The City of San José is proposing updates to its Historic Preservation Ordinance (HP Ordinance) to clarify definitions, improve permit review, and align with state environmental law under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The HP Ordinance establishes the framework for historic preservation in San José, including:

• The Historic Resources Inventory
• Designation of landmarks, historic districts, and conservation areas
• Regulation of designated properties through Historic Preservation Permits (HP Permits)
• Incentives like Mills Act historical property contracts

The proposed amendments (File No. PP25-005) would:

• Add definitions for “detrimental,” “historic integrity,” and “substantial alteration”
• Clarify definitions of “historic district” and “landmark”
• Amend Section 13.48.240 to clarify historic preservation permit findings and allow the City Council to make overriding findings when work is detrimental to a landmark or historic district

The HP Ordinance protects San José’s landmarks, historic districts, and conservation areas while allowing compatible development.

Currently, if a project harms a landmark or historic district (a “detrimental” project), it can only be approved if the applicant demonstrates a hardship. This can be difficult to substantiate, especially for public projects.

Recent legal guidance highlighted that while the City has some discretion, its ordinance does not explicitly allow the City to balance a project’s benefits against detrimental effects on a landmark or historic district. The proposed amendments would provide this authority, creating a process similar to CEQA’s statement of overriding considerations.

The proposed amendments provide:

• Clear definitions for evaluating detrimental effects
• An alternative path for HP Permit approval when benefits outweigh harm
• Alignment with CEQA’s statement of overriding considerations

1. Updated Definitions (Section 13.48.020)

2. Permit Review & Override Authority (Section 13.48.240)

• Clarifies HP Permit findings – required for exterior changes to designated landmarks or historic district properties.
• Adds City Council override authority – allows approval of projects even if “detrimental,” if benefits outweigh the harm.
• Maintains Historic Landmarks Commission role – recommendations are still reviewed by the decision-making body.

This provides flexibility for projects with unavoidable impacts but significant social, economic, legal, or technical benefits.

• Ensures the HP Ordinance is consistent with CEQA requirements for historical resources.
• Projects with significant, unavoidable impacts will undergo full environmental review.
• The City Council may adopt a statement of overriding considerations to approve such projects.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

The proposed update to the Historic Preservation Ordinance will be considered by the Historic Landmarks Commission which will make a recommendation to City Council. The amendments will then be considered by the Planning Commission which will also make a recommendation to the City Council and the City Council will take final action.

Historic Landmarks Commission - In-person/view only on Zoom
October 1, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Wing Rooms 118-120
San José, California 95113
Agenda

Historic Landmarks Commission - In-person/view only on Zoom
November 5, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Wing Rooms 118-120
San José, California 95113
Agenda

Planning Commission - In-person/view only on Zoom
November 19, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Council Chambers
San José, California 95113
Agenda

San José City Council (Final Action) - In-person/view only on Zoom
December 2, 2025 @ 1:30 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Council Chambers
San José, California 95113

STAFF CONTACT

Planning Division 
Dana Peak Edwards, Historic Preservation Officer and Principal Planner Email: dana.peak@sanjoseca.gov  

• San José Municipal Code: www.sanjoseca.gov/MunicipalCode
• Environmental Documents: Addendum to the Envision San José 2040 General Plan Final EIR and the Downtown Strategy 2040 Final EIR
• Fact Sheet
• Attachment 1 SJ HP Ordinance Amendments

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS 

• The proposed ordinance amendments do not require a new EIR because no physical improvements occur.
• They are analyzed in an Addendum to the Envision San José 2040 General Plan Final EIR and the Downtown Strategy 2040 Final EIR.
• Projects will continue to undergo full CEQA review, and the City Council may adopt a statement of overriding considerations if impacts cannot be fully mitigated.

LANGUAGE TRANSLATION  

For translation assistance, use the Google Translate option at the top of this webpage. Or for assistance in Spanish or Vietnamese, please contact:  

• Spanish/Español: Para información en español acerca de esta solicitud, comuníquese con Jennifer Provedor al 408-793-4100, e índique el número de Proyecto PP25-005 

• Vietnamese/Tiếng Việt:Muốn biết tin tức bằng tiếng Việt về tờ thông tin này, xin quý vị liên lạc Kayla Do ở số 408-793-4174