Los Altos is a Certified Local Government

The National Historic Preservation

Act, as amended in 1980, provided

for the establishment of a Certified

Local Government Program (CLG) 

​to encourage the direct

participation of local governments

in the identification, evaluation,

registration, and preservation of

historic properties within their

jurisdictions and promote the

integration of local preservation

interests and concerns into local

planning and decision-making

​processes.

Los Altos was awarded Certified Local Government status in 1990 and it remains a key component of the City's General Plan along with a mandated Historic Preservation Ordinances and a responsibility to take an active role in preserving its historical inventory, perform qualified surveys,  conduct proper Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), and adhere to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Historical properties are classified as environmentally sensitive and require added protections and preservation, as do unique landscapes like agriculture protections. 

​CLG status also has requirements specific to use of a designated public Historic Committee for design review and oversight, including stewardship and preservation.

In the State of California the Office of Historic Preservation administers federally and state mandated historic preservation programs, including the Certified Local Government program which allows City to perform their own historic preservation, planning, EIRs and apply for federally-funded grants for preservation.  

Detailed printed requirements to be and remain a Certified Local Government can be downloaded here.  An overview of four of the main requirements identified for Certified Local Governments are as follows:

• Enforce state and local legislation and laws for the protection of historic properties.

• Conduct compliant CEQA analysis and Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) on the projects it contemplates or plans to undertake in or adjacent to Historic properties. And to properly study impacts and provide accurate environmental filings.

• Establish adequate and qualified historic preservation review, resources and stewardship.

• Maintain the integrity and procedural guidelines for planning in and development adjacent to historic properties, including qualified surveys and adequate public participation.

Certified Local Governments demonstrate active participation in the preservation of cultural and historical inventory, planning and budgeting, as well as maintain the use of qualified historians and CEQA provisions.

A local government must adopt a historic preservation ordinance that:

(a) defines and records all historic boundaries and historic context

(b) utilizes a qualified review board or public commission as noted in the historic preservation ordinance 

(c) identifies City actions in or adjacent to historical properties and applies consistent  procedures for review and standards for review

(d) provides for the active protection and stewardship of local historic resources, surveys and oversight of promotion and threats to its historical resources inventory.

The CLG must continue to survey its local heritage resources, and manage the integrity its local preservation ordinance, historic inventory and map(s) showing the areas and sites protected by the ordinance.

The CLG must promote public participation in its local heritage stewardship program.
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The CLG must annually report on the performance of its CLG responsibilities.​
A copy of a resume for each member of the authorized local review board or historic design review commission, and a copy of the board’s bylaws and rules of procedure, as well as all meetings must be available to the public.
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Detailed printed requirements to be and remain a Certified Local Government can be downloaded here.