Houston Planning & Development Department

The Houston Office of Preservation is hosting its first public hearing on the Norhill Historic District Design Guidelines on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 2:30PM at the City Hall Annex (900 Bagby Street).

From the last public meeting held on November 12th, 2025, staff has completed the edits and is prepared to present the document to the HAHC for the public hearing, which is a requirement before the design guidelines can be presented to city council for final approval.

To leave a comment about this item, please email [email protected] up to 24 hours prior to the meeting. If you wish to speak in-person, sign-up forms are available at the meeting.

Please review the latest iteration of the Norhill Design Guidelines here:https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/norhill/Norhill-Design-Guidelines_Jan2026_CQ-FINAL_draft.pdf

The Houston Office of Preservation has been diligently working with the community to finalize the Norhill Design Guidelines.
From the last public meeting held on November 12th, 2025, staff has completed the edits and is prepared to present the document to the HAHC for the public hearing, which is a requirement before the design guidelines can be presented to city council for final approval.

The Planning and Development Department has drafted Design Guidelines for consideration by City Council.

Historic District: Norhill Historic District

Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission — Public Hearing Information
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, beginning at 2:30p.m.
City Hall Annex Building, 900 Bagby Street, City Council Chamber, Public Level, Houston, TX.

To leave a comment about this item, please email [email protected] up to 24 hours prior to the meeting. If you wish to speak in-person, sign-up forms are available at the meeting.

Please review the latest iteration of the Norhill Design Guidelines here:
https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/norhill/Norhill-Design-Guidelines_Jan2026_CQ-FINAL_draft.pdf

Last month, Historic Preservation Planner Charles Sadler joined our Historic Inspector for a site visit to review a new construction project in the Houston Heights West Historic District. Staff routinely visits sites to inspect progress, offer suggestions, and help answer questions from builders, property owners, and designers.

New construction is allowed in Houston’s historic districts, but it requires approval and adherence to specific design guidelines to ensure compatibility with the neighborhood’s character. A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is required for any new construction, and applicants must follow a review process that considers scale, proportions, height, size, and setbacks, as outlined by the City of Houston’s Historic Preservation Office. While new designs and materials are welcome, they must be used in a way that harmonizes with the surrounding historic context.

For more information, please visit the Planning and Development Department. For questions, concerns, or to request a site visit, contact the Historic Preservation Hotline at 832-393-6556 or email [email protected]

Happy Thanksgiving! City offices will be closed Nov. 27 and 28, 2025, in observance of the holiday.

The Planning Department extends its congratulations to the reappointed members of the Houston Preservation Appeals Board and sincerely thanks them for their continued dedication to preserving the historic character of our communities.