Historic Preservation
The Historic Preservation Office encourages the preservation of Austin’s historic buildings, structures, sites, and districts; promotes awareness of our cultural and architectural heritage; and helps shape a more sustainable, equitable, and livable city in collaboration with other City departments and community partners.
- Find out if your property is historic
- Make a change to your property
- Look up a permit
- Designate a historic landmark or district
- Find resources for maintaining and rehabilitating your property
- Explore our projects celebrating community heritage
- Explore how we're implementing the Equity-Based Preservation Plan
Historic Preservation FAQs
Historic properties go through a formal process called historic designation to certify their significance. A property can be designated at the local, state, or national level. Local designation offers the strongest level of protection and is managed by the Historic Preservation Office and Historic Landmark Commission.
If something hasn’t yet been formally designated as historic, it may be eligible for historic designation. Historic resource surveys are a tool to identify potentially significant places.
Historic designation involves an application and review process. To be approved, a property must meet certain standards for significance. The Historic Landmark Commission reviews applications, and City Council makes the final determination. Learn more about historic designation.
The Historic Preservation Office reviews all exterior changes to buildings 45 years or older, with the goal of identifying potential landmarks. If you are applying for a permit, you do not need to take any additional action — your application will be internally routed for review. If your property is potentially significant, your project will be referred to the Historic Landmark Commission and you will be notified. Learn more about Historic Landmark Commission review here.
Videos from the Historic Preservation Office
Explore our videosYour Austin Landmarks Video Series
We Saved You a Place Talk Show
Benefits of Preservation
Historic preservation recognizes and safeguards our history and helps shape the future. There are many benefits to preserving both historic buildings and older buildings that aren’t formally designated as historic. Older buildings are sustainable, support affordable housing, and help small businesses and arts organizations to start and grow, and foster a sense of place by preserving the character and culture of a particular street or neighborhood.
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Austin has more than 64,000 residential units in older buildings. Many rent or sell below market rate because of the building’s age or because longtime owners have kept prices stable.
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Independent, non-chain businesses are more likely to thrive in areas with older buildings, where rents tend to be lower and spaces more varied.
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In 2020, Austin generated 423,000 tons of construction and demolition debris, most of which was transported to landfills.
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Austin’s arts and cultural facilities are concentrated in areas with a majority of older buildings: just 4% of the city houses 20% of cultural resources.
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Preservation activities create jobs in tourism, retail, construction, and manufacturing. In 2013, preservation created more than 79,000 jobs in Texas.
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Rehabilitating historic buildings generates $772 million per year in economic activity across Texas.
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