Historic Preservation

Design guidelines are locally developed criteria which assist property owners, developers, architects, and others in making decisions about the appropriate treatment of historic resources when planning repair, rehabilitation, restoration, landscape, or new construction projects. City staff and the Cultural Heritage Board also use design guidelines when evaluating the potential effects of projects to historic resources within their jurisdiction.

Design guidelines incorporate the principles set forth in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Prepared by the National Park Service, these standards were developed to assist the long-term preservation of historic properties through the preservation of historic materials and features. Many state and local municipalities use the Standards for reviewing preservation projects. In Riverside they serve as the basis for the "Principals and Standards of Site Development and Design Review" as outlined in the Cultural Resources Ordinance (Section 20.30.060).

The Mt. Rubidoux Historic District Design Guidelines (1993) were the first residential guidelines adopted by the City. Most recently, Citywide Residential Historic District Design Guidelines (2003) were adopted. This document is organized in two parts. Part I consists of general design guidelines that apply to residential properties within historic districts citywide. Part II addresses the City's nine designated districts individually with background information, design guidelines and issues specific to each of the districts. Part II is a work in progress other districts will be added as the guidelines are developed.

For properties within the Downtown Specific Plan area, the specific plan includes design guidelines for both commercial and residential zoned land.

• Citywide Residential Historic District Design Guidelines
  Part I
  • Cover
  • Introduction
  • Purpose of the Guidelines
  • Policy Framework & Administration
  • Riverside's Architectural Heritage
  • The Secretary of the Interior's Standards
  • Planning for Rehabilitation, Repairs, Additions, New Construction or Landscaping
  • Design Guideline Terms
  • Design Guidelines for Rehabilitation, Repairs & Additions to Historic Residential Buildings
  • Design Guidelines for Infill Construction in Historic Districts
  • Landscape Design Guidelines
  • Public Features/Streetscape Design Guidelines
  • Architectural Terms
  • Tree List for Historic Neighborhoods
  • The Secretary of the Interior's Standards
  • Sources & Suggested Reading
  • Acknowledgements
  Part II
  • Heritage Square Design Guidelines
  • Mt. Rubidoux Historic District Design Guidelines
  • North Hill Historic District Design Guidelines
  • Palm Heights Historic District Design Guidelines
• Citywide Design & Sign Guidelines
• Downtown Specific Plan
• Rehab Riverside Right
• Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, & Reconconstructing Historic Buildings
• Cultural Resource Report, Survey and Study Requirements