Kirkwood, MO Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Chapter 2, Division 9 of the Kirkwood Code establishes the Landmarks Commission, a seven-member body appointed by the City Council, whose members must show demonstrated interest, competence or knowledge in historic preservation under Section 2-581. Section 2-587 defines a LANDMARK as a property or structure designated by the Commission that is worthy of rehabilitation, restoration and preservation because of its historic or architectural significance, and a HISTORIC DISTRICT as a definable geographic area united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development. Under Section 2-588, the Commission continuously studies buildings, structures, historic and prehistoric sites, landscape elements and works of art within the City and may designate any of them landmarks or historic districts, applying criteria that can include National Register criteria or Department of Interior standards.

Before a designation takes effect, Section 2-589 requires the Chief Administrative Officer to notify the affected property owner and give the owner a hearing before the Commission; a historic district designation additionally requires a public hearing with newspaper notice at least 15 days ahead and first-class mail to every property owner in the proposed district. 1 requires the designation to be recorded with the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds and entered on an official landmark register kept by the Building Commissioner. 2 then imposes the operative control: no permit for exterior alteration of a landmark, new construction in a historic district, or demolition or relocation of a landmark or contributing property can issue until the Commission reviews and approves the plans, with demolition and relocation reviews allowed to run up to 270 days. 3, with Council review occurring within 31 days of the appeal.