The City of Beverly Hills’s amended historic preservation ordinance was fully implemented in November 2015, reversing much of the great progress that earned the City a grade of A+ on our 2014 Preservation Report Card.  The Conservancy has correspondingly revised the city’s grade to C- by reducing some point totals and introducing a new demerit system which subtracts points from the overall total.  The revised grade reflects both the reversal in protections to historic resources and our desire to hold communities accountable if they weaken local preservation planning tools.

On July 21, 2015, the Beverly Hills City Council made its amended Historic Preservation Ordinance official. The 3-1 vote represented a significant backslide in the City’s preservation efforts, with far-reaching changes that fundamentally limit the number and type of places that qualify for historic designation and protection. The vote followed lengthy deliberations and discussions at a June 16 hearing, which ended with an initial 3-2 vote by the City Council to approve the amended ordinance.

In late 2013, members of the City’s Planning Commission launched efforts to review and suggest amendments to the Beverly Hills Historic Preservation Ordinance. Despite opposition and suggestions by the Conservancy and Beverly Hills Heritage to address some of the most egregious amendments, the City Council ultimately voted on the latest draft ordinance with no meaningful revisions.

(March 2014): Beverly Hills has made exceptional progress in preservation over the past few years.

Sometimes, the threats to a specific historic building—and the efforts to save it—galvanize support that leads to something much bigger. Beverly Hills is a prime example.

In the wake of some high-profile demolitions, the city catapulted ahead with a strong and active historic preservation program. The city adopted an innovative and strong historic preservation ordinance in 2012 and has implemented the Mills Act program, a powerful preservation incentive.

The city has also hired a dedicated historic preservation planner and created a Cultural Heritage Commission. Now celebrating its centenary, Beverly Hills is conducting a comprehensive update to its citywide survey and has already designated more than a dozen local landmarks.