Detroit, MI Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Location
- Cadillac Square at Woodward Avenue
- Designated historic landmark
- June 25, 1974
- Permit required
- Before any exterior work begins
- Maximum civil fine
- $5,000 per violation
- Governing ordinance
- Historic Preservation Ordinance No. 408-G
Summary
Detroit's Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument at Cadillac Square and Woodward Avenue is a designated historic landmark district under City Code Chapter 21, protecting the 1872 monument from unpermitted work.
An historic district, known as the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument Historic District, was established as an historic landmark in accordance with the Resolution of the City Plan Commission that was received by the City Council and placed on file on July 2, 1974, remained in effect on the date of the enactment of this article, which was November 5, 1976, and shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this article.(b)The City Plan Commission Resolution dated June 25, 1974 stated: "At the regular meeting of the City Plan Commission on Tuesday, June 25, 1974, the Commission designated the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument as a Detroit historic landmark after the required public hearing. This designation was made under the terms of the Historic Preservation Ordinance No. 408-G, which specifies that the Plan Commission must file a report of their actions regarding landmark designations with [the City Council] and that such actions become final within 30 days of filing if no protests are filed within that period.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
The City Plan Commission designated the monument a Detroit historic landmark on June 25, 1974, citing its 1872 construction, sculptor Randolph Rogers, and its symbolism of Union victory and emancipation. Any exterior work in the district first requires a permit application to the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department, which the Historic District Commission reviews for a certificate of appropriateness before work can begin. The designation, made under Historic Preservation Ordinance No. 408-G, took effect after a 30-day protest period and remains binding under the current Chapter 21 historic preservation article.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted alteration, demolition, or repair within the district is a civil violation carrying a court fine up to $5,000, plus a possible order to restore or replicate the resource.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I repair or alter the monument myself?
What happens if someone alters the monument without a permit?
Why was the monument designated a landmark?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
Compare Detroit to another location·View the Michigan historic preservation overview
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Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle historic-cultural monuments.