Understanding the Inventory of Historic & Cultural Landmarks (IHCL)

San Juan Capistrano's list of officially designated historic sites is titled the Inventory of Historic and Cultural Landmarks (IHCL) (PDF). The Mission and downtown buildings, the Los Rios Street Historic District east of the train depot, homes in the early 20th century Mission Hill-Mission Flats neighborhood east of the library, several 18th/19th-century adobe buildings, 19th/20th-century ranch and farmhouses and several other historic buildings and sites are on the IHCL. San Juan also has 13 sites or districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

We offer a brochure that explains how to designate a property on the IHCL, including the submittal requirements and the decision-making process: Your Guide to Understanding the Inventory of Historic and Cultural Landmarks (IHCL) (PDF).

Following you can find City Council Policies regarding Historic Preservation, which supplement the City's Municipal Code Section 9-2.327 and The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines requirements. The policies address a broad range of preservation issues including archaeological monitoring for development projects, reports for potentially historic sites, modifications to designated historic sites, and historic depiction programs that are required for new non-residential projects:

• City Council Policy Number 601 (PDF), Historic, Archaeological and Paleontological Resource Management
• City Council Policy Number 602 (PDF), Alteration, Modification or Demolition of Significant Structures
• City Council Policy Number 603 (PDF), Historic Preservation Fee Waiver
• (Policies Numbers 604 and 605 rescinded)
• City Council Policy Number 606 (PDF), Historic Depiction Program