Historic Preservation Initiatives

Multiple initiatives have been pursued to improve and enhance the City's Historic Preservation Program, including:

• A City-wide Architectural Resource Survey (ongoing, grant-funded)
• Implementation of New Incentives for Historic Properties
• Development of the Advanced Fort Lauderdale: Resilient Heritage - Strategic Historic Preservation Plan (outlined below, grant-funded)
• Updates to the Historic Preservation Ordinance (outlined below)

Strategic Historic Preservation Plan

The City of Fort Lauderdale's Strategic Historic Preservation Plan was adopted by the City Commission on December 19, 2023. Preparation of this the Strategic Historic Preservation Plan was identified the first goal as part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and initiatives outlined in the Historic Preservation Element. Within the Comprehensive Plan it states that “the City shall prepare and adopt a long-term approach to historic preservation which identifies and evaluates the City’s historic resources." Funding was obtained from the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources to support this effort and hire our consultant.

View the Strategic Historic Preservation Plan(PDF, 53MB) and view the StoryMap.

(PDF, 53MB)

Past Events

Thursday, March 24, 2022 - Educational Presentation

• 03-24-22 Video Recording
• 03-24-22 Presentation Slides(PDF, 4MB)
• 03-24-22 Agenda(PDF, 87KB)

Thursday, March 31, 2022 - Strategic Historic Preservation Plan Workshop

• 03-31-22 Presentation Slides(PDF, 3MB)
• 03-31-22 Agenda(PDF, 92KB)

Grant funds to support this project were provided from the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources.

Updates to Historic Preservation Ordinances

Multiple updates have been proposed and approved the City of Fort Lauderdale's Historic Preservation Ordinance and related sections of the Unified Land Development Regulations. Below is additional information concerning the implementation of these updates and the adopted amendments.

• Commission Memo 18-182 Adjusted Timeline for Phase I Implementation(PDF, 1MB)
• Commission Memo 18-131 Historic Preservation Update Schedule(PDF, 1MB)
• Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 161KB)

Amendments approved to date include the following:

• ULDR Section 47-32 - Decrease in Number of HPB Members (Approved July 9, 2019)
• ULDR Section 47-24.11 - Historic Preservation Ordinance(PDF, 6MB) (Approved September 12, 2019)
• ULDR Sections 47-27.7 and 47-27.8 - Noticing for Historic Preservation (Approved September 12, 2019)
• ULDR Section 47-3.6; Section 47-16.5; Section 47-16.6; Section 47-16.23; Section 47-17.4; Section 47-17.5; Section 47-17.6; Section 47-36.1; Section 47-36.2 - Renumbering due to changes in above sections(PDF, 5MB) (Approved September 12, 2019)
• ULDR Section 47-20.3 - Parking Reductions and Exemptions for Historic Resources (Approved October 2, 2019)
• ULDR Section 47-24.11.G - Property Tax Exemption for designated local historic resources used for certain commercial or nonprofit purposes (Approved March 3, 2020)
• ULDR Section 47-24.11.H - Waivers for historic preservation and Section 47-3.2 - Nonconforming structures (Approved March 3, 2020)
• ULDR Section 47-27.8 - Noticing requirements for applications for certificates of appropriateness, waivers, and economic hardship (Approved March 3, 2020)
• ULDR Article XII., Section 47-36 - Transfer of Development Rights Program (Approved March 16, 2021)