Planning & Development

Norhill District Design Guidelines

Timeline

• June 18: HAHC - Consideration of Norhill Historic District Design Guidelines; Approved with Conditions
• July 16: HAHC - Norhill Historic District Design Guidelines Presentation
• August 13: HAHC - Possible reconsideration of conditionally approved guidelines
• TBD: HAHC - Final consideration of guidelines
• TBD: City Council Quality of Life Committee presentation
• TBD: City Council consideration

Project Scope

As required by the City of Houston Code of Ordinances, the Houston Office of Preservation initiated a process to develop design guidelines for the Norhill Historic District.

The Norhill Historic District Design Guidelines are being created to:

• preserve the historic character
• maintain the traditional building scale in front
• maintain the traditional lot coverage
• develop context sensitive design
• clarify the existing historic preservation ordinance
• provide a user-friendly design guidelines document

Project Overview

The Houston Office of Preservation (HOP) began working with the Norhill neighborhood in 2016 to develop a set of guidelines that would provide predictability to property owners and the community. Workshops and meetings were held to discuss the purpose, scope and details of proposed guidelines. The process was put on hold during the Covid pandemic. Last summer, the Norhill Neighborhood Association (NNA) asked the HOP to resume the process and submitted a revised draft that included measurable standards. The NNA hosted meetings to engage property owners in reviewing the draft restrictions.

The HOP is hosting meetings to review the latest draft and get comments from property owners in the district. When a significant number of property owners agree on the draft guidelines, the HOP will present them to the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission. The HAHC will consider the draft recommendations and vote request City Council approval or ask the HOP and the neighborhood to refine the guidelines.

Project Manager

Geoff Butler

Project Manager
Planning and Development Dept.
City of Houston
T: 832.393.6528
E: geoff.butler@houstontx.gov

Norhill Documents

• Draft Norhill Historic District Guidelines (June 2026, Revisions)
• Draft Norhill Historic District Guidelines (May 2026)
• Draft Norhill Historic District Guidelines (January 2026)
• Draft Norhill Historic District Guidlines (November 2025)
• Norhill June 2025 Survey With Comments
• Norhill Survey Announcement (May 2025)
• Draft Norhill Historic District Guidlines (May 2025)
• Norhill Poll Results (April - May 2024)
• Public Comments and Answers

Helpful Links

• Houston Preservation Tracker (HPT)
• Historic Preservation Appeals Board
• Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC)
• Historic Preservation Home Page
• Planning Dept Home Page