Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission

The City of Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Ordinance, enacted in 1962, has made possible the designation of buildings and sites as individual local landmarks, called “Historic-Cultural Monuments” in Los Angeles. The City currently has over 900 Historic-Cultural Monuments, providing official recognition and protection for Los Angeles’ most significant and cherished historic resources.

The five-member Cultural Heritage Commission is the mayoral-appointed body that oversees the designation and protection of local landmarks. The Office of Historic Resources provides staff support to the Commission.

The Office of Historic Resources’ mission is to create a comprehensive, state-of-the-art, and balanced historic preservation program for the City of Los Angeles. Upon its inception in 2006, the Office articulated the following as its key goals:
 * Complete a pioneering citywide historic resources survey
 * Achieve “Certified Local Government” status in historic preservation (approved in April 2007)
 * Integrate historic preservation fully into Los Angeles’ planning process
 * Serve as an expert resource on preservation for the Department of City Planning and for other City departments
 * Provide responsive customer service in conducting historic preservation reviews
 * Create additional incentives and creative partnerships for historic preservation