Historic Preservation

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The Board of Commissioners of the City of McAllen declared in 2002 that the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of landmarks or districts of historical and cultural importance and significance is necessary to promote the economic, cultural, educational and general welfare of the public. They declared that the buildings and structures of the City of McAllen represent the unique confluence of time and place that shaped the identity of generations of citizens, collectively and individually, and produced significant historic, architectural, and cultural resources that constitute the City of McAllen heritage. The adopted historic preservation ordinance is intended to:

Protect and enhance the landmarks and districts which represent distinctive elements of McAllen's historic, architectural, and cultural heritage

Foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past

Protect and enhance McAllen's attractiveness to visitors and the support and stimulus to the economy thereby provided

Insure the harmonious, orderly, and efficient growth and development of the City of McAllen

Promote economic prosperity and welfare of the community by encouraging the most appropriate use of such historic buildings and structures within the city

Encourage stabilization, restoration and improvements of such buildings.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to let people inside my building once designated as historic?

No. Letting people inside your building is optional.

Are there different levels of historic designations?

Yes, there are. The national designation is more for prestigious reasons but qualifies you for tax credits for restoration projects on income-producing properties. The state designation gives you the most attractive markers with the history of the property depicted in the marker. The city designation gives the owner the biggest protection from future demolitions or inappropriate restorations.

Does my property qualify for property tax incentives?

If your property is a designated city landmark or within a designated historic district you may qualify for property tax incentives. Please consult with the city’s Historic Preservation Officer for more information.

Do I have to get permission to make changes to my historically designated property?

A certificate of appropriateness is required in order to get a building permit to make alterations or additions to your building. This ensures that the changes do not negatively affect the historic designation of the property and will not disqualify you from future property tax incentives.

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File	Type	Size	Uploaded on	Download
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS	PDF	254.22 KB	06 Oct, 2026	Download
LANDMARK HPC	PDF	200.45 KB	06 Oct, 2026	Download
las-palmas-historic-district-design-standards	PDF	7.12 MB	23 Apr, 2022	Download
Property Tax Incentives Breakdown	PDF	15.10 KB	02 Apr, 2014	Download
Local Landmark Application Form	PDF	92.59 KB	02 Apr, 2014	Download
Example of City Landmark Application	PDF	5.63 MB	02 Apr, 2014	Download
Guidelines to Designate your Property as a City Landmark	PDF	1.81 MB	02 Apr, 2014	Download
2005 South Survey Map	PDF	219.60 KB	02 Apr, 2014	Download
2005 North Survey Map	PDF	216.72 KB	02 Apr, 2014	Download
2005 Historic Resources Survey Final Report	PDF	1.90 MB	02 Apr, 2014	Download
17th Street Downtown Design Guidelines	PDF	8.84 MB	02 Apr, 2014	Download
Historic Preservation Plan	PDF	10.03 MB	02 Apr, 2014	Download