About the Preservation Board
The City of Buffalo established the Preservation Board in 1976. Its powers and responsibilities are derived from Buffalo's Preservation Ordinance, which declares “as a matter of public policy that preservation, protection, conservation, enhancement, perpetuation, and utilization of sites, buildings, improvements, and districts of special character, historical or aesthetic interest, or value are necessary and required in the interest of the health, education, culture, prosperity, safety, and high quality of life of the people.”
The Preservation Board reviews all exterior work to properties designated as local landmarks or located within local historic districts. In its review, the Preservation Board applies the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties, which can be downloaded here.
If proposed work is a repair or replacement in kind, a staff-level review may be possible. If not, the project may require review by the Preservation Board, which meets every two weeks except in the month of August. The Preservation Board meeting agendas can be viewed here.
A list of City of Buffalo landmarks and historic districts can be viewed here. The City of Buffalo's Property Viewer also contains layers showing the location of local landmarks and local historic districts.
In addition to local designations, Buffalo possesses many properties that are either individually listed, or are contributing resources to historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places.
