Dallas, TX Historic Preservation: HCM Demolition Controls (2026)

Sec. 504 creates a demolition delay overlay district for buildings at least 50 years old that are not inside a historic overlay district but meet one of five criteria: listed on or located in a National Register Historic District, designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, a State Antiquities Landmark, a National Historic Landmark, or identified as individually significant or contributing in a historic resources survey conducted under National Register or Texas Historical Commission guidelines. The city plan commission or city council can create such a district through the standard zoning amendment procedure.

Once a demolition application is filed for a qualifying building, Phase I requires the building official to refer it to the historic preservation officer, who has 10 days to determine whether the building meets the delay criteria; if it doesn't, and the application otherwise satisfies the Dallas Building Code, the permit is granted. If it does meet the criteria, Phase II starts: within 45 days the historic preservation officer must convene a meeting between the owner and city officials to discuss alternatives such as historic designation, tax exemptions and economic development incentives, loans or grants, acquisition of the building, or variances, and within two working days of the qualifying determination a sign must go up on the property with a public phone number.

If the 45-day period ends with the building code requirements met and the owner declining any agreement, the building official must grant the demolition permit. Phase III lets the owner voluntarily agree with the city to extend the delay further while alternatives are explored.