Cheektowaga, NY Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- 11-12-2024 by L.L. No. 9-2024
- Commission size
- 5 to 9 members appointed by Town Board
- Designation criteria
- Town Code § 134-11
- First-offense fine
- Up to $350
- Appeal deadline
- 15 days after Commission decision
- Public hearing notice
- At least 15 days before hearing
Summary
Cheektowaga's Historic Preservation Commission, created under Town Code Chapter 134 in November 2024, can designate a monument, sculpture, or similar object as an individual landmark. Designation requires the object to meet criteria at § 134-11, such as embodying the Town's political, economic, or social history, or standing as an established visual feature of the community, before it gains protected status.
§ 134-11. Criteria and designation of landmarks or historic districts. The Commission shall designate landmarks, not limited to buildings, or historic districts within the Town under this local preservation law. A. Individual landmark. The Commission may designate an individual property as an individual landmark if it: (1) Exemplifies or possesses special character, or historic or aesthetic interest of value as part of the political, economic, or social history of the Town; ... (5) Has yielded or may be likely to yield information important in prehistory or history.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4996449; v35 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
The Commission has five to nine members appointed by the Town Board, and must include the Town Historian, an architect, a licensed engineer, and a real estate agent or broker, filling any slot with a preservation-minded resident when those specific qualifications cannot be met (§ 134-4). Designation of a monument or other object as a landmark can be initiated by the Commission, the property owner, or any Town resident (§ 134-12A). The Commission must hold a public hearing, with notice published at least 15 days beforehand, and once notice of a proposed designation issues, a work moratorium bars any alteration to the object until the Commission rules, which it must do within 31 days of the hearing's close (§ 134-12D, F).
' Once designated, any alteration or demolition of the object requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Commission under § 134-13, and the Building Inspector may issue a stop-work order if work proceeds without one (§ 134-23A). A property owner denied a certificate can appeal to the Town Board within 15 days of the Commission's decision (§ 134-24). The Town Clerk, County Clerk, Building Department, and Planning Department all receive notice of each designation for recordation (§ 134-12H).
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 134, including altering or demolishing a designated monument without a certificate of appropriateness, is punishable under § 134-23D: a first conviction draws a fine up to $350; a second conviction within five years draws $350 to $700 or up to 30 days in jail; a third conviction within that five-year window draws $700 to $1,000 or up to 180 days in jail. Each week a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the Town Attorney prosecutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a monument or statue in Cheektowaga be legally protected as a landmark?
Who can start the process to designate a monument as a landmark?
What happens if someone alters a designated monument without approval?
How long does the Commission have to decide on a designation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cheektowaga
New York rules heatmap·Compare Cheektowaga to another location·View the New York historic preservation overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Erie County handle historic-cultural monuments.