State Historical Building Safety Board

State Historical Building Safety Board Information Manual (PDF)

The State Historical Building Code (SHBC) was created by legislation in 1975 giving authority to the State Historical Building Safety Board to write regulations, and have consultation, review and appellate functions for code and regulation issues relating to qualified historic buildings, structures and properties.

A major feature of the State Historical Building Code is that it is a state law, a statute within the Health and Safety Code and the creation of regulations is separated by Health and Safety Code Section 18944.7 from the California Building Standards code adoption process.

The written regulations, the California Historical Building Code (CHBC), are entitled “code” as well, but are in reality regulation adopted pursuant to Building Standards law. The CHBC is Part 8 of Title 24 of California’s Code of Regulations. Another important feature of the CHBC is that it is not a “stand alone” code. It relies on a “regular adopted code” such as the latest adopted California Building Code to be the standard from which alternatives are derived.

An often-overlooked part of this legislated code is that the nature and extent of its reach and authority can extend into arenas where other statutes affect historic buildings or structures (Health and Safety Code Section 18956). While non-building regulations are not addressed in the CHBC, the SHBC (Health and Safety Code Sections 18958 and 18959.5) gives authority for expansion or limitation of the reach and authority through adoption of regulations by the State Historical Building Safety Board. Other state agencies may adopt rules and regulations governing the rehabilitation, preservation, restoration, related reconstruction, safety, or relocation of qualified historical buildings, structures and properties within their jurisdictions (Health and Safety Code, Section 18954).

To facilitate standardization of application of the code, the State Historical Building Safety Board is given authority for appeals and review functions. The code is for the most part a set of performance criteria based on reference to regular code. The authority for determination of the performance of a particular alternative “as reasonably equivalent” to that of the regular code is the decision of the State Historical Building Safety Board through the consultation, review and appeal process.

State Historical Building Safety Board Meeting – September 3, 2025

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• SHBSB Sept 2025 Board Meeting Packet (PDF)

State Historical Building Safety Board Meeting – February 5, 2025

Notice is hereby given that the California State Historical Building Safety Board heard, discussed, deliberated and/or advised on the agenda as identified in the items below.  

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• SHBSB Conflict of Interest Code (PDF)
• SHBSB Bylaws (PDF)

Meeting Notice – State Historical Building Safety Board - Code Development and Appeals Advisory Committee Meeting (CDAAC) – December 8, 2025

Notice is hereby given that the California State Historical Building Safety Board Code Development and Appeals Advisory Committee (CDAAC) will hear, discuss, deliberate and/or advise on the agenda linked below.

• Meeting Notice and Agenda 

Historical Building Safety Board, Bylaws Advisory Committee (BAC) Meeting – December 1, 2025

Notice is hereby given that the California State Historical Building Safety Board Code Development and Appeals Advisory Committee (CDAAC) heard, discussed, deliberated and/or advised on the agenda as identified in the items below.

• Meeting Packet (PDF)
• 700 J Street Plan (PDF) 

State Historical Building Safety Board Meeting – April 11, 2025

Notice is hereby given that the California State Historical Building Safety Board Code Development and Appeals Advisory Committee (CDAAC) heard, discussed, and advised on the agenda linked below. 

• CDAAC April 2025 Agenda (PDF)
• Committee Appeal Packet 53385 Pioneer Town Road (PDF)
• 53385 Pioneer Town Road Executive Summary (PDF)

Appointed Members

Division of the State Architect

• Member:  Ida A. Clair, FAIA, LEED AP, CASp; State Architect
• Alternate:  Kurt Cooknick, Assoc. AIA; Deputy to the State Architect

Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board

• Member:  Millicent Barajas
• Alternate: Amalia Neidhardt

Office of the State Fire Marshal

• Member:  Crystal Sujeski
• Alternate:  Scott Woody

Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development

• Member:  Mia Marvelli, HFR
• Alternate: Richard Tannahill, Deputy Division Chief

State Historical Resources Commission

• Member:  Alan Hess
• Alternate:  Vacant

Department of Housing and Community Development

• Member: Kyle Krause, CBO, Assistant Deputy Director, Division of Codes and Standards
• Alternate: Mitchel Baker, CSA III, Operations Manager, Division of Codes and Standards

Department of Parks and Recreation

• Member: Vacant
• Alternate: Vacant

Department of Rehabilitation

• Member: Ken Ng
• Alternate: Monica Handley

Department of Transportation

• Member:  Jill Hupp, Built Env. Preservation Services Branch Chief, Caltrans Division of Environmental Analysis
• Alternate: Vacant

American Institute of Architects / California Council

• Member: Steve Winkle
• Alternate: Peter Birkholz

California Chapter, American Planning Association

• Member: Joe Hall, AICP
• Alternate:  Vacant

Seismic Safety Commission

• Member:  Irina Brauzman
• Alternate: Jia Wang-Connelly

California Building Contractors

• Member:  Roy Harthorn, CBO
• Alternate: Vacant

California Building Officials

• Member: Vacant
• Alternate: Vacant

League of California Cities

• Member:  Eric Nelson
• Alternate:   Jeff Wood

California State Association of Counties

• Member: Vacant
• Alternate: Vacant

California Council, American Society of Landscape Architects

• Member: Vacant
• Alternate: Vacant

Structural Engineers Association of California

• Member:  Loring Wyllie, Jr., S.E., Degenkolb Engineers
• Alternate:  David W. Cocke, S.E., Structural Focus

California Preservation Foundation

• Member:  Alan Dreyfuss, AIA, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
• Alternate:  Vacant

American Council of Engineering Companies

• Mechanical Engineer Member:  Don Moeller, P.E., The Fire Consultants
• Mechanical Engineer Alternate:  Vacant
• Electrical Engineer Member:  Vacant
• Electrical Engineer Alternate:  Vacant

Building Owners and Managers Association California

• Member: Glenn Good
• Alternate:  Matthew Hargrove

SHBSB Staff Counsel

• Katelyn Baeta-Orick, Department of General Services, Office of Legal Services
• Chian He, Department of General Services, Office of Legal Services 

SHBSB Executive Director

• Eric Driever, Division of the State Architect
  1102 'Q' Street, Suite 5100, Sacramento, CA 95811-6550
  (916) 443-9829
  eric.driever@dgs.ca.gov

The duties and responsibilities of the State Historical Building Safety Board are described in Health and Safety Code, Division 13, Part 2.7, Sections 18950 to 18961. A summary of the board's functions and responsibilities include (but are not limited) to the following:

• shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the State Historical Building Code (Health and Safety Code, S. 18950-61).
• shall adopt and submit alternative building standards for approval by the Building Standards Commission.
• may adopt, amend, and repeal other alternative rules and regulations under Part 2.7 which the board has recommended for adoption under subdivision (b) of Health and Safety Code, S. 18960.
• shall coordinate and consult with other applicable state agencies affected by this part (Health and Safety Code, Div. 13, Part 2.7) except as provided in Health and Safety Code, S. 18943.
• any change or modification (per Health and Safety Code, S. 18944.7) shall be filed and will not be effective until filed with the State Historical Building Safety Board.
• is established as a unit within the Division of the State Architect.
• shall act as consultant to the State Architect.
• shall act as a review body to state and local agencies with respect to interpretations, administration and enforcement.
• shall accept appeals from any party if the issue is of statewide importance.
• shall report decisions in printed form.
• shall report decisions to the Building Standards Commission.
• may accept requests for interpretation by local agencies.
• shall report interpretations to the Building Standards Commission.
• may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed costs for services.
• shall receive for review, prior to taking any action or making decisions on variances or appeals which affect historical buildings, from all state agencies which enforce and administer approvals, variances, or appeals procedures or decisions affecting the preservation or safety of the historical aspects of historical buildings.
• shall be composed of qualified experts in their respective fields who shall represent various state and local public agencies, professional design societies and building and preservation-oriented organizations. Each of the following shall have one member who shall serve without pay but receive expenses while serving.
  
  • Office of the State Architect.
  • The State Fire Marshal.
  • The State Historical Resources Commission.
  • The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board.
  • California Council, American Institute of Architects.
  • Structural Engineers Association of California.
  • A mechanical engineer, Consulting Engineers Association of California.
  • An electrical engineer, Consulting Engineers Association of California.
  • California Council of Landscape Architects.
  • The Department of Housing and Community Development.
  • The Department of Parks and Recreation.
  • County Supervisors Association of California.
  • League of California Cities.
  • The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.
  • The Department of Rehabilitation.
  • The California Chapter of the American Institute of City Planners.
  • The Department of Transportation.
  • The California Preservation Foundation.
  • The Seismic Safety Commission.
  • The California Building Officials.
  • BOMA California

The 20 members listed above shall select a building contractor as a member of the board.

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2024

The board met in concert with the California Preservation Foundation annual meeting and holds additional meetings as needed.

The minutes of the SHBSB are posted in pdf format for viewing and printing. Current board minutes have not been approved by the board. Committee meeting minutes are not official and may be edited before posting. Past minutes have been approved by the board. Archives include minutes of 2000 and earlier, as made available by staff. Check the table of contents for additions of earlier minutes.

September 4, 2024 - Cancelled

•  SHBSB Meeting Agenda – 09/4/24 (PDF)

June 19, 2024

The SHBSB conducted a public meeting Wednesday, June 19, 2024.The public was invited to attend and provide public comment in person or use the virtual meeting or teleconference options listed below.

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda – 06/19/24 (PDF)

May 15, 2024

Notice is hereby given that the SHBSB, CDAAC heard, discussed and deliberated on the agenda item(s) below. The public was invited to attend and provide public comment in person or use the virtual meeting or teleconference options listed below. Closed captioning is available via Zoom’s automated live transcriptions.  

• CDAAC Meeting Minutes (PDF) 

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda – 05/15/24 (PDF)

April 3, 2024

The SHBSB conducted a public meeting on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. California State Historical Building Safety Board heard, discussed, deliberated and/or took action on the agenda below.

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda – 04/03/24 (PDF)

January 17, 2024

The SHBSB conducted a public meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. California SHBSB heard, discussed, deliberated and/or took action on the agenda below:

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda – 01/17/24 (PDF)
• SHBSB Meeting Minutes – 01/17/24 (PDF)

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2021

November 9, 2021

The SHBSB conducted a public meeting on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. Due to the effects of COVID-19, this meeting will be available via Microsoft Teams only.
The SHBSB heard and took action on proposed rulemaking for the California Historical Building Code. Supporting documents for this meeting are provided below.

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda – 11/09/21 (PDF - 164 KB)
• Rulemaking documents are available on the Building Standards Commission’s 45-Day Public Comment Period webpage.

May 10, 2021 

The SHBSB conducted a public meeting on Monday, May 10, 2021. Due to the effects of COVID-19, this meeting will be available via Zoom Meeting and teleconference only. The SHBSB will review proposed communication to the California Building Standards Commission and hear an appeal concerning The Park Victorian (Bay View Hotel, Palms Hotel), 509 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA  92101. Supporting documents for this meeting are provided below.

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda: 05/10/21 (PDF - 123 KB)
• Memo on Appeal (PDF - 673 KB)
• Draft Letter to CBSC (PDF - 89 KB)

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2020

May 1, 2020

The SHBSB conducted a public meeting on Friday, May 1, 2020. Due to the effects of COVID-19, this meeting will be available via teleconference only. The SHBSB hear a request concerning The Park Victorian (Bay View Hotel, Palms Hotel), 509 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101. Supporting documents for this meeting are provided below.

• SHBSB Meeting Agenda: 05/01/20 (PDF - 65 KB) | (RTF - 1.4 MB)
  

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2019

March 12, 2019

The SHBSB will conduct a public meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at DSA Headquarters Office located at 1102 Q Street, Suite 5100, Sacramento, CA 95811 in Conference Room B. The SHBSB will hear an appeal concerning The Park Victorian (Bay View Hotel, Palms Hotel), 509 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA  92101. Supporting documents for this meeting are provided below.

SHBSB Meeting Agenda: 03/12/19 (PDF - 176 KB) | (RTF - 2.6 MB)

March 15, 2019

The SHBSB conducted a public meeting on Friday, March 15, 2019 at the DSA Headquarters Office located at 1102 Q Street, Suite 5100, Sacramento, CA 95811 in Conference Room B. The SHBSB will hear an appeal concerning Greek Theatre Box Office at UC Berkeley, 2001 Gayley Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720. Supporting documents for this meeting are provided below.

 SHBSB Meeting Agenda: 03/15/19 (PDF - 172 KB) | (RTF - 2.6 MB)

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2007

• June 19, 2007: SHBSB Structural Committee Minutes (PDF - 19 KB)
• April 17, 2007: SHBSB Structural Committee Minutes (PDF - 18 KB)

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2006

December 19, 2006

The SHBSB provided notice of the changes for incorporation into California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 8, which were the subject of written comment periods and a public hearing held on December 7, 2006. These changes are in response to comments received during the initial 45-day public comment period that began on June 2, 2006 and ended on July 21, 2006 and a 15-day comment period from December 19, 2006 to January 2, 2007.

• 12/19/06 SHBSB Notice of Post Hearing Modifications to Text of Proposed Building Standards (PDF - 17 KB)
• 12/19/06 15 Day Comment Period Modifications (PDF - 52 KB)

December 7, 2006

A public meeting of the SHBSB was held on Thursday, December 7, 2006, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Division of the State Architect located at 1102 Q Street, Third Floor Conference Rooms A/B, Sacramento, California, 95811. A meeting notice and agenda of the meeting is available for download.

• 12/07/06 SHBSB Agenda and Meeting Notice (PDF - 32 KB)
• 12/07/06 SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 50 KB)  

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2005

November 29, 2005

The SHBSB considered the adoption of revised language for Chapter 10, and for a new Appendix Chapter for the 2006 California Historical Building Code.

• Chapter 10 (PDF - 16 KB)
• Appendix A (PDF - 40 KB)

October 13, 2005

The SHBSB held a meeting regarding amendments to the California Historical Building Code on Thursday, October 13, 2005. The meeting will be held at the Division of the State Architect, Conference Room B, Suite 5100, 1102 Q Street, Sacramento, California. An agenda and meeting notice is available for download in PDF format.

• 10/13/05 SHBSB Agenda and Meeting Notice (PDF - 33 KB)
• Board Approved Express Terms and Initial Statements of Reasons will be posted when revised (10/17/05).

June 16, 2005

The SHBSB held a regular meeting on Thursday, June 16, 2005. The meeting will be held at the Division of the State Architect, Conference Room B, Suite 5100, 1102 Q Street, Sacramento, California. An agenda and meeting notice and the draft document "Scope Development for Amendments to the California Historical Building Code" are available for download in PDF format.

• 06/16/05 SHBSB Agenda and Meeting Notice (PDF - 32 KB)
• Scope Development for Amendments to the California Historical Building Code - Draft 06-16-05 (PDF - 268 KB)
• June 16, 2005 SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 50 KB)

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2004

April 28, 2004

The SHBSB held a regular meeting Wednesday, April 28, 2004. The meeting will be held at the Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop, the Hawthorn Room, at the Presidio of San Francisco, Golden Gate National Recreational Area, San Francisco, California. An agenda (PDF - 29 KB) and a map (PDF - 66 KB) to the meeting location are available for download in PDF format.

• April 28, 2004 SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 45 KB)

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2003

• November 20, 2003 SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 53 KB)
• February 20, 2003 SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 61 KB)

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2002

• November 21, 2002: SHBSB Strategic Plan Committee Minutes (PDF - 42 KB)
• September 19, 2002: SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 31 KB)
• September 19, 2002: SHBSB Code Update Committee Minutes (PDF - 18 KB)
• May 2, 2002: SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 36 KB)
• March 18, 2002: SHBSB Standing Committees Minutes (PDF - 22 KB)

SHBSB Meeting Dates and Activities for 2001

• December 6, 2001: SHBSB Standing Committees Minutes (PDF - 33 KB)
• September 25, 2001: SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 37 KB)
• May 17, 2001: SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 45 KB)
• February 14, 2001: SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 25 KB)
• February 13, 2001: SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 27 KB)
• February 13, 2001: SHBSB Meeting (Max Factor Building) Minutes (PDF - 48 KB)

Archives of Board Meeting Minutes (2000 and earlier)

• December 2000 SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 24 KB)
• October 1999 SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 30 KB)
• January 1999 SHBSB Minutes (PDF - 26 KB)

The Office of Historic Preservation

Computer lists of the National Register and California Register.

Local Planning Office

The planning department is most usually the best place to find local lists.

Local Heritage or History Commissions

These governmental organizations can create and have a list. Local neighborhood or preservation organizations: these groups may have access to official lists, but can't create official lists.

Local Neighborhood or Preservation Organizations

These groups may have access to official lists, but can't create official lists.

Local, State and Federal Agencies that Promulgate Projects

Many agencies that create, fund and accomplish capital projects are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. One of the processes of the California Environmental Quality Act is to identify and declare eligibility for all historical properties that could be affected by the project. Properties identified in those projects and declared eligible are “qualified.” Those lists are usually not distributed widely. Contact any agency that may have had a project in your vicinity. The environmental divisions of Caltrans, Department of Water Resources, Department of General Services/Real Estate Services Division, local water agencies, and local public works departments are places to query.

Other Options

Petition your local jurisdiction for an individual designation, create a NR nomination and apply to the Office of Historic Preservation, or petition the Office of Historic Preservation for a finding of eligibility.

National Park Service: National Park Service publications are used by the Office of Historic Preservation to determine if proposed treatments are appropriate.

• The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

• Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives

• Preservation By Topic

• Preservation Briefs

• Interpreting the Standards Bulletins

• Preservation Tech Notes

• Publications of the National Register of Historic Places

• Cultural Resources Publications

California Office of Historic Preservation: The Office of Historic Preservation assists property owners by evaluating National Register of Historic Places and Historic Preservation Tax Incentives applications for concurrence.

• Home Page

• Tools

U.S. General Services Administration: The U.S. General Services Administration provides historic preservation technical information and specifications for the treatment and protection of historic materials for federal preservation projects.

• Historic Preservation Technical Procedures