Pasadena Historic District Driveway and Hardscape Rules

On a designated or eligible historic property in Pasadena, most exterior alterations outside the Central District need a Certificate of Appropriateness under Municipal Code section 17.62.090(B)(1), and a new driveway, front walk or visible patio is an exterior alteration. This guide explains how that review touches concrete work, using Bungalow Heaven as the example.

PMC 17.62.090(B)(1)

Certificate of Appropriateness

Bungalow Heaven since 1989

Ask Planning first

Last reviewed October 2026.

Historic district rules that reach a driveway

Pasadena protects historic buildings and whole neighborhoods, and its rules reach past the house to what surrounds it. Pasadena Municipal Code section 17.62.090(B)(1) requires a Certificate of Appropriateness for most exterior alterations to a designated or eligible historic resource outside the Central District. Depending on the project, the Director of Planning or the Historic Preservation Commission reviews it.

Concrete work changes the face of a property more than people expect. A widened driveway, a new front walk in a different place, or stamped concrete replacing a plain walk all change what someone sees from the street, which is exactly what the review is for.

Craftsman bungalows, lawns, parkway strips and concrete driveways on Michigan Avenue in Bungalow Heaven, Pasadena — Michigan Avenue in Bungalow Heaven, Pasadena: bungalows, parkway trees and narrow concrete drives.

Bungalow Heaven: the example most owners mean

Bungalow Heaven became a City landmark district in 1989 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Its more than 800 Craftsman homes were mostly built between 1900 and 1930, on lots with narrow drives running back to detached garages, front walks to deep porches, and parkways planted with street trees. A Bungalow Heaven owner replacing a cracked driveway or adding a stamped walkway should expect a design review step that an owner outside a district never sees.

Common concrete projects on a Pasadena historic property

Project	Visible from the street?	What to expect
Replace a driveway in the same place and width	Yes	Ask Planning; in-kind work is usually simplest
Widen a driveway or add a curb cut	Yes	Historic review plus a Public Works permit
New or relocated front walk	Yes	Historic review likely
Stamped or colored concrete at the front	Yes	Pattern and color may be part of the review
Backyard patio or pool deck	Often not	Ask Planning; the rule covers exterior alterations

Swipe the table sideways to see every column →

This table summarizes what to expect, not a City determination. The City of Pasadena decides which work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.

Designing concrete for a historic Pasadena home

The review asks whether a change fits the property's historic character. For concrete, that usually comes down to a few choices you control:

Location and width: keep the original driveway and walk alignment where you can
Finish: a broom finish or exposed aggregate in a muted color reads as period-appropriate on many Craftsman homes
Pattern and color: stamped work at the front of the house is the most likely to draw questions
Edges and borders: brick or a simple border can echo original materials on the house
Trees: protect parkway and front-yard trees that are part of the streetscape

Spanish Revival bungalow with a clay tile roof, a front lawn and concrete walks — A Spanish Revival bungalow with a concrete front walk and driveway.

Spanish Revival and other styles

Not every historic Pasadena house is a Craftsman. Spanish Revival homes with clay tile roofs and arched entries often pair with terracotta-colored concrete or tile patterns, and the stamped concrete page covers those patterns. Bring photos and samples of what you want to Planning early.

How to start

Ask Pasadena Planning whether your property is designated, in a landmark district, or considered eligible.
Describe the concrete work with a simple site plan and photos of the current condition.
Ask whether it needs a Certificate of Appropriateness and at what level: staff or the Historic Preservation Commission.
If the work reaches the street, start the Public Works permit conversation at the same time; see the driveway permit guide.
Build the review time into the schedule before booking the pour.

Pasadena Historic District Hardscape Questions

Gray stamped concrete pool deck in a large stone-block pattern beside a backyard pool

Stamped concrete around a pool, pressed in a large stone-block pattern.

What is a Certificate of Appropriateness in Pasadena?

A City approval for exterior changes to a designated or eligible historic resource. Under Pasadena Municipal Code section 17.62.090(B)(1), most exterior alterations to such properties outside the Central District need one, reviewed by the Director of Planning or the Historic Preservation Commission.

Does a new driveway need a Certificate of Appropriateness?

On a designated or eligible historic property, a new or widened front driveway is a visible exterior change, so expect it to need review. Ask Pasadena Planning for your address before designing; the City decides which changes need a certificate and at which level of review.

Is Bungalow Heaven a historic district?

Yes. Bungalow Heaven became a City of Pasadena landmark district in 1989 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. It has more than 800 Craftsman homes, most built between 1900 and 1930.

Does replacing a driveway in kind need review?

That depends on the property's status and how the City classifies the work, so ask Planning. Keeping the same location, width and a compatible finish generally makes any review simpler than a new layout.

Does a backyard patio need historic review?

Work that isn't visible from the street is often treated differently from front-yard work, but the rule covers exterior alterations generally. Ask Planning about your specific property and plan.