Welcome to RMA

The Resource Management Agency strives to ensure that its customer service standards are consistent with the Agency’s Mission Statement:

The mission of the Resource Management Agency, in cooperation with the public and our partner agencies, is to protect the consumer and community’s health, safety, and environment by carrying out adopted laws and policies, and educating, assisting, and empowering Ventura County residents and businesses to be good stewards of the land and our resources.

Values

In addition, RMA has identified those core values which will guide us in carrying out our mission. These values are directly related to our customer service and include:

  • Honesty, hard work, and ethical behavior

  • Transparency and accountability

  • Equitable treatment and respect of all constituents

  • Excellence in service delivery

Cultural Heritage Board

Planning Home

Protecting Ventura County’s Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources

Historic Preservation Awards New

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:cult heritage

  • 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.

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    Interactive Ventura County Landmarks & Points of Interest Map

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.

Cultural Heritage Board General Brochure

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.

When Do We Meet?

The Cultural Heritage Board meets on a bi-monthly basis and encourages the public to attend.

 

 

historic preservation video

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                                                                             cult heritageCultural Heritage Board Educational Booth at County of Ventura 150th Anniversary Celebration, Santa Paula, October 21, 2023


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.

Photographs

Photographs are one method of documenting a landmark’s past, as well as showing a landmark’s current condition.

Educational Videos New

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..                                                                                                  cult heritageCultural Heritage Board Guest Speaker Session, May 16, 2024.

 

Technical Information

Museums

Preservation Organizations

City Specific Resources

Fillmore

Oxnard

Thousand Oaks

Moorpark

Piru

Port Hueneme

Ojai

Santa Paula

Simi Valley

Ventura

County Contact

Dillan Murray, Program Planner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (805) 654-5042.