Use CEQA to Protect Your Community This guide explains how you can use the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to protect historic places in your community. Many people have seen the destruction of historic neighborhoods and sites without knowing that their voice could have made a difference. You have a say in how your community changes over time. CEQA is is a state law that gives you the right to know about development projects in your neighborhood and how they affect your community. It gives you a voice in the process and tools to help you protect important places, your quality of life, and the future of your neighborhood. The guide explains more about how you can use CEQA and includes case studies describing how others have used it in different ways to prevent demolition of significant sites. You can download the guide below as a PDF in English or Spanish. We hope you find it helpful.

The World's oldest McDonald's continues in operation as a fast-food historic landmark.

Despite efforts to document LGBTQ heritage in Greater Los Angeles, many historic sites are at risk.

This microsite is an early step in the Conservancy’s broad community dialogue on the preservation of LGBTQ heritage. Please check back for updates on our work. Share Your Stories of LGBTQ Los Angeles The stories you see here are just the beginning. We need to hear from you! Please contact us to share your stories about the […]

The City of San Gabriel has long been a local historic preservation movement leader. Its first historic preservation ordinance was adopted in 1965—well before other municipalities—and updated in recent years to reflect a true commitment to its residents and rich history.  To strengthen its ordinance, the City set out to prepare an authoritative account of its history […]

Sierra Madre established its historic preservation program in 1987 with the adoption of a historic preservation ordinance.  However, in 1997, the City amended the ordinance language to make landmark designation voluntary for property owners, and the following year placed a measure on the ballot to de-list 29 landmarks.  Preservation advocates countered with a legal case […]