Provo, UT Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

A property qualifies for the Landmarks Register only if it sits within Provo City boundaries, is at least 50 years old, retains its historic integrity, and meets at least one of six added criteria such as National Register eligibility, association with significant events or persons, distinctive architecture, archaeological value, or prominent neighborhood visibility (16.05.020). Nominations come from the owner, the Landmarks Commission or the Municipal Council, with an Intensive Level Survey filed in duplicate; the Commission reviews for compliance and forwards a written recommendation to the Municipal Council within 14 days, which then designates the property by resolution (16.05.030).

The Commission records the designation with the Utah County Recorder's Office and mails notice to the property owner along with a copy of the chapter (16.05.040). After designation, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required before any building-permit work, porch or window alteration, masonry cleaning, fence or wall construction, sign installation, exterior paint color change, or demolition (16.05.050(5)). Minor alterations to a Landmark, or work on non-contributory buildings and accessory structures in a historic district, can be decided administratively by Commission staff within 10 days (16.05.050(6),(8)); a person aggrieved by an administrative decision has 10 days to appeal to the full Commission.

Full Commission review must issue a Certificate of Historic Appropriateness within 30 days of a complete application, and noncompliant applications get a 60-day negotiating period, extendable once by 60 more days, before denial at 120 days (16.05.050(12)). Demolition of a designated Landmark or contributory building requires the Commission to find either a public-health-and-safety threat confirmed by the Building Official, or documented economic hardship, before it will approve removal (16.05.060(1)-(2)); a refused demolition triggers a 60-day posted-notice period during which the owner must post a sign at least 3 by 2 feet reading the structure is 'proposed to be demolished' and pursue sale, lease or acquisition negotiations with the City (16.05.060(3)). Economic hardship claims go to a three-person Economic Review Panel appointed by the Mayor, which must report findings within 45 days of impaneling (16.05.070(4)(b)).