Conservation District

Conservation Districts and their Purpose:

To protect and preserve neighborhoods like Greenland Hills, one of the tools municipalities like Dallas use to maintain and enhance such neighborhoods is by establishing Conservation Districts. The goal of establishing a Conservation District is to conserve an area’s distinctive atmosphere or character by protecting or enhancing its significant architectural or cultural attributes.

What this means to the Homeowners of Greenland Hills:

Any work that alters the exterior appearance of a Greenland Hills home will require the homeowner to submit a Conservation District Work Review [CDWR] for various scopes of work, including exterior work on the lot that may not necessarily require a building permit. The CDWR application is a separate process from the building permit application and is reviewed by Planning & Urban Design Staff. The application process is electronic. Review the “About Us” section of the Planning and Urban Design page. Look for “Project Box” to complete a CDWR submission.

• P+UD page
• Project Box Application
• M Streets / Greenland Hills CD 9

Examples of the Types of Work that Require CD Approvals:

• Building a New Fence
• Altering “Waterfall Steps” leading from the sidewalk to the house
• Replacing Windows and Doors
• New Roof
• Hardscapes of Front Lawns
• Altering or replacing the driveway
• Demolishing a home
• Altering/replacing/building a garage
• Altering/Removing Brickwork or Stonework
• Any and all Exterior Modifications including enclosing or opening a porch and painting the exterior of the home

How CD 9 is Enforced:

Even if the work is appropriate and meets the Conservation District guidelines, the homeowner must submit for the CDWR and be granted approvals. The penalty for not securing approvals can result in a fine not to exceed $2,000 per day per offense.

Code Compliance is the City of Dallas department which enforces the Conservation District guidelines.