Boca Raton, FL Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Under Sec. 28-235, historic districts and sites are established only by ordinance of the city council. Before that happens, the historic preservation board must conduct studies and research and prepare a report on the historic significance of the exteriors of buildings, structures, features, sites, objects and surroundings, then furnish written notice by mail to affected property owners at least 14 days before the board meets to consider designation. That report goes to the planning and zoning board, which holds its own 14-day-notice public hearing and submits a final recommendation to the city council, which may adopt the designating ordinance with or without amendments after yet another 14-day-notice public hearing.

Sec. 28-236 screens candidates against four criteria, association with significant historical events, association with historically significant people, distinctive design or construction methods, or likely archaeological information value, and ranks properties as exceptional, excellent, notable, or of value as part of the scene depending on how many criteria they meet. The city's broader easement power in Sec. 28-240 makes the cultural dimension explicit: a "historic easement" is any easement, restriction, covenant or condition designed to preserve, maintain or enhance places of historic, architectural or cultural significance, which the city may acquire by purchase, donation or condemnation on the historic preservation board's recommendation.

Once designated, Sec. 28-237 requires a certificate of appropriateness from the historic preservation board before any exterior alteration, demolition or relocation, evaluated against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.