The foundation of a successful preservation program is an understanding of the location, distribution, and significance of historic and cultural resources, which include buildings, sites and/or landscapes. This understanding is achieved through the historic and cultural resource survey process. In addition to identifying important individual historic or cultural resources and potential districts, a survey can help identify buildings that qualify for local or national preservation incentives or inform the development of new projects that protect the integrity of designated properties.

The following surveys can be found in the Current and Historic Preservation Planning (CHPP) Division’s preservation library.

Past Surveys

The 1986-87 Citywide Survey focused on pre-1942 buildings and included approximately 1,750 sites.

• 1986-87 Context Statement
• 1986-87 Citywide Survey – Full Document (90MB; pdf)

Recently Completed Surveys

The City completed a historic resources survey in November 2008 that focused on pre-1961 buildings within the City’s R2, R3, and R4 multi-family residential zones. This survey included approximately 2,160 properties.

• R2, R3, R4 Multi-Family Context Statement

Historic Resource Surveys – Frequently Asked Questions

Click below for answers to commonly asked questions regarding historic resource surveys in the City of West Hollywood. For further information, consult the National Register’s Guidelines for Local Surveys.

• Do surveys focus just on buildings?
• How old does a building have to be in order to be surveyed?
• What types of surveys are there?
• What building documentation is produced during a survey?
• What does significance mean?
• What does integrity mean?
• Where can I get a line-by-line explanation of DPR 523 forms?
• What is a Historic Context Statement?
• How is survey information used?
• Who decides whether my building is potentially historic?
• How will inclusion in a survey benefit property owners?
• Do surveys focus just on buildings?
• My building is in a survey area, does that mean I need CEQA review?
• Are property owners charged for this survey work?
• Can I opt out of a survey?
• Why is the CHPP Division involved with surveys?
• Who nominates buildings for formal designation?

DISCLAIMER: For reference only. The City does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or usefulness of any information. The City provides this information on an “as is” basis without warranty of any kind, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, and assumes no responsibility for anyone’s use of the information.