In 1979 the Palm Beach Town Council, in order to stop the loss of the town’s historic resources, adopted a Historic Preservation Ordinance. This ordinance appointed a 7-member Landmarks Preservation Commission, 6 of whom must be town residents, to identify significant structures, check them against a set of criteria and choose the best examples as landmarks of the Town of Palm Beach. This Commission also determines historic districts and scenic areas.
Criteria for landmark designation includes properties associated with events of historic interest or lives of persons historically significant; outstanding example of architectural design, or significant work of a notable architect or master craftsman. The Committee also reviews changes and alterations to existing Landmark properties.
Currently there are 246 Landmarked properties, sites and vistas, and ten properties and one scenic vista are now being considered to receive the Landmark designation. Included are properties designed by Marion Simms Wyeth, John Volk, Treanor and Fatio and examples of a bungalow, Moorish Revival-style, Neoclassical style, Georgian Revival style, Mediterranean Revival and Mission style home.
There are some property tax advantages to being a Landmarked property.
