community

South Pasadena

South Pasadena actively promotes and protects its architectural and cultural heritage.

The city has been a Certified Local Government since 2001. It is in the process of updating its historic preservation ordinance, first adopted in 1992.

The city also plans to prepare a citywide historic context statement as well as future updates to its citywide historic resource survey.

South Pasadena has designated more than fifty local landmarks and five historic districts.

Incentives include the popular Mills Acts property tax abatement program, as well as waiving parking requirements to encourage the adaptive reuse of commercial buildings in the city’s Mission District.

In addition to the document linked at left, most of the following resources are specific to South Pasadena. For general resources related to local preservation and our Preservation Report Card, please visit our Report Card microsite.

Historic Preservation Ordinance

Designated Local Landmarks

Designated Historic Districts

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 South Pasadena, please let us know by emailing info@laconservancy.org.

A+

The scoring details for this community appear below.

Preservation Report Card

The scoring details for this community appear below. To see scores for all communities, compare specific communities and categories.

  • Total Score

    245

  • Historic Preservation Ordinance (150) / Honorary Ordinance (10)

    150

  • Dedicated Historic Preservation Commission (5)

    5

  • Dedicated Preservation Staff (15)

    15

  • Total Score

    245

  • 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

  • 2001

    Survey of Historic Resources: Citywide (15) / Partial (10)

    15

  • Survey Updated Within Past 5 Years (5)

    5

  • Mills Act Incentive Program (10)

    10

  • Additional Incentives (5)

    5

  • Certified Local Government (5)

    5

  • Historic Preservation Element or Plan (5)

    5

  • Extra Credit (1-25)

    0

Get Involved

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

City Representative

Kanika Kith
Interim Senior Planner
kkith@southpasadenaca.gov
(626) 403-7227

Local Group

South Pasadena Preservation Foundation

Visit their website to learn more about their work and find direct contact information.

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.