Amarillo, TX Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Landmark designation fee
- $325 per site, building or structure
- Historic District fee
- $375 per application
- Certificate of Appropriateness fee
- $200 per site
- District minimum size
- 7 acres of contiguous land
- Max fine
- $2,000 per day, § 4-11-4
- Decision path
- Board of Review, then P&Z, then Council
Summary
Amarillo designates buildings, sites and districts of cultural, historical or architectural significance as protected Landmarks or Historic Districts under Chapter 4-11. The City Council makes the designation by rezoning the property to Planned Development, on recommendation from the Board of Review and Planning and Zoning Commission, after a public hearing and owner notice, with a $325 per-site landmark fee.
In accordance with the Local Government Code, 211.003, the Amarillo City Council may designate by the Zoning Ordinance certain Objects, Sites, and Structures as Landmarks and certain areas as Historic Districts. Such Landmarks and Historic Districts shall be zoned Planned Development for the Landmark or Historic District in compliance with the general provisions in the Planned Development sections of the Zoning Ordinance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
The designation runs through three bodies: the Board of Review for Landmarks and Historic Districts, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and finally the City Council, because Section 4-11-7 makes a Landmark or Historic District a Planned Development rezoning under the Zoning Ordinance rather than a simple registry listing. 00 per site for a later Certificate of Appropriateness once designated. A Historic District petition additionally needs signatures from at least 20 percent of the property owners in the proposed boundary. The Planning Department mails hearing notice to owners within 200 feet at least 10 days ahead and publishes notice in a newspaper at least 15 days ahead.
If owners holding 20 percent or more of the area file a written protest, City Council approval requires a three-fourths vote instead of a simple majority. Chapter 4-11 defines a 'Landmark' as an Object, Site or Structure whose demolition would be an irreplaceable loss to the city, state or nation, and a 'Historic District' as at least seven acres with historical, cultural or archaeological significance. Once designated, exterior alterations, including repainting a Landmark, generally require the Board of Review to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness before work begins.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 4-11, including altering a designated Landmark without a Certificate of Appropriateness, is punishable under Section 4-11-4 by a fine up to $2,000.00 upon conviction, with each day of continued noncompliance charged as a separate offense. The chapter also lets the owner of any Landmark or contributing property in a Historic District sue in court for additional legal or equitable remedies if a neighboring violation harms their property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a building become an official Landmark in Amarillo?
Can I repaint or alter a Landmark building without approval?
What size area qualifies as a Historic District?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Amarillo
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Amarillo to another location·View the Texas historic preservation overview
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