The ordinance allows City Council to designate buildings, structures, objects or sites
that have historical, cultural, architectural or archaeological significance.
The ordinance regulates:
Exterior alteration, new construction, relocation or demolition of any historic
structure, object or site designated by City Council
Excavation of any archaeological site
It does not regulate:
Land use
Interior alterations or remodeling; and does not override deed restrictions
The ordinance authorizes the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC)
to review and vote on applications for Certificates of Appropriateness that are required for work
affecting the exterior of a historic structure or site.
It must be identified with a person or
group that contributed significantly to
the city’s cultural or historical development,
such as Bayou Bend and/or
It must possess distinctive characteristics
of architecture, building type, construction
period or method that is representative
of an area, such as the Market Square
Historic District and
The site or structure must be at least 50 years old. If it is not, it must be of
extraordinary importance to the city, such as the Johnson Space Center
Who can request a historic site designation?
Generally, the property owner or the HAHC may
request a designation. A "Protected Landmark"
designation may only be requested by the property owner.
What is a historic district designation?
Who can request one?
A historic district is a geographic area of historical, cultural or aesthetic
importance to the community. The tract owners of at least 51% of the properties that equate to
51% of the land area in the proposed district or the HAHC may request a designation.
Who may designate a historic property or site?
Only City Council can designate historic properties and sites on the recommendation of the Planning Commission and the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC).
Are there monetary incentives to restore a historic structure?
The city may grant a tax exemption to qualified property owners who improve designated historic properties. Historic Site Tax Exemptions are processed through the City’s Finance and Administration Department.
Before a tax exemption application is submitted for consideration, the historic site must receive historic site designation from City Council. In order to qualify for the exemption, the owner must perform restoration or preservation of the historic site to encourage its preservation. The work performed must be at a cost of at least 50% of the assessed value of the historic improvements prior to the work.
Only expenditures made for work performed following the designation of the property by City Council or within the five-years prior to designation may be applied. The percentage of the exemption is dependent on the amount of qualified restoration or preservation expenditures. The exemption may be granted for up to 15 years. For more information....
Applications for historic designations and Certificates of Appropriateness are also available at the Planning & Development Department, 6th floor, 611 Walker.
Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) FAQs
What is a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)?
A Certificate of Appropriateness is required in order to perform exterior work on properties that are subject to compliance with the Historic Preservation Ordinance. This includes all structures within a Historic District, Landmarks and Protected Landmarks. The purpose of this review is to ensure that the proposed work is in accordance with the ordinance.
No. A COA addresses whether the proposed work is appropriate according to the criteria outlined in the Historic Preservation Ordinance, whereas a building permit is required from the city to perform most exterior projects regardless of their historic status. However, a building permit can not be issued for Landmarks, Protected Landmarks and properties located in historic districts without a COA or a 90-Day Waiver.
Who reviews a COA?
The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) is responsible for reviewing Certificates of Appropriateness. The HAHC is an 11 member commission, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, with knowledge and experience in the archaeological, architectural, cultural, social, economic, ethnic and political history of the city. The experience and education each member brings helps towards making informed decisions concerning preservation in Houston.
The HAHC reviews all exterior work which affects the historic character of the structure, excluding paint color and ordinary maintenance and repairs. In some cases, staff can approve minor exterior work, as long as it does not affect historic character.
How long is a COA valid?
A Certificate of Appropriateness is valid for one year. If the applicant has not performed the work within one year after obtaining approval, then the COA is invalid and the applicant must resubmit a COA application.
If a Certificate of Appropriateness is not issued within 90 days after an application is filed, the Planning Department will issue a Waiver Certificate, the equivalent of a Certificate of Appropriateness. The 90-day period is to explore alternative methods which would be appropriate. Please note, if a Certificate of Appropriateness is not issued for work on a Protected Landmark or a structure within the Old Sixth Ward Protected Historic District then work may NOT proceed after 90 days and a Waiver Certificate will NOT be issued.
What materials do I need to submit?
Each application must include photographs of the site
and structures located on the property, drawings,
elevation or renderings or proposed work and a
written description of proposed work to be completed.
Additional documentation is required depending
on the scope of the project, a more detailed list
of requirements can be found at the (COA)
Applications and Deadlines page.
