Preservation Documents of the Heritage Orchard

The Los Altos Heritage Orchard at

the Civic Center is protected by 

City Ordinances, State

designation HR15, and State Code

governance for planning, as well as

historical preservation standards

and procedural guidelines 

put forth by the Secretary of the 

Interior as a recognized and

registered resource by the City.  



In California, under CEQA

changes, alterations, modifications,

or development fall under the

statutes of environmental review

both for its historical preservation,

as an environmentally-sensitive

landscape and historic context.


In the case of the historical

orchard for specific agricultural  

environmental provisions. 


The State Office of Historic

Preservation oversees the

commitments to historic

preservation of Los Altos through 

the Certified Local Government.  
  

The County and State Offices of

Department of Office Planning &

Research and the Dept of Fish and

Wildlife handle CEQA code and

provisions for the California 

Environmental Quality Act, 1960.


Environmental review conducted 

must be in line with local City

preservation ordinances, State law

and the City is required to maintain

the "integrity" of a historic resource.


Direct, indirect and cumulative

impacts must be studied and made

public prior to any changes or

decisions.  There is no

exception, and cities "shall not" file

categorical EXEMPTIONS

to avoid environmental review

for project that "may" impact or

alter a registered historic resource

that "may" impact, including both

projects in or adjacent to resource

under California Public Resource

statute and CEQA code.
City and City Council Approved Actions and Documents
regarding the Heritage Orchard
as of June 26, 2024

​2011  STATE of California DPR (Department of Record) #HR15 (Submitted by City, survey completed by expert survey historian w map and description of historical significance, location, size, stipulations and elements of land, trees and tree sites of historic resource)

2006 CITY of Los Altos Official Management Plan for Orchard (with approved City description of historic resource including size, tree sites, and inclusion of areas and tree sties including around City Hall (the landmark portion, as well as LACY and Police Station. )

1991 CITY Resolution to Designate Part of Historic Resource as a City Landmark (w Map) (with Map to scale of "landmark area" of the Heritage Orchard surrounding City Hall, represents a partial composition of what is the Heritage Orchard historic resource consisting lands, landmarks, tree sites and trees within a context as  "a working historic orchard demonstrating and showcasing the city's and region's historic agricultural roots and heritage is maintained and kept productive." Original landmark designation in 1986.

2021 CITY Ordinance 2021-477 Ordinance Disposition of Facilities at the Civic Center and Restricting Sale, Lease or Transfer to Private Entities. Includes a City Council approved restatement of the disposition of the Heritage Orchard as "a historic working orchard 

2023 CITY Maintenance Agreement with History Museum.  Includes descriptive summary of the historic significance and designation of the Heritage Orchard, assigns maintenance oversight to $75K/yr.  Does NOT change the governing authority of historical preservation and planning from Historical Commission or City entities.

current  CITY Municipal Codes for Historic Preservation, Tree Protection, Planning and Design Review of Public Facilities are available through Public Request or on a searchable on the website link on the City page linked to Municode.com.

current CITY Historic Resources Inventory - currently a website and downloadable copy of Inventory from 2012?  Note the items in these versions do not always match up and the Inventory management is NOT on the work plan of the Historic Commission per the requirements of historic preservation as a Certified Local Government. 

current CITY General Plan- available on the City website below Adopted Plans section/list.  A key element of the plan is the Community Design & Historical Resource Element of the plan.  
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State and County Historic Preservation Laws and Resources (Coming Soon)

​Governing Bodies

  • STATE office of Department and Planning and Research. (includes all CEQA and environmental codes and provisions specific to historical properties as well as Public Resource codes for development and planning for public facilities and natural resources )
  • STATE Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • COUNTY Historic Commission reporting to the Board of Supervisors.


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Detailed printed requirements to be and remain a Certified Local Government can be downloaded here.