Whittier | Los Angeles Conservancy
Photos (clockwise from upper left): Standard Oil Building; Jonathan Bailey House; Southern Pacific Railroad Depot by Los Angeles via Wikimedia Commons (3); Pio Pico Casa by Epolk via Wikimedia Commons

Whittier has a long track record in preservation, having adopted its Historic Preservation ordinance in 1986.

The city has designated both local landmarks and four historic districts, the most recent of which was designated in 2011.

The city does not require owner consent to designate landmarks. Incentives available to owners of historic properties include the Mills Acts property tax abatement program, as well as expedited review for minor work on designated historic resources.

Like other cities with strong preservation programs, Whittier has a dedicated section of its website for historic preservation. It includes links to the city's historic preservation ordinance, designated historic resources, and landmark and Mills Act applications.

The city is currently working on a two-phased citywide survey that will cover both residential and non-residential structures.

The scoring details for this community appear below. To see scores for all communities, compare specific communities and categories, and learn more about the Report Card, visit our Report Card microsite.

Category (points available)
Score
Total Score (out of a possible 245, plus Extra Credit): 
230
Historic Preservation Ordinance (150) / Honorary Ordinance (10): 
150
Dedicated Historic Preservation Commission (5): 
5
Dedicated Preservation Staff (15): 
15
Ability to Designate Historic Districts (15): 
15
Owner Consent Not Required for Designation (10): 
10
Active Landmark Designation (at least annually) (5): 
5
Survey of Historic Resources: Citywide (15) / Partial (10): 
10
Notes: 
2001
Survey Updated Within Past 5 Years (5): 
0
Mills Act Incentive Program (10): 
10
Additional Incentives (5): 
5
Certified Local Government (5): 
0
Historic Preservation Element or Plan (5): 
5
Extra Credit (1-25): 
0

If you'd like to get involved in preservation in Whittier, we suggest the following resources:

City Representative

Conal McNamara 
Director of Community Development
cmcnamara@cityofwhittier.org
(562) 567-9320

Local Groups

The Whittier Conservancy

Whittier Historical Society & Museum

If any of this information is out of date, or to suggest additional ways to get involved, please contact us at info@laconservancy.org or (213) 623-2489.

In addition to the survey linked at left, most resources listed below are specific to Whittier. For general resources related to local preservation and our Preservation Report Card, please visit our Report Card microsite.

Historic Preservation Ordinance

Designated Local Landmarks

Landmark Designation Process

Mills Act Application Process

Guide to CEQA (Conservancy website)

If any of these links are broken or incorrect, or if you would like to suggest other resources for preservation in Whittier, please let us know by emailing info@laconservancy.org.

Featured Location(s)

Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group

Five Points Car Wash

Googie-style car washes are fairly commonplace in L.A., but few are as intact and as exuberant as the Five Points.
Photo by Flora Chou/L.A. Conservancy

National Bank of Whittier Building

Clad in glazed terra cotta with classically inspired detailing and leaded-glass transoms, this six-story building by father-and-son architects John and Donald B. Parkinson exemplifies the Beaux Arts style.