Mobile, AL Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing body
- Historic preservation commission + council
- Approval needed
- Certificate of appropriateness
- First-offense fine
- $100 plus court costs
- Repeat-offense fine
- $500 within 5 years
Summary
Mobile can designate a single building, structure, site, or work of art a historic property outside any district if it meets one of five significance criteria set out in the code.
A historic property is a building, structure, site, object, or work of art, including the adjacent area necessary for the proper appreciation or use thereof, deemed worthy of preservation by reason of value to the city for any of the following reasons: (1) It is an outstanding example of a structure representative of its era; ... or (5) The building or structure is an example of an architectural style, or combination of architectural styles, which is representative of the city or which is unique to the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 44, Sec. 44-74(c) lets the city designate an individual historic property (Mobile's version of a cultural-monument designation) separate from a full historic district, based on criteria like being an outstanding example of a structure representative of its era or a place associated with historically significant events or persons. The historic preservation commission recommends designation by resolution and report to the city council, which adopts, amends, or rejects the designating ordinance after a public hearing. Once designated, any exterior material change requires a certificate of appropriateness from the architectural review board.
Violations & Fines
Making an exterior material change to a designated historic property without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness is a criminal violation punishable by a $100 fine (Sec. 44-84), rising to $500 for a second offense within five years, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a single building be designated historic without being in a district?
What happens after my property is designated historic?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mobile
Compare Mobile to another location·View the Alabama historic preservation overview
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