The City of Escondido was incorporated in 1888, making it one of the oldest cities in Southern California. Even before incorporation, the community bustled with activity that laid the foundation for an impressive agricultural empire. Agriculture gave way to urbanization, and a strong collection of architectural treasures representing historic Escondido remains today in stately Victorians, comfortable Craftsman bungalows, eclectic Art Deco and Post World War II residences. Valuing our unique heritage, the City of Escondido established the Old Escondido Historic District in 1991. The District, featuring 900 homes built in the mid-1880s to date, is bounded by 5th Avenue on the North, 13th on the south, Escondido Blvd. on the west and Chestnut on the east.
From tiny bungalows to magnificent Victorian homes, the Old Escondido Historic District contains the majority of Escondido’s historic resources. It is a wonderful place to walk or tour by car. Many homes are currently undergoing restoration and return visits will reveal steady improvement within the district. A selection of homes is open for tours annually on Mother’s Day.
Changing Exteriors of Homes in Old Escondido
If you own a home located within the Old Escondido Historic District, you need to contact the City’s Planning Division before you start an exterior home improvement project – even if your home is not historic or on the City’s Local Register. Review and issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness is required if you plan to:
Paint the exterior - even if using the same color
Replace the roof
Change your windows
Build a garage or carport
Build a fence
Construct a room addition
Build or change a front porch
Larger modification projects will be reviewed by the City’s Design Review Board to ensure the historic character of your home is not modified with any proposed modifications.
If you purchase a home that has an existing Mills Act Contract, you can get an application form from the Planning Division to revise the list of improvements to better fit your goals for preserving the property.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact the City of Escondido Planning Division at (760) 839-4671.
