Old Towne Orange Gutter Rules: Historic District Guide

Check with the Orange Planning Division first. The standards do not list gutters by name in their review table, but they treat downspouts and built-in gutters as historic roof details, send re-roofing through staff Minor Design Review and send roofline alterations to the Design Review Committee. This guide reflects the standards as of October 2026.

In Old Towne Orange the design standards say adding fascia, cutting off exposed rafter tails or boxing in exposed rafters is inappropriate, so plan the gutter around the rafters and ask Planning staff first. Fullerton’s preservation zone guidelines also say rafter tails and fascia should stay compatible with the roof style. Our guide recommends settling this before ordering.

Tustin requires a Certificate of Appropriateness before exterior alterations in the Cultural Resources District that need a building permit, with no separate fee. Ordinary maintenance or repairs that do not change design, material or original appearance do not need one. The residential guidelines recommend metal gutters painted to match the trim or body color and downspouts placed away from the front facade.

Santa Ana’s Chapter 13 guidelines, which apply to properties on the city’s Register of Historical Properties, ask owners to repair original gutters and downspouts where possible, paint new ones to match the trim or body color rather than a contrast color, and use the sides and rear for new downspouts. That includes homes in French Park and Floral Park covered by this guide.

The City of Anaheim says it tracks more than 1,400 historic properties and that exterior alterations to homes under a Mills Act contract need approval from Historic Preservation staff through a Zoning Plan Review Application. For other homes, staff review building permit plans and may offer recommendations. The city points owners to its Citywide Historic Preservation Plan, so call Anaheim Planning before changing gutters on a Colony home.