Historic Preservation

If you are considering exterior improvements to your home or building, please take a look the design guidelines. Staff also recommends emailing [email protected] to schedule an appointment to discuss your project before finalizing architectural designs or purchasing construction materials like windows and doors.

The City of Lake Worth Beach is dedicated to integrating historic preservation into the local planning process and to increasing public awareness of our community’s unique history. In 1996, the City Commission adopted a Historic Preservation ordinance designed to protect the City’s historic built environment by instituting a design review process overseen by the volunteer Historic Resources Preservation Board. Since adoption, Lake Worth Beach has designated six local historic districts and four structures significant to the local history with several recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

Certificate of Appropriateness

A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is a document stating that the proposed work is appropriate for a historic property and meets the Historic Preservation Ordinance and Historic Preservation Design Guidelines for the City of Lake Worth Beach. The COA is required before exterior work begins and before a building permit can be issued for a property located within a historic district or an individually designated landmark. The COA process protects historic properties from being adversely altered or demolished.

Please contact the Historic Preservation Division for specific information about what is needed for a Certificate of Appropriateness and the approval process.

All projects must comply with zoning requirements, for more information, please visit our Planning and Zoning Page.