Cultural Heritage Board
Protecting Ventura County's Historical, Cultural, and Natural Resources
The Cultural Heritage Board works to preserve and protect historic, cultural, and natural resources and to foster an awareness and appreciation of Ventura County’s rich history and variety of cultural resources among both residents and visitors. Below, please find information, application forms, helpful resources, and more.
Guest Speaker Lecture Series
Cultural Heritage Board guest speaker sessions highlight local scholars and voices related to the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, planning, archaeology, or other historic preservation-related disciplines, such as urban planning, American studies, American civilization, cultural geography, or cultural anthropology. These sessions are consistent with the Cultural Heritage Program goal of helping to foster an awareness and appreciation of Ventura County’s rich history and variety of cultural resources among both residents and visitors.
In particular, these sessions aim to highlight traditionally underrepresented voices and stories and their contribution to our county’s history. Meetings are open to the public and create space for questions and dialogue to foster understanding within the community. To be added to an email notification list regarding future speaker events, please contact Dillan Murray, staff, at Dillan.Murray@ventura.org.
- Oxnard’s Japanese Cemetery: Legacy & History with Dr. Welty Tamai, August 14, 2023
- Lecture by William Maple on the History of the Timber School, Newbury Park, CA, November 13, 2023
- Rancho Guadalasca: Last Ranch of California’s Central Coast, Dr. Colleen Delaney, December 11, 2023
- History of Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities in Ventura County, Dr. Welty Tamai, May 16, 2024
- History of farmworker labor camps and farmworker movements in Ventura County, Dr. José M. Alamillo, September 23, 2024
- The Life & Legacy of César Chávez: Labor & Civil Rights in Ventura County, Dr. Frank P. Barajas, December 9, 2024
- The next speaker session will be held in spring 2025. Check back here for more information!
Historic Preservation Awards
In recognition of the month of May as Historic Preservation Month, the Planning Division, in conjunction with the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board, is proud to host an annual Preservation Awards Program. The program provides the public with an opportunity to learn about the quality historic preservation and programming work taking place within the community. The intent of the awards is:
- To recognize that cultural and historic resources are an important component of a quality environment and worthy of preservation for present and future generations;
- To help foster an awareness and appreciation of Ventura County’s rich history and variety of cultural resources among both residents and visitors; and,
- To acknowledge that historic resources could not be protected without the dedicated efforts of individuals, advocates, property owners, community organizations, and volunteers who are responsible for their preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction.
Congratulations to the following 2024 Preservation Awardees: Dudley and Anne Crawford DeZonia, Oxnard Historic Farm Park, John and Mary Cuthbert, San Buenaventura Conservancy and Pleasant Valley Historical Society, William Maple, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Stagecoach Inn Museum, and Strathearn Historical Park and Museum. For full details on this year’s Preservation Awardees and select photos, please access the following link: 2024 Historic Preservation Award Recipients. The awards were formally presented at the Cultural Heritage Board’s hearing on May 28, 2024.
An interactive map of Ventura County Landmarks & Points of Interest can be accessed at the above link. Ventura County Cultural Heritage Ordinance No. 4604 provides for the designation of the following Cultural Heritage Sites: Ventura County Landmarks, Sites of Merit, Points of Interest, and Districts. The criteria for designation of Cultural Heritage Sites is described in Section 1367 of the Ventura County Ordinance Code.
Who Are We?
The Cultural Heritage Board is comprised of seven members who work to ensure that our historic resources are preserved. For more information, click this link to download our Cultural Heritage Board brochure (y en español).
- Cultural Heritage Board Member Information
- Map of Cultural Heritage Board Members by Supervisorial District
- County Staff Contact Information
- Cultural Heritage Board Overview
When Do We Meet?
The Cultural Heritage Board meets on a bi-monthly basis and encourages the public to attend.
Ventura County was selected by the California State Library as California History Section’s County of the Month for March 2018 and featured Ventura County in the accompanying documentation. This recognition honors the diverse character of California’s many counties while providing research tips to individuals interested in finding out more about Ventura County’s history.
The California State Library’s California History Section holds a premier collection of documents from and about California’s rich history including thousands of rare books, documents, maps, newspapers, photographs, letters, paintings, and more which can be found at the following website:http://www.library.ca.gov/california-history/
Incentives & Applications
Incentives encourage preservation by offering fiscal returns in exchange for preservation efforts. The County also ensures preservation through the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness or Certificate of Review where required for designated and potentially eligible cultural heritage sites.
Mills Act Program
Certificate of Appropriateness/Review (COA/COR)
Fees
The fees listed for Cultural Heritage Board services on the Ventura County Planning Division Fee Schedule are for properties located in the unincorporated areas only. For projects within city limits, the County has agreements in place to cover County staff time to process these applications. Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate City for information on specific fees and billing.
Learn About Local Historic Resources
- Finding Hidden Gems
- Ventura County Landmark & Point of Interest Inventory
- California Historical Resources – Ventura County
- Ventura County Historical Landmarks and Points of Interest
- Historical Marker Database
- Ventura County Assessor Property Search
- Heritage Square, Oxnard
- Heritage Valley, Santa Clara Valley
- Olivas Adobe, Ventura
- History of Local Oil Development
Preservation Plans
Preservation Plans are documents that guide the preservation of historic resources by establishing goals and recommending implementation measures.
Ordinances
Cities adopt Ordinances to help provide legal guidelines for making decisions regarding the future of our historic resources.
Surveys
Historic Resource Surveys are used to inventory the historic resources within the County.
- Sites of Merit and Cultural Heritage Survey Area Map
- Ventura County Cultural Heritage Survey Area Map
- Oxnard Historic Survey Area
- Oxnard Downtown Survey (2005)
- Santa Clara Valley Heritage Survey (Phase VI, August 1999)
- Western Santa Clara Valley Historic Resources Survey (Phase V, July 1996)
- Santa Clara Valley Historic Resources Survey (Phase IV, 1987-1988)
- Oxnard – Santa Paula Historic Resources Survey (Phase I Part I, July 1981)
- Oxnard – Santa Paula Historic Resources Survey (Phase I Part II)
- Saticoy Historic Property Survey (1985)
- Fillmore Historic Resources Survey (Phase II, July 1983)
- Ojai Historic Resources Survey (Phase III, July 1985)
- The Saticoy Historic Resources Survey and Context Statement
- Eastern Oxnard Plain Historic Context & Reconnaissance Survey (December 2014)
Photographs
Photographs are one method of documenting a landmark’s past, as well as showing a landmark’s current condition.
Technical Information
- The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
- Interpretation and Application of Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
- State Historical Building Code (SHBC)
- National Park Service Preservation Briefs
- National Park Service Technical Preservation Services Publications
- National Park Service Interpreting the Standards Bulletins
- National Park Service Rehab Yes/No Learning Program
- Architectural Features and Styles
- Repairing and Restoring Wood Windows
- Historic Resource Report Format for CEQA Projects
- Resolution 2017-2.1 Administrative Authority to Approve Certain Minor Projects (Unincorporated Ventura County)
- Resolution 2022-19 Administrative Authority to Approve Certain Minor Projects (Contract Cities)
- Resolution 2017-3 List of Local Master Architects and Builders
- Resolution 2022-18 Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board Bylaws
Museums
Preservation Organizations
City Specific Resources
Fillmore
Oxnard
- National Register of Historic Places registration form, Henry T. Oxnard Historic District
- Mills Act Application
- City Council Resolution No. 10,135
- Oxnard Historic Survey Area
- Downtown Survey (2005)
- Oxnard-Santa Paula Historic Resources Survey (Phase I Part I, July 1981)
- Oxnard-Santa Paula Historic Resources Survey (Phase I Part II)
- Henry T. Oxnard National Register Historic District Photo Archive
- Survey Photos (1981)
- Historical Sanborn Maps for Downtown Oxnard
- Heritage Square
Thousand Oaks
Moorpark
Piru
Port Hueneme
Ojai
Santa Paula
- Oxnard – Santa Paula Historic Resources Survey (Phase I Part I, July 1981)
- Oxnard – Santa Paula Historic Resources Survey (Phase I Part II)
- Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum
Simi Valley
Ventura
County Contact
Dillan Murray, Program Planner at dillan.murray@ventura.org or (805) 654-5042.
Contact Us
Dillan Murray
Program Planner
dillan.murray@ventura.org
(805) 654-5042
