Historic Districts
Palo Alto Historic Districts
A historic district is a geographically definable area possessing a significant concentration or continuity of buildings unified by past events, or aesthetically by plan or physical development. The collective value of a historic district taken together may be greater than the value of each individual building. The districts themselves, as well as the buildings, objects, sites and other physical elements that contribute to the character of the districts, are considered to be historic resources.
Palo Alto contains four historic districts that are listed in the National Register. Two of these, the Professorville District and the Ramona Street Architectural District are also listed in the Palo Alto Historic Inventory, including a locally designated extension to the Professorville district that is not federally listed.
For information on development application review procedures involving properties located within historic districts, see our Project Review page.