Historic Preservation in Dallas, TX (2026)
4 verified historic preservation rules for Dallas, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
HPOZ Rules
Inside a Dallas historic overlay district, no one may alter a site or a structure, including additions or expansions, without a certificate of appropriateness from the city under Development Code Sec. 51A-4.501(g). Applications go through either a fast routine-maintenance review or a full standard review, and violating the rule is a continuing daily offense.
Dallas Historic Overlay Certificate of Appropriateness
Significant RestrictionsDallas Development Code Sec. 51A-4.501(g)(1)-(2)
(1) When required. A person shall not alter a site within a historic overlay district, or alter, place, construct, maintain, or expand any structure on the site without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness in accordance with this subsection and the regulations and preservation criteria contained and in the historic overlay district ordinance. (2) Penalty. A person who violates this ...
Historic-Cultural Monuments
Dallas designates historic and culturally significant places through a Historic Overlay District under Sec. 51A-4.501, requiring three or more of ten statutory characteristics before city council can adopt a designation ordinance. Once designated, exterior alterations, demolition, and new construction require a certificate of appropriateness from the landmark commission.
Dallas Historic Overlay District Designation
Significant RestrictionsDallas Development Code Sec. 51A-4.501(b)
(b) Establishment of historic overlay districts. A historic overlay district may be established to preserve places and areas of historical, cultural, or architectural importance and significance if the place or area has three or more of the following characteristics: (1) History, heritage and culture: Represents the historical development, ethnic heritage or cultural characteristics of the city...
Mills Act Contracts
Texas does not have a California-style Mills Act property-tax contract program. Instead Texas Tax Code Section 11.24 authorizes cities and counties to grant partial property-tax exemptions for designated historic sites, which Dallas implements through its Historic Site Tax Exemption.
Texas Has No Mills Act; Tax Code 11.24 Historic Exemption Applies
Light RestrictionsTex. Tax Code Sec. 11.24
Sec. 11.24. HISTORIC SITES. (a) The governing body of a taxing unit by official action of the body adopted in the manner required by law for official actions may exempt from taxation part or all of the assessed value of a structure or archeological site and the land necessary for access to and use of the structure or archeological site, if the structure or archeological site is: (1) designated ...
HCM Demolition Controls
For historically significant buildings outside a historic overlay district, Dallas can impose a demolition delay overlay under Sec. 51A-4.504 that pauses a demolition permit for at least 45 days so the owner and city officials can discuss preservation alternatives before the building official may issue the permit.
Dallas Demolition Delay Overlay District Rules
Some RestrictionsDallas Development Code Sec. 51A-4.504(a), (b)(2)
(a) Purpose. A demolition delay overlay district is intended to encourage the preservation of historically significant buildings that are not located in a historic overlay district by helping the property owner identify alternatives to demolition. (b)(2) This section applies to any building located in a demolition delay overlay district that is at least 50 years old and meets one of the followi...
Looking for Dallas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Dallas city rules.
Historic Preservation in Dallas County →