Historic Preservation

Please apply for a COA through Accela Citizen Access, the City of Fort Worth permitting system. Please make an account if you do not have one already. Applying via Accela Citizen Access allows you to directly manage the application by uploading documents and viewing holds and comments from staff. Please follow the instructions linked below to apply today. 

1. Current photos of the site 

2. Plans, drawings, and specifications for proposed changes

3. Material details

• This can include product specifications

4. Conditions assessment 

• Required for demolition or window alterations
• Conditions Assessment Template(PDF, 79KB)
• Window Condition Assessment(PDF, 811KB)

Step 1: Apply via Accela

You will receive an email from Accela letting you know your application has been accepted. You will be notified if you application is considered incomplete. 

Step 2. Staff review

Staff will review your application for compliance with the guidelines. Staff will provide comments if needed and engage with the application in the revision process. 

Step 3: Decision

Your application will ultimately be issued a signed Certificate of Appropriateness with stamped plans, or a denial letter.

Most cases can be approved administratively and do not require approval from the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission. HCLC review is required only for the following types of cases:

• New construction
• Demolition
• Waivers from the design guidelines
• Historic Designation
• Historic Site Tax Exemption verification

Step 1. Case placed on Meeting Agenda

To have your case placed on the agenda, you must fill out an application online by the third Monday of the month. Once staff has determined that your application is complete and requires commission approval, your case will be placed on the next available HCLC agenda. Staff will review the design and suggest any necessary modifications.

Step 2. Notification

Legal Notices: post card sent to property owners within 300 feet of the case property 10 days before the hearing. 

Legal Notice Post Card Example

Courtesy Notices: email sent to applicants and neighborhood association contacts within 1/2 mile of the case property

• Courtesy Notice #1: Sent 10 days before the hearing. 
• Courtesy Notice #2: Sent 3 days before the hearing. 

Step 3. The Meeting Agenda is posted to the City Calendar 

Meeting agendas are available on the Historic and Cultural Landmark Commission calendar page 

Step 4. Staff reports and docket posted to the Upcoming Cases Map

The staff reports for each case and the docket are posted on the Upcoming Cases Map three days before the meeting. 

Step 5. Commission Hearing

Historic and Cultural Landmark Commission hearings are held on the second Monday of the month at 2pm in the Council Chambers.

To speak you may show up in person or participate remotely via Webex. The Webex registration link can be found on the Upcoming Cases Map, the Meeting Agenda, and the City Calendar. 

Viewing: Television: Charter 190; One Source 7; Verizon 5; AT&T Uverse 99; City of Fort Worth Website Homepage: Watch Live Online; City of Fort Worth YouTube Channel. 

6. Post Commission

Decision Letter: The applicants listed on the application will receive a letter detailing the commission's ruling on the case. 

Certificate of Appropriateness: If the request is approved by the HCLC, an approved Certificate of Appropriateness will be issued. If the request is "approved subject to conditions" then the applicant must update the plans to reflect the conditions set by the HCLC before a COA may be issued. 

The Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission meets on the second Monday of every month. 

Please search "Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission" on the Fort Worth TV Video Library to view full recordings of Historic and Cultural Landmark meetings.

The HCLC is an eleven-member volunteer commission appointed by the Mayor and the City Council to review projects for certificates of appropriateness (COA) in historic districts and for individually designated properties, to nominate property for historic designation, and to assist in the implementation of the Citywide Historic Preservation Plan. Each member of the commission has demonstrated professional and/ or personal expertise in planning, historic preservation, law, real estate, architecture, or landscape architecture as required by the City Code and by the federal Certified Local Government Program. Most of the members also have some experience with personal historic rehabilitation projects of their own. The HCLC meets each month to review designations and applications for certificates of appropriateness.

The following criteria, as well as the criteria applied to evaluate districts for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, must be used to establish the significance and integrity of property or neighborhoods and their features, and to evaluate the eligibility of a property as a historic property or HC District:

a. Significance

1. Is distinctive in character, interest or value, and exemplifies the cultural, economic, social, ethnic or historical heritage of the City of Fort Worth, State of Texas or the United States.
2. Is an important example of a particular architectural type or specimen or embodies elements of architectural design, detail, material or craftsmanship that represent a significant architectural innovation in Fort Worth.
3. Has been identified as the work of an important architect or master builder whose individual work has contributed to the development of Fort Worth.
4. Has been identified with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City of Fort Worth, State of Texas or the United States.
5. Bears a significant relationship to other distinctive buildings, structures, sites, objects or areas, either as an important collection of properties of architectural style, or craftsmanship with few intrusions, or by contributing to the overall character of the area according to a plan based on architectural, historic or cultural motif.
6. Possesses significant archeological value, which has produced or is likely to produce data affecting theories of historic or prehistoric interest.
7. Is the site of a significant historic event.
8. Is designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, State Antiquities Landmark or an American Civil Engineering Landmark, or is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

b. Integrity

1. A property’s ability to convey its significance, taking into consideration the following seven factors: location, design, setting, material, workmanship, feeling and association, as set forth in National Register of Historic Places’ Seven Aspects of Integrity.

All changes to the exterior of the property require a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) before permits may be issued. This confirms that all work done on the property upholds the historic significance and integrity of the property. Changes to the property that require a COA include but are not limited to the following:

Historic Designation applications are due the third (3rd) Monday before the next scheduled Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission (HCLC) public hearing. The HCLC meets the second (2nd) Monday of each month at 2:00PM in Council Chambers located on the second (2nd) floor of old City Hall at 200 Texas Street.

The Historic Designation for Individual Sites application can be filled out in pdf and emailed to Design.Review@fortworthtexas.gov or turned in hard copy to Development Services located at City Hall at 100 Fort Worth Trail.  

A property may be nominated for designation as Highly Significant Endangered (HSE), Historic and Cultural Landmark (HC), or Demolition Delay (DD) by the City Manager, City Council, Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission, the owner or the owner’s authorized representative. Nominations shall be submitted to the Historic Preservation Officer. Nomination by the City Council or the Historical and Cultural Landmarks Commission shall be in the form of a resolution requesting that the Historic Preservation Officer submit the nomination to the Historical and Cultural Landmarks Commission. Nomination by the City Manager or the owner shall be by completion of a nomination form promulgated by the Development Services Department. There is no application fee.

Step 1: Application guidelines

Upon submission of the completed application, you will be placed on the next available scheduled HCLC meeting as a public hearing action item. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or forwarded to the HCLC for action. A completed application will consist of a description of the property, criteria for designation, and address and legal description for the property all this information is indicated on the application form.

Step 2: Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission Public Hearing

The application shall be heard within 45 days after it is deemed complete, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable. The HCLC may continue the case for a reasonable time if the Commission finds that all parties who have an interest in the structure or property are not present or that additional information is needed by the HCLC in order to evaluate such application. At the HCLC public hearing, the owner or owners, interested parties, local preservation groups and technical experts may present testimony or documentary evidence which will become part of a record regarding the historic, cultural, architectural or archeological importance of the structures or property.

Step 3: City Council Hearing

The City Council shall give notice and conduct its hearing on the HCLC’s recommendation concerning the proposed designation within 45 days of receipt of the recommendation of the HCLC, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable. 

Properties designated as Historic and Cultural Landmarks (HC) are eligible for a 10-year tax freeze of the assessed value of the land and improvements for the year previous to improvements, and Highly Significant and Endangered (HSE) properties are eligible for a15 year tax freeze. Additionally, well maintained historic properties typically have higher home values than non- historic properties.

See Historic Site Tax Exemption or contact staff for more information. 

The Historic Preservation Officer is an employee of the City of Fort Worth appointed to work specifically with the HCLC and owners of historic property. The HPO can provide technical assistance to property owners such as assistance in finding qualified craftsman, resources for researching the history of your home, answer questions about tax incentives for historic properties, assist you in putting together an application for a designation or certificate of appropriateness, and making design choices to fit your home’s structure. The HPO also makes professional recommendations to the HCLC and City departments relative to historic preservation.