Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.gov/pba
Item # 23
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
September 15, 2026
TOPIC: Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-01 to Amend Portions of Chapter 30 (Places of Historical and Architectural Significance) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Relating to Modification of Historic Properties, Demolition by Neglect, Historic Property Transfer Disclosure, and Other Amendments of an Administrative Nature – Second Reading
AGENDA TITLE
Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-3098 Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-01 to Amend Chapter 30 (Places of Historical and Architectural Significance) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Relating to Modification of Historic Properties, Demolition by Neglect, Historic Property Transfer Disclosure, and Other Administrative Amendments First reading at the August 4, 2026 City Council Meeting and approved by a vote of 6-0.
Published in the OC Reporter on August 21, 2026.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
1. Conduct a second reading of and adopt an ordinance approving Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-01 to amend portions of Chapter 30 (Places of Historical and Architectural Significance) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code relating to Modification of Historic Properties, Demolition by Neglect, Historic Property Transfer Disclosure, and other amendments of an administrative nature; and ORDINANCE NO. NS-3098 entitled ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 2026-01 AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA
AMENDING PORTIONS OF CHAPTER 30 (PLACES OF HISTORICAL AND
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE) OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO THE MODIFICATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES,
DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, HISTORIC PROPERTY TRANSFER
DISCLOSURE, AND OTHER ITEMS OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE NATURE, AND
FINDING THE ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15060(c)(2), SECTION 15060(c)(3), AND SECTION15061(b)(3), read by title only and waive further reading
2. Determine that, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the recommended action is exempt from further review
Ordinance Amendment 2026-01: Chapter 30 - Places of Historical and Architectural Significance Ordinance (Citywide) – Second Reading
September 15, 2026
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under state CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2), Section 15060(c)(3), and Section15061(b)(3).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
On August 4, 2026, the City Council conducted a first reading of Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-01 to amend portions of Chapter 30 (Places of Historical and Architectural Significance) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) relating to modification of historic properties, demolition by neglect, historic property transfer disclosure, and other amendments of an administrative nature. Following staff’s presentation, public testimony, and City Council discussion, the City Council introduced the ordinance for first reading by a 6:0 vote (Councilmember Lopez absent). The ordinance requires a second reading and adoption to become effective October 15, 2026.
During discussion of the proposed ordinance, the City Council directed staff to revise Section 30-10(f) to clarify that decisions of the Planning Commission on appeal from decisions of the Executive Director shall be subject to the appeal procedures set forth in Section 30-9 of Chapter 30, thereby allowing such decisions to be appealed to the City Council.
This change was deemed to be included in the first reading and has been incorporated into the ordinance attached as Exhibit 1. No other substantive changes have been made to the ordinance following first reading.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines, adoption of the proposed ordinance is exempt from environmental review under Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption), as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the action may have a significant effect on the environment.
The ordinance establishes administrative and regulatory requirements related to the modification, maintenance, and transfer of historic properties and does not authorize physical construction or development.
Additionally, the action is not a project pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Based on this analysis, a Notice of Exemption, Environmental Review No. 2026-19, will be filed for this Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the proposed ordinance. The amendments are administrative and regulatory in nature and do not authorize physical improvements, require additional appropriations, or amend Division 1 (Historic Property Preservation Agreements) of Chapter 30, which governs the City’s Mills Act Program. Accordingly, Ordinance Amendment 2026-01: Chapter 30 - Places of Historical and Architectural Significance Ordinance (Citywide) – Second Reading
September 15, 2026
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adoption of the ordinance will not affect property tax revenues or result in a fiscal impact to the City.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-01 – Redline (Second Reading)
2. Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-01 – Clean (Second Reading) Submitted By: Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP, Executive Director of the Planning and Building Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager