Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Gulfport, FL Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Deciding body
Historic Preservation Committee
Owner consent required
100% of affected owners
Minimum designation duration
15 years before removal
Notice for large designations
15 days, first class mail
Certificate of approval validity
2 years

Summary

Gulfport designates historic landmarks, sites and districts by ordinance after a Historic Preservation Committee hearing, and once designated, alterations, demolition or relocation need a certificate of approval before any building permit can issue.

Upon the filing of a application for designation of an historic structure or district, along with the written consent forms of the property owners as designated in section 22-21.03(a)(2) hereof, no permits may be issued authorizing building, demolition, relocation or excavation on the properties which are the subject of the application, until the city council has taken final action on the application.

Full Breakdown

03. Nominations for a historic site or district come from the committee itself, the property owner, or the Gulfport Historical Society, and the written consent of every affected property owner is required before the committee can act on the petition. The committee holds a public hearing, and the designation report must document the property's historic, cultural or architectural significance, its physical description and condition, and, for districts, which structures are contributing versus noncontributing. 03(d) lists the designation criteria: significance to city history, architecture, archaeology or culture with integrity of location, design, setting, materials or workmanship; association with distinctive social, political or architectural history; association with historically significant people; distinctive construction type or high artistic value; likelihood of yielding information about the city's past; or listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Once the city council adopts a designation ordinance, the property remains designated until removed by a later ordinance, and removal is barred for at least 15 years and only allowed on specific grounds such as new information showing the property never qualified. 03(c) until the council takes final action.

Violations & Fines

Undertaking construction, alteration, demolition or relocation affecting a designated landmark or a property in a historic district without first obtaining a certificate of approval from the committee violates Section 22-21.04(a); a denial can be appealed to the city council within ten days under Section 22-21.03(l). Because Section 22-21.03(c) automatically suspends permits once a designation petition is filed, work on a pending-designation property without council action on the petition is also a violation, enforceable under the Section 1-6 general penalty of up to $500, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with each day a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Gulfport designate my building as a landmark without my consent?
No. Section 22-21.03(a)(2) requires the written consent of all property owners of each property proposed for designation before the committee can act, and consent of every owner within a proposed historic district before the committee or council acts.
How long must a Gulfport historic designation stay in place?
At least 15 years. Section 22-21.03(f) lets the city council remove a designation by ordinance only after it has been in effect for at least 15 years, and only on specific grounds like new information the property never qualified.
What happens to my building permit if someone files a historic designation petition on my property?
Section 22-21.03(c) automatically suspends any pending or future building, demolition, relocation or excavation permit on the property once a designation application with owner consent is filed, until the city council takes final action or the petition is withdrawn.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Gulfport

All Gulfport rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Gulfport to another location·View the Florida historic preservation overview

Get notified when Historic-Cultural Monuments in Gulfport, FL changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

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 Pinellas County handle historic-cultural monuments.

St. Petersburg, FL
Significant Restrictions