Historic Preservation works with the community to protect the places that tell Boulder’s story over time — from historic homes and architecture to neighborhood landmarks. We help property owners with technical support, funding options and clear review processes, and we encourage creative ways to reuse historic buildings.
Preserving and reusing old buildings saves energy and materials, supports local jobs and small businesses, maintains property values and keeps our community’s history and character alive.
Since 1974, the City of Boulder has honored, preserved and protected buildings and areas through Landmark Designation. The city has 10 historic districts and more than 225 individual landmarks. While this totals more than 1,300 designated properties, fewer than three percent of properties in the city are formally designated.
Historic Preservation At A Glance
Not all properties in the City of Boulder are protected, even if they are very old. The age of the building doesn't automatically give it historic preservation designation. Historic properties can be recognized at the local, state or federal level, depending on their significance. Each level has different requirements and benefits for property owners. All historic properties reflect a portion of our community's history.
Is My Property Historic?
A historic property can be any building, site or object with a meaningful connection to Boulder's history — such as ties to important people, events or architectural design. Not all buildings in the City of Boulder are designated, even if they are very old. The age of the building doesn't automatically give it historic preservation designation. To find out if your property is a landmark or in a historic district, refer to the Map of Historic Districts & Landmarks.
Landmarking a property can happen at the local, state or national level. Properties may be recognized individually or as part of a historic district, where each “contributing” building helps tell the district’s story.
All exterior changes to a property designated as an individual landmark or located within a historic district require review and approval through a Landmark Alteration Certificate (LAC).
If your property is older than 50 years old but NOT designated as an individual landmark or in a historic district, your project may need to be reviewed under Historic Preservation Demolition Review criteria. Refer to Historic Preservation Demolition Review for details.
