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Historic preservation involves recognizing the locations, sites and resources from our history that have survived, determining their significance and worth to us now, and maintaining, utilizing, and caring for these important locations, sites, and resources to ensure their survival in the future.

Any action that identifies, safeguards, restores, or improves historic resources is known as historic preservation. The identification, assessment, designation and maintenance of historic buildings, objects, sites, assets, and districts are the goals of historic preservation initiatives at the national, state, and local levels in the United States.

The preservation of historically significant structures, settings and locations is significantly aided by historic landmark designation, which can protect buildings and sites from alteration and demolition. 

In Miami-Dade County, the Historic Preservation Board has the authority to designate local historic sites under the process found in the County’s historic preservation ordinance, which is designed to protect, enhance and perpetuate properties of historical, cultural, archeological, paleontological, aesthetic and architectural merit.

Properties with historic designation require review by the Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) or the Historic Preservation Board prior to making certain changes. Most review is done at the OHP staff level without any fees and generally takes one to two days.

Designated properties are also eligible for the County’s historic preservation ad valorem tax exemption program. This program can exempt certain County ad valorem taxes for qualifying construction projects.

Designated properties under nonprofit or government ownership may also be eligible for various historic preservation grants.