Historic Preservation

Historic preservation is a conversation with our past about our future. It provides us with opportunities to ask, "What is important in our history?" and "What parts of our past can we preserve for the future?" Through historic preservation, we look at history in different ways, ask different questions of the past, and learn new things about our history and ourselves. Historic Preservation conserves the historic, architectural, and aesthetic character and heritage of Fort Worth, and helps to provide a sense of place and continuity for future generations.

Local Historic Districts

Local Historic Districts Design guidelines are regulations specific to a historic district, used in conjunction with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties to guide preservation, rehabilitation, conservation, and the revitalization of historic districts. They are created and approved by the property owners of the historic district and then adopted by the City Council for use by the Historic & Cultural Landmarks Commission to review applications for a certificate of appropriateness. Once adopted, amendments may be approved only with the majority vote of the historic district and the City Council. Guidelines typically address new construction and alterations to the materials and design of existing structures. In the absence of approved guidelines for a district, the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties are used.