A. “Accidental damage” means unintentional damage by an individual or an act of nature. This does not include accidental damage during the course of construction on the property where the artifact was not adequately protected.

B. “Alteration” means any work changing the exterior appearance and visual quality of character-defining features of a historical artifact.

C. “Alteration permit” means a permit approving an alteration to a historic artifact, or a property determined eligible for historic artifact designation pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

D. “Artifacts” for the purposes of this chapter are structures as defined in subsection S of this section and objects located on the grounds of single-family homes, landscaped areas of public, commercial, and multifamily housing properties, and adjacent to public roads and streets. Buildings designed for human occupation and objects housed in the interiors of buildings are not subject to the terms of this chapter.

E. “Character-defining features” means the elements embodying style, design, general arrangement and components of all of the exterior surfaces of any structure or object, including, but not limited to, the type of building materials and type and style of elements related to such structure or object.

F. “Demolition” means the act or process that destroys, completely or partially, any structure or object.

G. “Historical artifact” means a structure or object that meets the criteria for listing on the national, state or local level as described in Section 8.14.060.

H. “Historic integrity” means the authenticity of a resource’s physical identity, evidenced by the survival of characteristics that existed during the resource’s period of significance. Integrity is evaluated with regard to the retention of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It must also be judged with regard to the particular criteria under which a resource is proposed for eligibility.

I. “Inventory of historical artifacts” is the official list of properties subject to the terms of this chapter. In order to be listed on the inventory, the artifact must be found to be an appropriate property type and meet the criteria for listing on the national, state or local level as described in Section 8.14.060. An artifact shall not be included in the inventory if the owner opposes its listing.

J. “Major alteration” means permanent changes to the visual character of a historical artifact or its setting, including, but not limited to, changes in size, surface treatment or location of historical artifacts as described in Section 8.14.090.

K. “Minor alteration” means changes to the color or minor details of a historical artifact, such as for example the replacement of missing or damaged elements. The relocation of a moveable object on the property is a minor alteration, and temporary removal of an artifact from the property during restoration or for its protection during construction shall be treated as a minor alteration under this chapter.

L. “National register of historic places” means the official inventory of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology and culture which is maintained by the Secretary of the Interior under the authority of the Historic Sites Act of 1935 and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq., 36 C.F.R. Sections 60 and 63).

M. “Object” (as applied in the context of this chapter) means a construction, such as a statue, monument or milepost that may be by nature or design moveable, yet related to a specific setting or environment.

N. “Owner” means the person(s) whose name appears as the owner of a property on the last tax assessment roll of San Mateo County.

O. “Preventative maintenance” means any work to prevent deterioration or damage to the structural integrity or any exterior character-defining feature of a historic resource that does not involve a change in design, material or exterior appearance. Such work includes, but is not limited to, painting, grouting or repainting, foundation work or landscaping in the vicinity of a historic artifact.

P. “Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings” means the illustrated version of the Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitation developed by the Technical Preservation Services Branch, Preservation Assistance Division of the National Park Service, as it may be amended.

Q. “Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties” means principles developed by the National Park Service (36 C.F.R. Section 68.3, as it may be amended from time to time) to help protect historic properties by promoting consistent preservation practices and providing guidance to historic building owners and building managers, preservation consultants, architects, contractors, and project reviewers on how to approach the treatment of historic properties. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties may also be referred to in this chapter as “Secretary of the Interior’s standards.”

R. “State Historical Building Code” means California Code of Regulations, Part 8 of Title 24 (California Building Standards Code), as it may be amended.

S. “Structure” (as applied in the context of this chapter) means a functional, manmade construction, such as a fence, gate, bridge or tunnel, typically made for purposes other than creating shelter, fixed to the property on which it is located. (Ord. 567 § 1 (part), 2007)