Historic Preservation Board

About the Historic Preservation Board

Pinellas County Historic Courthouse

Pinellas County enjoys a rich and diverse culture and historic past. The historical, cultural and aesthetic heritage is among its most valued assets. Few urban areas today boast such unique perspectives of the past. Because of widespread growth and redevelopment in recent years, it is critical to the future of our County that we preserve and maintain significant elements of its history where possible. The Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan provides a foundation for the County’s historic preservation policy.

With this in mind, in June 2005, the Board of County Commissioners created the Historic Preservation Task Force comprised on historic preservation professionals, interested citizens and municipal representatives to begin work on a historic preservation ordinance. . The resolution established a 15-member Historic Preservation Task Force (which was renamed in 2008 as the Pinellas County Historic Preservation Advisory Board) to study, analyze, and develop a historic preservation program for Pinellas County. This Study was the first countywide study ever to be conducted for Pinellas County and its 24 municipalites. This study contains a historic context, historic resource inventory and recommendations for the County and each of the 24 municipalites for the future historic preservation planning.

• View the Pinellas County Countywide Cultural Resource Study (43 Mb)

In 2008, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the ordinance, affirming historic preservation as County policy and establishing the Historic Preservation Advisory Board. In 2013, the Board of County Commissioners amended the County's historic preservation ordinance, transforming the Advisory Board into the Historic Preservation Board with existing and new responsibilities, including such things as:

• Updating the historic resources inventory/database
• Developing and promoting historic preservation programs, including responsibility for local landmark and landmark area designations
• Providing educational outreach and technical assistance on historic preservation
• Reviewing applications for historic designations
• Making decisions on certificates of appropriateness

In September of 2015, as a result of the County’s ongoing historic preservation commitment, and based on meeting specific requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act, Pinellas County was designated by the State of Florida as a Florida Certified Local Government.

Within the unincorporated area of the County, there is one designated historic district, the Old Palm Harbor Downtown District (with specific development regulations and requirements).

Today, the Historic Preservation Board welcomes input from all citizens and the perspectives of all those who can continue to enhance the rich heritage of Pinellas County.

The Pinellas County Planning Department provides staff support to the Historic Preservation Board. If you have comments, questions, ideas or concerns, you can email us or call the Planning Department at (727) 464-8200.