Plano, TX Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Plano's heritage preservation program sits in Code of Ordinances Chapter 16, Article VI, enacted by Ordinance No. 2019-8-5 and enabled by Tex. 003, which let a Texas municipality protect places of historical, cultural or architectural importance. To become a heritage landmark, a building, structure, site or object must be at least 50 years old and substantially comply with two or more of eight criteria in Sec. 16-110(b): among them possessing significance in history, architecture, archeology or culture, being associated with events that shaped local or state history, representing the work of a master designer or craftsman, or standing as an established visual feature of the city.

A heritage district needs two or more qualifying structures at least 50 years old that together form a unique area, such as a neighborhood or business center, with at least two properties classified as contributing under a heritage resource survey. Designation can be owner-initiated (all owners' signatures for a landmark, or agents of at least 60 percent of the lots for a proposed district) or city-initiated by the Heritage Commission, Planning & Zoning Commission, or City Council under Sec. 16-111. The Heritage Commission must send written notice to owners within 500 feet at least 10 days before its public hearing, and the process runs through Planning & Zoning review and a City Council vote to attach an 'H' or 'HD' zoning overlay.

Once designated, Sec. 16-112 requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Heritage Preservation Officer or Heritage Commission before any construction, alteration, remodeling, restoration, or demolition, and Sec. 16-119 imposes a minimum-maintenance duty so owners cannot let a landmark deteriorate into 'demolition by neglect' under Sec. 16-120. A designation can later be removed under the Sec. 16-110(f) criteria if a resource no longer qualifies.