Historic Preservation Programs
Historic properties in Round Rock
Round Rock’s history can be told through its historic landmarks.
Historic designation and zoning
Historic properties in Round Rock are designated with Historic overlay zoning.
Certificates of appropriateness
Properties with historic overlay zoning may not be altered without a Certificate of Appropriateness issued before work begins.
Local Legends
The Local Legend program recognizes contributions to Round Rock’s history in the areas of historic preservation, history, culture, diversity, and/or heritage.
Historic tax exemption
The goal of the historic property tax exemption program is to encourage proper maintenance and repair of historic properties.
Local history:
(New) Portable History Displays
The Historic Round Rock Collection
Local History Resources
Downtown Historic Building Placards
Preservation Minute Videos
Streetlamp Dedication Plaques
Preservation News and Events
Summer Camps for Young Historians
The Williamson Museum is offering two one-week sessions of its Summer History Explorer’s Camp: Builders
Discovering Round Rock History event series
TBD, May 13, 2025, noon – 1:00 p.m. at the Baca Center Grand Room Lunch
Historic tax exemption applications due April 30
Applications for the 2025 historic tax exemption are due at the Williamson County Appraisal District
Now accepting nominations for the 2025 Local Legends
The Planning and Development Services Department is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Local Legends
Historic Preservation Spotlight: Old Town Round Rock
Learn how Round Rock’s earliest settlement grew near Brushy Creek
Share your historic photos
The Historic Preservation office is trying to improve its photo record of Round Rock buildings.
Preservation Month 2024 Highlights
May is National Preservation Month, when local preservation and civic organizations spotlight their preservation programs and heritage tourism. Round Rock has an expansive network of place savers. For example, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, nonprofits like the Williamson Museum, Round Rock Preservation, and the Old Settlers Association, skilled craftspeople and historic property owners all work to preserve the city’s history. This year we will highlight Round Rock’s “Old Town,” its original settlement that grew at a low water crossing marked by a round rock.
Find the information you need
Round Rock Replay (HPC agendas, minutes, videos)
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) 2025 meeting schedule
Adopted FY2025 HPC Goals
HPC Commissioners: Pamela Anderson (Chair), Sharon Whitaker (Vice-Chair), Tammy Conrad, Shagufta Ellam, Richard Parson, Audrey Simmons, Andrew Wolfe
About the Historic Preservation Commission
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is a citizen commission appointed by the City Council to preserve, protect and promote the City of Round Rock’s historic resources through preservation, public education, community partnerships, and heritage tourism.
The Historic Preservation Commission’s responsibilities include:
- Evaluating Certificate of Appropriateness applications for historically zoned properties
- Evaluating and recommending properties and districts for historic designation
- Recommending Council action concerning applications for the historic properties tax exemption program
- Administering the requirements of the National Park Service’s Certified Local Government Program
For more information please refer to Code of Ordinances Part III Section 10-66: Historic Preservation Commission, or contact Kerstin Harding at 512-218-5421.
Meetings
Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month (usually) in the City Council Chambers. Please refer to the HPC 2024 Meeting Schedule or Round Rock Replay for dates, agendas and meeting video.
Contact Commissioners
Contact HPC commissioners through Kerstin Harding at 512-218-5421. Please send correspondence in care of the Historic Preservation Program, 301 W. Bagdad Avenue, Suite 210, Round Rock, TX 78664.
Membership & Qualifications
HPC members are appointed by the City Council. The seven members of the Historic Preservation Commission serve staggered two-year terms. Members should have some expertise in architecture, history, archaeology, planning or community design. Members must be registered voters and have been residents of Round Rock for at least twelve months.
Over the past few decades, Round Rock has increasingly recognized the importance of historic places in the community. When the city adopted its historic preservation ordinance in 1979, it paved the way for an upswing in historic preservation and restoration efforts in the 1980s and 1990s. The Partial Tax Exemptions for Historically Significant Sites program was established in 1982 and the Round Rock Downtown Commercial District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Historic Preservation Program Resources
Round Rock Historic Preservation Plan for 2020-2030 (pdf) 
FY2021 Preservation Plan Update (pdf)
FY2022 Preservation Plan Update (pdf)
FY2023 Preservation Plan Update (pdf)
FY2024 Preservation Plan Update (pdf)
2010-2013 Survey and Inventory of Historic Resources
Historic Designation & Historic Overlay Zoning
Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 Review (brochure, pdf)
Information for historic property owners about designating your property, making changes to a historic property, and the historic tax exemption.
Care and Maintenance of Historic Properties
Mortar Repair: a Guide for Historic Property Owners (pdf)
Preservation Briefs (National Park Service)
Technical Preservation Services (National Pal Service)
Technical Guidelines for historic projects (General Services Administration)
Technical Procedures, References and Specifications (General Services Administration)
Making Changes to Historic Properties
Making changes to historic properties
Certificate of Appropriateness application packet 2023
Historic Design Guidelines for Residential Properties (pdf)
Historic Design Guidelines for Commercial Properties (pdf)
Historic Tax Exemption
Historic property Tax Exemption
Partial Tax Exemption for Historically Significant Properties (brochure, pdf)
Historic Designation
Historic Designation & Historic Overlay Zoning
Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts (pdf) updated 2024
Round Rock currently has 79 city-designated historic landmarks, of which 37 are also designated by the State of Texas and/or National Register of Historic Places.
Historic Downtown Walking Guide (2023 ed.) paper copies available from Communications and Planning Departments
Historic Architecture in Round Rock
Historical Markers in and Near Round Rock
Downtown Historic District (National Register District)
Chisholm Trail Historic Area
Local history
Local History Resources
The Historic Round Rock Collection
Sam Bass and the Great Round Rock Shootout of July 19, 1878 (pdf)
Historic Preservation Program Overview
Previous Planning and Development Services Director Brad Wiseman presented an overview of Round Rock’s historic preservation program at the April 9, 2019 City Council packet briefing. For more information about the historic preservation program, watch the presentation video or check out the historic preservation program slides (pdf).
Stagecoach Inn
Local Legend Awards
The Historic Round Rock Collection
Preservation Minutes (videos about Round Rock history and preservation)
Downtown Historic Building Placards
Street Lamp Plaques
Round Rock Historic Preservation Plan for 2020-2030
Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts (pdf)
Historic Design Guidelines for Residential Properties (pdf)
Historic Design Guidelines for Commercial Properties (pdf)
Partial Tax Exemption for Historically Significant Properties (brochure, pdf)
Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 Review (brochure, pdf)
Care and Maintenance of Historic Properties
Mortar Repair: a Guide for Historic Property Owners (pdf)
Preservation Briefs (National Park Service)
Technical Preservation Services (National Pal Service)
Technical Guidelines for historic projects (General Services Administration)
Technical Procedures, References and Specifications (General Services Administration)
Historic Preservation in Round Rock
St. Charles Hotel (built ca. 1870)
The City of Round Rock was founded in the 1840s where the Chisholm Trail crosses Brushy Creek, at the area now known as “Old Town.” In 1876, many of the businesses and residents moved to the current downtown area (“New Town”) when the railroad extended its tracks there. Since then, the City has grown steadily.
As it grows, the City of Round Rock works with owners of older and historic properties to encourage maintenance and upkeep, as well as retention of the historic character of buildings, structures, sites, and districts. The Department of Planning and Development Services (PDS) manages the City’s historic preservation programs. These include:
- Advising property owners who want to renovate historic buildings and approving their proposed changes
- City-wide preservation planning
- Maintaining an inventory of historic properties
- Designating local landmarks and historic districts
- Managing a property tax exemption program available to historic property owners
- Educating the public about Round Rock’s history and the City’s preservation programs
The city’s Historic Preservation Office is part of the Planning and Development Services Department and manages city preservation programs such as the historic tax exemption program, historic designations, and maintaining a city historic resources survey. Contact the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) or preservation staff through Planner Kerstin Harding at 512-218-5428 or kharding@roundrocktexas.gov.
Round Rock Preservation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes the protection, preservation, and support for historic preservation in Round Rock. Its members conduct educational events about Round Rock history and advocate for the preservation of specific historic properties. Contact Round Rock Preservation through their website or email at roundrockpreservation@gmail.com.
