Heritage Commission
The Heritage Commission is responsible for administering Burbank's historic preservation ordinance. Additional information about the commission is available here.
Historic Preservation Plan
The City Council adopted the City of Burbank Historic Preservation Plan in 1999. The plan created guidelines and policies for historic preservation in the City of Burbank.
One of the recommendations of the plan is that the City prepare a historic context to document the history of Burbank's built environment and identify periods of significance over the course of Burbank's history. The City Council approved funding for a historic context report to be prepared as part of the 2008-09 budget. Galvin Preservation Associates completed the final historic context report in 2009.
Historic Preservation Ordinance
The City Council adopted the City's historic preservation ordinance in 1994. The ordinance provides processes and procedures for identifying local historic resources and identifies the role and responsibility of the Heritage Commission in the preservation process.
National and State Preservation Programs
The federal historic preservation program is the National Register of Historic Places, which recognizes buildings and places of local, state, and national significance. There are specific criteria that a property must meet in order to be listed on the National Register (e.g. the property's association with events in history and significant persons, distinctive characteristics, architectural style, physical integrity, etc.).
The City of Burbank is fortunate to have three properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Avenue
U.S. Post Office, 125 E. Olive Avenue
Portal of Folded Wings, Valhalla Memorial Park
(This landmark is listed in the National Register as being in North Hollywood because Valhalla Memorial Park has a North Hollywood street address. However, the landmark itself is located in the City of Burbank.)
In addition to the National Register, the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) has developed three historic registration programs: California Historical Landmarks, California Points of Historic Interest, and the California Register of Historical Resources. Each registration program has a different set of criteria and designation procedure. Burbank is fortunate to have a property listed as a California Point of Historic Interest:
Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant, 4211 Riverside Drive
If you would like additional information on any of the state or national programs, please visit the California Office of Historic Preservation.
Local Preservation Programs
In addition to the national and state registration programs, the City of Burbank has a local register of historic places that recognizes "historic structures of merit." Property owners may apply to have their property designated based on its architecture, function, or association with a historically significant person or event. Burbank has one property listed listed as a historic structure of merit:
Lane (River Rock) House, 902 East Olive Avenue
Once designated as a historic structure of merit, the Heritage Commission must review all future alterations to the building to ensure that they do not adversely affect the historic value of the building.