San Diego Approves First Phase of Historic Preservation Reforms

City aims to balance historic protections with housing, equity, and sustainability goals

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:40pm

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The San Diego City Council has approved the first phase of its 'Preservation and Progress' program, a comprehensive update to the city's Heritage Preservation Program. The reforms, known as Package A, are the first major changes to the program in over 25 years. The city says the updates will improve how the program functions, reduce unnecessary delays for projects on non-historic properties, and maintain protections for historically significant buildings and places. However, some Ocean Beach residents fear the changes could lead to greater densification in their community.

Why it matters

San Diego's Heritage Preservation Program plays a crucial role in identifying and protecting the city's historic, cultural, and architectural resources. The Preservation and Progress program aims to modernize the program to better align with the city's housing, equity, sustainability, and resilience goals. The reforms are a balancing act between preserving the past and accommodating the city's future needs.

The details

Package A, the first phase of the Preservation and Progress program, was approved by the City Council in a 5-1 vote on February 24. The changes include amendments to the General Plan and Municipal Code that require review by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and the California Coastal Commission before taking full effect. The city says Package A will not result in new significant environmental impacts, and that the more complex changes proposed in Package B will undergo full CEQA review.

  • The City Council approved Package A on February 24, 2026.
  • Package B, the second phase of the program, is still in development and is anticipated to be considered by the city in early 2027.

The players

San Diego City Council

The legislative body that approved the first phase of the Preservation and Progress program reforms.

Peter Kelly

A San Diego public information officer who provided the city's perspective on the historic preservation program updates.

Ocean Beach residents

Some residents of the Ocean Beach neighborhood who fear the reforms could lead to greater densification and risk to historic resources in their community.

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What they’re saying

“Preservation and Progress is not about increasing density — it's about improving how the Heritage Preservation Program functions. By creating clearer rules, it can reduce unnecessary delays for projects, particularly on properties that are not historically significant, while maintaining protections for those that are.”

— Peter Kelly, San Diego public information officer

What’s next

Package B, the second phase of the Preservation and Progress program, is still in development and is anticipated to be considered by the San Diego City Council in early 2027. The proposed reforms in Package B will go through reviews by the Historical Resources Board, Planning Commission, and Land Use and Housing Committee before advancing to the City Council for approval.

The takeaway

San Diego's historic preservation program reforms aim to balance the protection of the city's historic resources with the need for housing, equity, sustainability, and resilience. While some residents fear the changes could lead to increased densification, the city maintains that the goal is to improve the program's functionality and reduce unnecessary delays, not to enable widespread redevelopment of historic properties.