What Is the Difference Between a Local Historic District and the National Register in Orlando? (2026)
Quick answer
They are different lists. As of November 2026, Orlando has 6 local historic districts and 51 local landmarks, and those local designations trigger city review. A National Register listing, including 12 of those landmarks, does not by itself restrict a private owner unless federal funding or a permit is involved.
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Local historic overlay districts in Orlando | 6 |
| Local historic landmarks | 51 |
| Local landmarks also listed in the National Register | 12 |
| Properties in the 6 local districts, per the city’s FAQ | About 1,800, which the city says is less than 5% of city properties |
| What a local designation can require | A Certificate of Appropriateness for visible work, plus ordinary building permits |
| What a National Register listing requires of a private owner under federal law | No federal restrictions, up to and including demolition, unless federal funding, licensing or permitting is involved |
| How to check a city address | The city’s locator map; a designated property has a Historic Property tab |
Sources: City of Orlando Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation Districts, Find Historic Landmarks and Historic Preservation FAQs pages (checked Nov 10, 2026); National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places FAQs (updated Feb 17, 2026; checked Nov 10, 2026).
What is a local historic district in Orlando?
A local historic district is a city zoning overlay. Orlando has 6 of them, created by the City Council after a Historic Preservation Board process that, the city says, included resident involvement and a vote of property owners in the proposed boundaries. The city’s district page lists Downtown (designated 1980), Lake Cherokee (1981), Lake Copeland (1984), Lake Eola Heights (1989), Lake Lawsona (1994) and Colonialtown South (2000).
The city also designates individual landmarks. The landmarks page says Orlando has 51 historic buildings, sites, structures and objects worthy of preservation, and that 12 of those are also included on the National Register of Historic Places. The city’s FAQ puts the 6 districts at about 1,800 properties, which it says is less than 5% of the properties inside the city. If your address is in one of those districts, or is a local landmark, visible work can require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city, in addition to ordinary building permits.
What does a National Register listing do?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects that the National Park Service has found significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering or culture. It is administered by the National Park Service under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. A listing can open the door to certain federal tax incentives for qualifying income-producing rehabilitation, and it is an honor that many owners mark with a plaque. The Park Service does not issue those plaques itself.
On the restriction side, the Park Service’s FAQ is direct. Under federal law, listing a property in the National Register places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with the property, up to and including destruction, unless the property is involved in a project that receives federal assistance, usually funding or licensing or permitting. The same FAQ notes that state or local preservation laws may still apply, and it tells owners to check with the State Historic Preservation Office before they act.
Can a property be on both lists?
Yes, and several Orlando examples are. The city’s landmarks page says 12 of the 51 local landmarks are also on the National Register. The city’s district page says Lake Eola Heights was designated as a local historic district in 1989 and was listed in the National Register three years later. Parts of the Downtown local district have also been certified for the federal rehabilitation tax credit, and some individual downtown buildings are on the National Register.
When a property is on both lists, the stricter local rules are usually what you feel day to day. The National Register listing, by itself, does not replace the city’s Certificate of Appropriateness requirement, and it does not remove it. If you plan work, start with the city’s locator map and the Historic Preservation Office, not with the plaque on the porch.
Is every older Orlando neighborhood a local historic district?
No, and that is the easy place to get tripped up after watching a neighborhood tour. The November 3, 2026 video discusses College Park, the North Lakes, Delaney Park, Lake Cherokee, Lake Eola Heights and Thornton Park as older parts of Orlando. Only some of those names match the city’s 6 local overlay districts. Lake Cherokee and Lake Eola Heights are local historic districts. College Park, Thornton Park, Delaney Park and the North Lakes are established neighborhoods, but they are not, as whole neighborhoods, on the city’s list of 6 overlay districts.
The way to check a specific house is to enter the address in the city’s locator map. The city’s FAQ says that if the property is designated, a Historic Property tab will appear. Some houses outside a district are still individual local landmarks, and some houses inside a district are non-contributing, which can change what the city reviews. Age alone, even 70 or 100 years, does not create a local historic district.
Have questions about buying or selling here? Call or text 407-706-5000 or visit jaredjones.com.
Jared Jones Team, Brokered by eXp Realty.
Frequently asked questions
Does a National Register plaque mean I need the city’s permission to change my house?
Not by itself. The National Park Service says a National Register listing places no federal restrictions on a private owner unless federal funding, licensing or permitting is involved. If the same property is also a City of Orlando landmark or is in one of the city’s 6 local historic districts, the local rules can require a Certificate of Appropriateness. Check the city’s locator map, not just the plaque.
How many local historic districts does Orlando have?
Six. The city’s Historic Preservation page and its districts page list Downtown (1980), Lake Cherokee (1981), Lake Copeland (1984), Lake Eola Heights (1989), Lake Lawsona (1994) and Colonialtown South (2000). The city also has 51 individual local landmarks, and 12 of those landmarks are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is College Park a local historic district?
No. College Park is one of the older Orlando neighborhoods discussed in the November 3, 2026 video, but it is not one of the city’s 6 local historic overlay districts. Those 6 are Downtown, Lake Cherokee, Lake Copeland, Lake Eola Heights, Lake Lawsona and Colonialtown South. To see whether a particular College Park house is an individual landmark, search the address in the city’s locator map.
If my house is only on the National Register, can I still demolish it?
Under federal law, yes, a private owner is not barred from demolition just because of a National Register listing, unless a federal funding, licensing or permitting action is involved. The National Park Service states that point in its FAQ and also warns that state or local laws may be stricter. In Orlando, a local landmark or local-district designation is what triggers city review. Confirm both statuses before you plan any work.
Are all 1,800 properties in the local districts also on the National Register?
No. The city’s FAQ says the 6 local districts and the individual landmarks account for about 1,800 properties. The landmarks page says 12 of the 51 local landmarks are also on the National Register. Some districts, such as Lake Eola Heights, are listed as districts in the National Register as well. Being in a local overlay and being in a National Register district are separate questions, and you should check both.
How do I find out whether my address is designated?
Use the City of Orlando locator map and enter the street address. The city’s FAQ says that if the property is designated, a tab labeled Historic Property will appear. You can also review the city’s historic district maps and its list of 51 landmarks. For work already planned, call the Historic Preservation Office at 407.246.2269 or email historicpreservation@orlando.gov before you apply for permits.
Sources
- City of Orlando: Historic Preservation (6 local historic overlay districts; 51 landmarks, 12 of them also on the National Register; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- City of Orlando: Historic Preservation Districts (district names and designation years, including Lake Eola Heights local designation in 1989 and National Register listing three years later; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- City of Orlando: Find Historic Landmarks (51 local landmarks, 12 also on the National Register; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- City of Orlando: Historic Preservation FAQs (about 1,800 properties in the 6 districts and landmarks, less than 5% of city properties; use the locator map and the Historic Property tab; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places FAQs (federal listing places no restrictions on a non-federal owner, up to and including destruction, unless federal assistance is involved; page updated Feb 17, 2026; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Jared Jones – Orlando Living (YouTube): Orlando’s Old Neighborhoods: What It’s Like to Live Here (published Nov 3, 2026)
Related guides
- Winter Garden & Horizon West Real Estate (2026): Buy, Sell and Invest Hub
- Do You Need a Certificate of Appropriateness to Renovate a Historic Orlando Home? (2026)
- What Is It Like to Live in Orlando’s Historic Neighborhoods? College Park, Lake Cherokee and Lake Eola Heights (2026)
- How Do You Read a Florida TRIM Notice and Lower Your Tax Bill? (2026)
- Winter Garden Property Taxes Explained: Millage, Homestead, Save Our Homes and Portability (2026)