Livermore has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1869. The City recognizes this history as culturally and aesthetically important and integral to Livermore's character and identity. In order to safeguard the City's heritage, to stabilize neighborhoods, and to foster civic pride, the City preserves this history through three primary documents.

Historic Context Statement

The Citywide Historic Context Statement distills Livermore's over-150-year history into contexts and themes that have broadly impacted the City's built environment. The Context Statement is used to classify the historically important sites in the City. For example, wineries and vineyards and the railroad are part of what make Livermore, Livermore. A copy of the Context Statement can be found HERE.

Historic Resource Inventory

The Historic Resources Inventory is a Citywide list of all approximately 30,000 parcels in Livermore. Each parcel was analyzed for potential historic significance. Generally, any property that is related to the themes established in the Historic Context Statement was identified as historical or potentially historical. Therefore, the inventory identifies all the important historical and potentially historical sites across Livermore. For example, Hagemann Ranch and the Carnegie Library are listed as historically significant. A copy of the Historic Resources Inventory can be found HERE. This document also lists and defines the State Office and Historic Preservation (OHP) 2003 Status Codes. 

Inventory appendices can be found below:

Appendix A - Property Inventory

Appendix B - Significant, Designated

Appendix B - Significant, Evaluated

Appendix B - Potentially Significant 

Appendix B - Not Significant 

Historic Preservation Ordinance 

In order to protect and preserve Livermore's historical resources, the City Council enacted an Historic Preservation Ordinance. The Ordinance generally establishes a process for designating historic resources, creates a review procedure to protect historic resources from incompatible development, and discourages demolition of historic resources. A copy of the Historic Preservation Ordinance can be found in Livermore Development Code Chapter 9.02 HERE.

The Carnegie Park Master Plan preserves the historic design features of Carnegie Park and Carnegie Library. The Plan contains a workplan, policies, and design guidance in order to protect and preserve this important part of Livermore's Downtown and heritage.

Livermore Plaque Program 

The City has a budget reserved for the fabrication of three plaques a year through the Livermore Plaque Program. These plaques are awarded to properties that are especially important to Livermore’s history, and property owners voluntarily apply.

Plaque content includes historical information about individuals or events important to Livermore’s history and related to the property, and/or a description of the property’s historic architectural characteristics.

To apply, submit a completed Plaque Program Application to the Planning Division. There are no application fees, and the City pays for the fabrication costs of all awarded plaques.

See example below: