San Antonio, TX Historic Preservation: HPOZ Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDC Section 35-451
- Review body
- Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC)
- Issuing agency
- Office of Historic Preservation
- HDRC recommendation deadline
- Within 60 days of complete application
- Certificate validity
- Permits and work within 180 days
Summary
Any exterior change to a building in a San Antonio historic district, or to a designated landmark, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic and Design Review Commission before permits issue. The Office of Historic Preservation and the HDRC review the work against adopted design guidelines.
A certificate of appropriateness shall authorize only those modifications to a building or structure requested in the application and approved as provided herein. ... Applications proposing work or changes to the exterior of a landmark, in a historic district, in a river improvement overlay district, viewshed protection or mission protection overlay district, or a property identified as an eligible resource or recommended for historic designation ... shall require review for appropriateness with the provisions of this article, and any adopted design guidelines.
Full Breakdown
UDC Section 35-451 requires review for appropriateness before any exterior work, new construction, or demolition affecting a landmark or a property in a historic district, river improvement overlay, or viewshed/mission protection overlay. The Historic Preservation Officer refers applications to the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC), which recommends approval, denial, or approval with stipulations within 60 days of a completed application; the Office of Historic Preservation then issues the certificate. Routine repairs and many minor items get administrative staff approval under Section 35-611. Once final design is approved, you must secure permits and start work within 180 days or the certificate becomes null and void.
Violations & Fines
Doing exterior work in a historic district or on a landmark without a Certificate of Appropriateness is a code violation. The Office of Historic Preservation issues stop-work orders and citations, and unpermitted changes must be corrected or reversed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need approval to replace windows or alter a facade in a historic district?
Who approves a Certificate of Appropriateness in San Antonio?
How long is a Certificate of Appropriateness valid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Antonio
Texas rules heatmap·Compare San Antonio to another location·View the Texas historic preservation overview
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