The historic overlay zone applies to several historic neighborhoods by designating certain areas as historic overlay zones with regulations and guidelines governing the alteration of a place or structure that has been designated as a contributing historic building.

Many historic resources are identified in Everett by listing on one or more of the following historic registers: Everett register of historic places, Washington State Heritage Register, and the National Register of Historic Places. The process for designating historic overlay zones, inclusion on the Everett register of historic places and the role of the Everett historical commission is described in this chapter. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(P) (Exh. 3), 2020.)