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Historic Resources

Preserving our historic resources is about conserving structures, sites, and objects that give us a physical connection to people and events from our past.

Preserving historic buildings and sites also helps to create a unique environment and sense of place in San José. This cultural richness strengthens the local economy by promoting tourism and encouraging investment.

Historic preservation entails various land use planning strategies, governmental programs, and financial incentives to protect historic resources. On the subpages here, you'll learn about our processes for nominating and approving City landmarks; the permit process for altering the exteriors of historic buildings and sites; how the Historic Landmarks Commission works; and more.

Special Projects

Under the guidance of the City's Historic Preservation Officer, the City is currently undertaking special projects to further identify and preserve historic resources:

  • Cesar Chavez Study - The U.S. Congress directed the National Park Service to conduct a Cesar Chavez Special Resource Study of sites that are significant to the life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement in the western United States. The study will recommend whether the sites meet the criteria for listing on the National Register, designation as a national historic landmark, or inclusion in the national park system, and will consider a range of approaches to resource protection and public use and enjoyment.

information about historic preservation

Here are resources to learn more about historic preservation programs and services:

Local

State

Federal