more inclusive and equitable Heritage Preservation Program that serves everyone."
One of the most significant changes approved Tuesday updates the process for appealing historical designations.
The city council will now be able to consider a new appeal category, "Findings Not Supported," allowing councilmembers to review whether the Historical Resources Board's designation is backed by the evidence presented. The council still cannot overturn a designation without a specific, criteria-based reason.
Other approved changes include:
• Updates to the historic preservation element of the General Plan to align with state and federal rules and add new policies on tribal consultation, equity, sustainability, resilience and public outreach.
• Clarifications to the Complete Communities Housing Solutions program to allow affordable housing in thematic or emerging historic districts when a property is not a contributing resource.
• Repurposing the Historic Preservation Fund to provide small grants for preservation work in historically underrepresented communities.
San Diego has more than 1,500 individually designated historic resources and 24 local historic districts, including Balboa Park, the El Cortez Hotel and the Star of India.
The city is seeking public input as it develops the second phase of reforms.
The initiative, called Preservation and Progress, is the first of two planned policy packages. City officials said the second set of reforms is still being drafted and will go before the council at a later date.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the updates are intended to balance preservation with the city's housing and economic needs.
"San Diegans want a city that protects what makes our neighborhoods special while also making it easier to build homes and invest in our future," he said in a statement.
Gloria said the reforms are designed to reduce red tape, clarify rules and speed up decision-making.
The Heritage Preservation Program governs how the city identifies and protects buildings and sites with historical, cultural or architectural significance.
"Much has changed in the 25 years since the city's Heritage Preservation Program was last comprehensively addressed and updated, including historic preservation best-practices, a growing climate and housing crisis, and the better awareness of the need to foster equitable outcomes across all planning efforts, including historic preservation," she said in a statement. "Preservation and Progress will prioritize preservation of important historical resources, provide clearer guidance on how those resources can be adaptively reused and expanded to continue to meet our housing needs, streamline review processes for properties that are not historically significant, and build a more inclusive and equitable Heritage Preservation Program that serves everyone."
One of the most significant changes approved Tuesday updates the process for appealing historical designations.
The city council will now be able to consider a new appeal category, "Findings Not Supported," allowing councilmembers to review whether the Historical Resources Board's designation is backed by the evidence presented. The council still cannot overturn a designation without a specific, criteria-based reason.
Other approved changes include:
• Updates to the historic preservation element of the General Plan to align with state and federal rules and add new policies on tribal consultation, equity, sustainability, resilience and public outreach.
• Clarifications to the Complete Communities Housing Solutions program to allow affordable housing in thematic or emerging historic districts when a property is not a contributing resource.
• Repurposing the Historic Preservation Fund to provide small grants for preservation work in historically underrepresented communities.
San Diego has more than 1,500 individually designated historic resources and 24 local historic districts, including Balboa Park, the El Cortez Hotel and the Star of India.
The city is seeking public input as it develops the second phase of reforms.
