O'Fallon, MO Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

440, the Historic Preservation Commission is empowered "to investigate and recommend to the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating properties or structures having special cultural, historic, archaeological, community or architectural value as landmarks," and to do the same for areas as historic districts. 450 go to the Commission on a prescribed form, from a Commissioner, the owner of record, or the City Council; the City Clerk must mail notice to the owner within seven days, and an owner (or, for a district, owners of 50% or more of the nominated lots) may file a written objection within fifteen days.

" The Commission must issue its resolution and report within forty-five days; if an owner objected, designation needs a two-thirds vote of the full Commission and, later, a two-thirds vote of the full City Council. Any designating ordinance must identify the significant exterior architectural features to be protected and the archaeological significance and recommendations for protection, and the City Clerk files a certified copy with the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds. 460 bars demolition of it, or permanent removal of a significant exterior architectural feature, "without obtaining a certificate of appropriateness," and no building or demolition permit may issue until that certificate is granted.

The Commission must act on a certificate application within forty-five days, guided by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and any design guidelines in the designating ordinance. Certificates expire if construction has not started within six months, run for eighteen months, and are renewable; work not completed per the certificate is a violation of the chapter. A denial can be appealed in writing to the City Clerk for City Council review. 470, though ordinary building permits still apply.