El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District I & II

El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District is divided into two parts. El Pueblo Viejo Part I. surrounds the Royal Presidio, the Commercial Corridor of State Street, and Cabrillo Boulevard along the Beach. El Pueblo Viejo Part II surrounds the Mission.

Note: See the Resources section for on this page for more EPV Boundary Maps.

The purpose of El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District is to preserve and enhance the unique historic and architectural character of the central core area of the City of Santa Barbara as well as the area around the Mission. All properties in El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District are under the jurisdiction of the Historic Landmarks Commission for alterations or new construction.

There are two categories of buildings within the District:

• Historic Buildings that Contribute to the Significance of the District: The district as whole is unique due to all the individual buildings that collectively contribute to the importance of the District, they are a framework for our vibrant modern City. Contributing resources include adobes, Victorians, Spanish Colonial Revival buildings, and even a few mid-century modern buildings. Contact the Architectural Historian to find out if your building is a contributing historic resource to the District or view the Historic Resources web map.
• Non-Contributing properties in the District: If your building is under 50 years old, it does not yet not qualify as a historic resource. However, if you intend to make any exterior changes or construct a new building they will need to be in the adobe, Spanish Colonial Revival or Mediterranean tradition.

Note: Not all contributing buildings in the EPV District have been identified. If your building is over 50 years old, it is likely a contributor.

The El Pueblo Viejo Design Guidelines feature in depth history of the district, examples of the historic architecture, and tools for designing new architecture in the District. The guidelines are intended to assist the public in the Historic Landmarks Commission's review process by clarifying the design criteria and procedures for El Pueblo Viejo District.