In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council officially declared the iconic Brady Bunch house in the San Fernando Valley as a historic-cultural monument. The house on Dilling Avenue, famous for its exterior shots in the 1969-1974 TV series, will now receive landmark protections.
While the interior scenes were filmed on a soundstage with sets different from the actual property, the house has become a popular attraction for fans of the show. The Brady Bunch sitcom, following the lives of six step-siblings, gained enduring popularity through syndication.
Originally built in 1959, the shingle-and-stone house with a distinctive peaked roof also appeared in the 1995 film The Brady Bunch Movie and its sequel. The newly granted landmark status safeguards the property from demolition or significant alterations, although renovations are not entirely prohibited. Any major changes would require a design review, and the Cultural Heritage Commission could delay the process to explore preservation options.
The LA Conservancy, a non-profit organization, advocated for the landmark designation, with CEO Adrian Scott Fine expressing delight over the approval. He emphasized the sentimental attachment fans have to the Brady Bunch house, noting that it has become a pilgrimage site for many enthusiasts.
When the house was listed for sale in 2018, HGTV secured it in a competitive bidding war, ultimately paying $3.5 million US, significantly exceeding the initial asking price for the 2,400-square-foot (223-square-meter) residence. The property underwent extensive expansion, remodeling, and redecoration to replicate the iconic features of the TV set, such as the wood-paneled living room and the distinctive orange-and-green kitchen. This transformation process was showcased in a four-part HGTV miniseries titled A Very Brady Renovation.
