CHAPTER 2. Powers and Procedures [37620. - 37631.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 2.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37620. Section 37620.

The local agency may issue bonds and bond anticipation notes of the local agency for the purpose of financing historical rehabilitation authorized by this part and for the purpose of funding or refunding such bonds or notes.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37621. Section 37621.

The local agency may fix fees, charges, and interest rates for financing historical rehabilitation and may from time to time revise such fees, charges, and interest rates to reflect changes in interest rates on the local agency’s bonds, losses due to defaults, changes in loan servicing charges, or other expenses related to administration of the historical rehabilitation financing program. Any change in the interest rate shall conform to the provisions of Section 1916.5 of the Civil Code, except that paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 1916.5 shall not apply and that the “prescribed standard” specified in Section 1916.5 shall be periodically determined by the legislative body after hearing preceded by public notice to affected parties, and shall reflect changes in interest rates on the local agency’s bonds, losses due to defaults, and bona fide changes in loan servicing charges related to the administration of a program under the provisions of this part. The local agency may collect interest and principal together with such fees and charges incurred in such financing and may contract to pay any person, partnership, association, corporation, or public agency with respect thereto. The local agency may hold deeds of trust as security for financing historical rehabilitation and may pledge the same as security for repayment of bonds issued pursuant to this part. The local agency may establish the terms and conditions for the financing of historical rehabilitation undertaken pursuant to this part. The local agency may require that the full amount owed on any loan for historical rehabilitation made pursuant to this part shall be due and payable upon sale or other transfer of ownership of the property subject to such rehabilitation.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37622. Section 37622.

The local agency may employ or contract for any engineering, architectural, accounting, collection, economic feasibility, or other services in connection with the servicing of loans made to participating parties, which may be necessary or useful in the judgment of the local agency for the successful financing of the historical rehabilitation. The local agency may pay the reasonable costs of consulting engineers, architects, accountants, construction experts, and economic feasibility experts, if, in the judgment of the local agency, the services are necessary or useful to the successful financing of any historical rehabilitation. The local agency may employ, contract for, and fix the compensation of financing consultants, bond counsel, and other advisers as may be necessary or useful in its judgment to provide for the issuance and sale of any bonds or bond anticipation notes of the local agency.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37623. Section 37623.

In addition to all other powers specifically granted by this part, the local agency may do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this part.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37624. Section 37624.

Revenues shall be the sole source of funds pledged by the local agency for repayment of its bonds. Bonds issued under the provisions of this part shall not be deemed to constitute a debt or liability of the local agency or a pledge of the faith and credit of the local agency but shall be payable solely from revenues. The issuance of bonds shall not directly, indirectly, or contingently obligate the legislative body to levy or pledge any form of taxation or to make any appropriation for their payment.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37625. Section 37625.

All historical rehabilitation shall be constructed or completed subject to the rules and regulations of the local agency. A local agency may acquire by deed, purchase, lease, contract, gift, devise, or otherwise any real or personal property, structures, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and other interests in lands necessary or convenient for the financing of historical rehabilitation, upon such terms and conditions as it deems advisable, and may lease, sell, or dispose of the same in such manner as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the objectives and purposes of this part.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37626. Section 37626.

Prior to the issuance of any bonds or bond anticipation notes of the local agency for historical rehabilitation, the legislative body shall by ordinance or resolution adopt a historical rehabilitation financing program. The program shall include, but is not limited to, the following items: (a) Criteria for the selection of historical properties eligible for financing. The criteria may include, but are not limited to, the following items of architectural significance: (1) Structures or areas that embody distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style, period, method of construction, or architectural development in a city or county. (2) Notable works of a master builder, designer, or architect whose style influenced the city’s or county’s architectural development, or structures showing the evolution of an architect’s style. (3) Rare structures displaying a building type, design, or indigenous building form. (4) Structures which embody special architectural and design features. (5) Outstanding examples of structures displaying original architectural integrity, structurally or stylistically, or both. (6) Unique structures or places that act as focal or pivotal points important as a key to the character or visual quality of an area. (b) The criteria may include the following items of historical significance: (1) Sites and structures connected with events significant in the economic, cultural, political, social, civic, ethnic, or military history of a community, state, or nation. (2) Structures or areas identified with the lives of historical personages of a community, state, or nation. (3) Sites and groups of structures representing historical development patterns, including, but not limited to, urbanization patterns, railroads, agricultural settlements, and canals. (c) Criteria for the selection of historical rehabilitation areas may include, but are not limited to: (1) Areas constituting a distinct section of the city and having special character, historical, architectural, or aesthetic interest and value. (2) Areas providing significant examples of architectural styles of the past, or landmarks in the history of architecture. (3) Areas serving as a reminder of past eras, events, and persons important in local, state, or national history, and illustrating past living styles for future generations to observe, study, and inhabit. (4) Historical and culturally significant grounds, gardens, and objects. (d) Following the adoption of the criteria previously provided for in this section, the designation of one or more historical rehabilitation areas, including a description of the area, a map and other related information. (e) Outstanding loans on the property to be rehabilitated, including the amount of the loans for rehabilitation, shall not exceed 90 percent of the anticipated value of the property after rehabilitation. (f) The maximum repayment period for historical rehabilitation loans shall be 40 years or four-fifths of the economic life of the property, whichever is less. (g) No less than 90 percent of any loan for historical rehabilitation and shall be used for financing of historical rehabilitation, as defined in this part. (h) All historical rehabilitation financed pursuant to this chapter shall be done in compliance with the appropriate rehabilitation standards, as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 37602. (i) The participating party shall commence the historical rehabilitation of a historical property within five years and shall complete the historical rehabilitation of the historical property within 10 years of the date on which the participating party obtained financing pursuant to this part.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37627. Section 37627.

The historical rehabilitation financing program may include: (1) A requirement that rehabilitation financed by the program shall meet standards higher than the applicable state or local standards for rehabilitation of properties, including, but not limited to, design guidelines, standards of aesthetics, use of materials, integrity of design, or historical authenticity. (2) A provision for limitation of the degree or kind of historical rehabilitation eligible for financing, including, but not limited to, rehabilitation of parapets or dangerous parts of facades of historic properties. (3) A requirement that the local agency receive a legally binding assurance that the property rehabilitated with financing from this program shall be preserved, subject to reasonable conditions. The form and conditions of such assurance shall be specified in a historical rehabilitation financing program. (4) A capital outlay program for the historical rehabilitation area which identifies the public improvements needed to support private rehabilitation efforts. Such improvements may include street improvements, street closures, street fixtures, and landscaping. (5) If the program is likely to result in anticipated increases in rents or other housing costs which would cause displacement of residents of historic properties, or is likely to result in residents paying a disproportionately large percentage of their incomes for housing, a commitment that the local agency shall make efforts to prevent displacement of residents. Such efforts shall include, but are not limited to, utilization of federal, state, or local funding programs which may be available for rent subsidies. (6) A provision for control of rents if controls are included in order to prevent precipitous increases in rent which the rehabilitation would engender. Such provision may include a requirement that the borrower agree during the term of the loan not to raise the rental amount over an amount which the local agency establishes as a fair rate of return for similar investments and will allow for increases that are reasonably necessary to provide for proper maintenance of the property.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37628. Section 37628.

Prior to the adoption of an historical rehabilitation financing program and the designation of an historical rehabilitation area, the local agency shall provide for citizen participation by persons who will be affected by historical rehabilitation financed under the provisions of this part with opportunities to be involved in planning and carrying out the historical rehabilitation program. “Citizen participation” shall include, but is not limited to: (a) Holding a public meeting to inform the public of the proposed historical rehabilitation financing program. (b) Holding a public hearing prior to the adoption of the historical rehabilitation financing program and the designation of an historical rehabilitation area. (c) Public notice by the local agency, at least seven days in advance of a public meeting or hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area, of the time and place of a meeting or hearing and a general description of the program. (d) Dissemination by the local agency, at least seven days in advance of a public meeting or hearing, by mailing to those individuals or groups which have requested notification, of information relating to the time and place of a meeting or hearing and a general description of the program. (e) Establishment of a citizen advisory board for the purpose of providing recommendations to the legislative body on the contents of the historical rehabilitation financing program. Members of the citizens advisory board shall be appointed by the legislative body and shall include one or more representatives of owners of properties affected by the program, one or more representatives of residents or occupants (if any) of properties to be affected by the program, one or more representatives of the local community groups (if any) known by the legislative body to be concerned with historical rehabilitation, and others as the legislative body may deem appropriate. An existing local official historic preservation board or commission may be appointed as the citizens advisory board, provided that, in addition, representatives as required by this section are also appointed.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37629. Section 37629.

No financing shall be provided under this part until criteria required by Section 37626 have been adopted. Properties eligible for financing shall be located within a designated historical rehabilitation area. Prior to granting financial assistance, the local agency shall find that the funds loaned shall be used for the purpose of historical rehabilitation.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37630. Section 37630.

(a) The local agency shall require that any property that is rehabilitated with financing obtained under this part shall be open, upon sale or rental of any portion thereof, to all regardless of any basis listed in subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 12955 of the Government Code, as those bases are defined in Sections 12926, 12926.1, subdivision (m) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 12955, and Section 12955.2 of the Government Code. The local agency shall also require that contractors and subcontractors engaged in historical rehabilitation financed under this part provide equal opportunity for employment, without discrimination as to any basis listed in subdivision (a) of Section 12940 of the Government Code, as those bases are defined in Sections 12926 and 12926.1 of the Government Code, and except as otherwise provided in Section 12940 of the Government Code. All contracts and subcontracts for historical rehabilitation financed under this part shall be let without discrimination as to any basis listed in subdivision (a) of Section 12940 of the Government Code, as those bases are defined in Sections 12926 and 12926.1 of the Government Code, and except as otherwise provided in Section 12940 of the Government Code. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), with respect to familial status, subdivision (a) shall not be construed to apply to housing for older persons, as defined in Section 12955.9 of the Government Code. With respect to familial status, nothing in subdivision (a) shall be construed to affect Sections 51.2, 51.3, 51.4, 51.10, 51.11, and 799.5 of the Civil Code, relating to housing for senior citizens. Subdivision (d) of Section 51, Section 4760, and Section 6714 of the Civil Code, and subdivisions (n), (o), and (p) of Section 12955 of the Government Code shall apply to subdivision (a).

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 37631. Section 37631.

Any action challenging the legality of an historical rehabilitation financing program, or of the selection of historical properties for rehabilitation pursuant to this part, shall be commenced within 60 days of the adoption of such program or within 60 days of such selection.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026