NOTE: The guidance provided on this page is for general informational purposes. Ultimately, all work on the individual parcel/site is subject to staff review and requires a permit. Any work on the site is subject to historical review by staff. If you have questions or need assistance with your project, you can book an appointment with Heritage Preservation Staff through the first contact assistance bookings link (select the option for Historical Resources) or by emailing: historicalresources@sandiego.gov

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Changes to the exterior of a contributor to the historic district need to comply with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (Standards). The key guidance is that you should maintain and repair when feasible rather than tear out and replace with new materials.

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While non-contributors are not required to comply with the Standards, projects that affect the exterior of the building still require review by Historic Resources staff. The Planning Department has published a Historic District Fact Sheet that summarizes (see pages 3-5) the difference between contributors and non-contributors and the regulations that apply to projects in historic districts.

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The Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) publishes an Old House Resource Directory that website lists contractors who are skilled in maintaining historic homes. The SOHO website also has an application form for businesses interested in being listed in the directory.

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Some typical home projects that fall under The Standards and require staff feedback are listed below.

 

An important general rule is that vinyl and other plastic-based products (windows, fences, doors, rain gutters etc.) are not permitted. This is not just good for historic preservation, but good for the environment as well.

 

Windows – With proper maintenance wood windows provide beauty and longevity that are unmatched by vinyl windows. Here are 10 reasons to repair rather replace your wood windows. See our Window Maintenance Page for more information and ideas for how to make the most of your wood windows. Keeping windows in their original openings is critical for maintaining the historic integrity of the house. 

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Solar Panels – Historic designation does not prevent the installation of solar panels. While installing panels on the front of the house may be the most convenient for the installer, historic preservation guidelines encourage installing panels on the rear or sides of the roof. For more information on solar, see the Secretary of the Interior's Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, P. 14-15, or visit the National Park Service's solar guidelines page.

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Roofing – Keep the same type roof or modern facsimile. For tile roofs, your contractor should be able to reuse existing tiles and feather in new ones. Shake roofs can be replaced by asphalt shingles.

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Gutters – Homes in Talmadge were not typically built with rain gutters. Minimal Traditional homes in particular were built to show off their decorative rafter tails, which were an economical way of adding architectural interest to small houses. Accordingly, before you install rain gutters, consider other forms of mitigation, such as adding a drip edge instead of a gutter and making sure that rainwater drains away from the foundation of your house. If you still decide to install rain gutters, see the guidelines below.

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The most historically appropriate gutters for Spanish Colonial Revival are half-round (especially copper) gutters.

 

For Minimal Traditional homes, K-style gutters were invented in the mid-1940s and soon after became the predominate style gutter in America. If you do install these gutters, there are a couple of guidelines to follow:

• Do not cut the rafter tails! Rafter tails are a key architectural feature of your home that is worth preserving. Cutting rafter tails may effect your ability to get a Mills Act contract when that option becomes available to Talmadge Park Estates residents. 

• Select gutters with the lowest profile.

• Paint the gutters to blend in with the rafter tails, fascia and other trim.

• Use aluminum or other durable, paintable, and historically consistent material. 

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Cladding – As with most recommendations, repair rather than replace stucco and siding if possible. Regardless, the type of cladding should be kept consistent (i.e., replacing siding with siding and stucco with stucco). Note that older hand-troweled stucco styles tend to be smoother than modern stucco treatments. Refer to the SOHO guide to find a contractor who can reproduce the historic style.

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Garage Doors – Repair and paint the garage door, if possible, before replacing. A replacement door should be period appropriate, preferably with wood cladding or wood lookalike, with no windows. While garage conversions to ADUs are permitted in historic districts, you may need to retain some of the original framing or other characteristics of the garage door. 

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Front Doors – Retain the original door if possible. If the door has to be replaced, it should be replaced in the original opening with a period-appropriate material and style. Replacement doors shouldn't introduce windows, sidelights, or other elements that weren't present in the original door.

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Porches and Entryways – The entrance to your home is an important historical feature of the home. Different variations of Minimal Traditional homes, such as Cape Cod and Streamline Moderne, had distinctive styles of entrances that are important to preserve. 

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Painting – Re-painting your house does not require a permit, except in the case of painting originally unpainted surfaces, such as unpainted masonry. As you can see walking around the neighborhood, historic paint schemes tend towards neutral or pastel colors. The City of Anaheim’s Architectural Style Guides provides excellent examples of paint schemes for Minimal Traditional, Spanish Colonial Revival and other architectural styles. 

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Fences – It is important that historic properties be visible from the public right-of-way. This limits the height and other characteristics of fences.

 

Hardscaping – In general less is more. Hardscaping covers anything that is cemented in place, so we encourage non-permanent designs. If possible, keep original stairs, sidewalks, and driveways. Avoid decoration that was not originally present in the house.

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​Landscaping – There are no restrictions on landscaping that does not include hardscaping.

 

ADUs – By state law, every property owner can install an ADU, even in a historic district. However, unlike citywide regulations, an ADU in a historic district will require a design review to ensure that the project is consistent with The Standards.

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SB 9 – Regardless of the ultimate outcome of a recent court decision invalidating SB 9, Lot splits under SB 9 are not permitted in historic districts.

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As noted above, all properties in a historic district are subject to certain review and permitting requirements. See our Maintaining Your Historic Home page for more information on these guidelines.