Historic Preservation
The City of West Palm Beach's Historic Preservation Program is responsible for maintaining the heritage of our 18 locally-designated historic districts and 46 individually-designated sites for future generations through design review and guidance. To ensure this, exterior modifications to a historic structure must comply with our Historic Preservation Ordinance and the City's Design Guidelines.
The Historic Preservation Board (HPB) meets on a monthly basis. For more information on the HPB, including membership, application deadlines, and much more, visit Planning Division Boards and Committees.
For questions, or to obtain an application, please contact the Planner on Call at (561) 822-1461 or email us at planning@wpb.org.
Historic Preservation Board Schedule of Deadlines & Meetings
The Historic Preservation Board (HPB) convenes on the fourth Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise announced or adjusted by the Board. To allow adequate time for staff review, public notice requirements, and agenda preparation, all application materials and supporting documentation must be submitted by the deadline corresponding to the HPB meeting held two months prior to the meeting at which the item will be considered.
Applicants proposing major projects or those requiring zoning relief are strongly encouraged to meet with staff prior to submitting a formal application. Pre-application meetings provide an opportunity to discuss project requirements, applicable regulations, review procedures, and potential issues that could affect the review process.
HPB Application Deadlines and Review Process
All HPB application deadlines are strictly enforced. Applications requiring review by the HPB must be submitted through EPL no later than 12:00 am (midnight) on the applicable deadline date. Upon submission, applications will be evaluated for completeness, zoning compliance, and historic and design compatibility. Applicants will receive staff review comments and will have an opportunity to submit revisions prior to the scheduled HPB meeting. Incomplete applications will not be scheduled for Board review or placed on an agenda. For complete submittal requirements of board level applications, please refer to the Historic Preservation Board Project Checklist.(PDF, 324KB)
Application Types and Request Thresholds
Please refer to the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Approval Matrix(PDF, 47KB)
• Staff Level (1) requests may be reviewed by staff concurrently with the submission of a building permit.
• Staff Level (2) requests require a Certificate of Appropriateness – Minor application that may be reviewed and approved administratively by staff if the proposal complies with all applicable zoning and historic preservation requirements. COA–Minor applications may be submitted for administrative review at any time.
• Board Level (X) requests require a Certificate of Appropriateness – Major application and review by the Historic Preservation Board (HPB). In addition, applications requiring a Variance, Class B Special Use Permit, or certain Special Exceptions must also be reviewed and approved by the HPB.
Applications requiring a COA–Minor or COA–Major, Variance, Class B Special Use Permit, or certain Special Exceptions must be submitted electronically through EPL Application Assistant. Please enter the word “Historic” in the Application Assistant search bar to view all applicable application types.
2026 Historic Preservation Awards | Call for Nominations
Find the form below. Once filled out submit them via e-mail to our Historic Preservation team.
2026 Historic Preservation Awards Nomination Form(PDF, 156KB)
Anthony R. Mendez, Historic Preservation Planner: rmendez@wpb.org
Anne Clerisse Gaisha Volcy, Senior Planner: avolcy@wpb.org
Stephanie Gregory, Planning and Zoning Administrator: stgregory@wpb.org
All submissions must be received no later than 5:00PM on Friday, July 10th, 2026.
Home Is Where The History Is - Historic Preservation in WPB
The cultural identity of a city can often be traced back to its historic architecture. An old neighborhood preserves a community’s soul, a snapshot of when life was a little slower – and little things were a bit more meaningful. This City of West Palm Beach podcast with is with the people who run the City’s Historic Preservation Program, Jordan Hodges and Anthony Mendez. Learn how homes become considered historic, and how a city on the move like West Palm Beach is working to remember the past.
Historic Designation Plaque Program
Are you interested in having your historic structure recognized with a beautiful bronze plaque? Learn more on the Historic Preservation Program page!
Additional Helpful Information