Historic Preservation

In issuing Certificates of Appropriateness, the Lee County Historic Preservation Ordinance requires a review of the proposed project. In alterations to contributing properties, this review is for compliance with the US Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. For Non-contributing properties, including new construction on vacant sites, this review is for compliance with the Guidelines for New Construction and Remodeling of Non-Contributing Buildings.

Historic Districts

Lee County maintains the cultural heritage of 5 historic districts throughout the county. Within each district are multiple historic sites, each with their own historic value. Below are the historic districts and links to available information regarding each district. Some historic sites are not within the boundaries of a specific district, and are listed separately under Other Sites.

Florida Unmarked Burial Laws

Introduction

Florida has joined with the Federal Government and other states in the passage of laws dealing with the protection of archaeological sites. Rapidly increasing development and illicit digging activities have resulted in the destruction of valuable prehistoric and historic archaeological sites and material. Of particular concern are sites containing native American Indian and other historically significant burials not in marked cemeteries.

Legislative Intent

Chapter 872, Florida Statutes decrees that all human burials and human skeletal remains be accorded equal treatment and respect based upon common human dignity without reference to ethnic origin, cultural background or religious affiliation. This applies to all human burials, human skeletal remains and associated burial artifacts, found upon or within any public or private land in the state, including submerged lands, and excluding native American burials on Federally-owned lands protected by the Native American Graves Repartition Act. Section 872.05, Florida Statutes ("Florida's Unmarked Human Burial Act"), mandates that all types of human burial sites including Indian mounds, "lost" historic and prehistoric cemeteries, and other unmarked burials be responsibly treated once they are discovered, and that certain procedures specified in the law be followed. The law is intended to ensure the protection of burials in place rather that their excavation, although removal is sometimes necessary.

Definitions

An "unmarked human burial" is any human skeletal remains or associated burial artifacts or any location, including any burial mound or earthen or shell monument, where human skeletal remains or associated burial artifacts are discovered or believed to exist on the basis of archaeological or historical evidence, excluding any burial marked or previously marked by a tomb, monument, grave-stone, or other structure or thing placed or designated as a memorial of the dead. [NOTE: The excluded burials are considered "marked human burials" coming under the jurisdiction of 872.02, Florida Statutes]

An "associated burial artifact" is any artifact intentionally buried with human remains, or identified as a possession of an accidentally buried individual.

What to Do

Help protect unmarked burial sites by reporting them to the State Archaeologist, who is also the Chief of the Bureau of Archaeological Research in the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources (BAR). Site forms may be obtained by writing or emailing the Bureau of Archaeological Research's Florida Site File.

Also, any person who knows or has reason to know that an unmarked human burial is being unlawfully disturbed, destroyed, defaced, mutilated, removed, excavated or exposed must immediately notify the local law enforcement agency (sheriff/police) with jurisdiction where the unmarked burial is located.

When an unmarked human burial is discovered, all activity that may disturb the unmarked human burial shall cease immediately, and the district medical examiner (DME, the coroner) shall be notified. The DME will determine whether the remains are under the DME's jurisdictions or that of the State Archaeologist. Activities shall not resume unless authorized by the district medical examiner or State Archaeologist. The telephone number of the State Archaeologist is (904) 487-2299; FAX (904) 488-3353.

What Happens

If the district medical examiner (DME, the coroner) finds that the unmarked human burial may be involved in a legal investigation or represents the burial of an individual who has been dead less than 75 years, the DME shall assume jurisdiction of such burial. If the DME finds that the burial is not involved in a legal investigation and represents the burial of an individual who has been dead 75 years or more, he shall notify the State Archaeologist. The State Archaeologist shall consult a human skeletal analyst who shall report within 15 das as to the cultural and biological characteristics of the human skeletal remains and where such burial or remains should be held prior to final disposition. The State Archaeologist follows the procedures in Florida Department of State Rule 1A-44, Florida Administrative Code, in determining the final disposition of the burial or remains.

Any person who willfully and knowingly disturbs an unmarked burial or burials, or destroys, mutilates, defaces, injures, or removes any burial mound, earthen or shell monument containing human skeletal remains or associated artifacts or other structures or things placed or designed for a memorial, or disturbs the contents of a tomb or grave is guilty of a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine for each offense.

Any person who has knowledge that an unmarked human burial is being disturbed, vandalized, or damaged and fails to notify the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area is guilty of a second degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail and up to $500 in fines.

Report violations to your local law enforcement agency or the State Archaeologist.

Florida Anthropological Society, Inc.
Post Office Box 5142
Gainesville, Florida
and
Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research
Division of Historical Resources
Department of State
with the assistance of
TIMESIFTERS Archaeological Society
A Chapter of the Florida Anthropological Society

Tax Incentives

Certificate to Dig

Designation Report

Procedures for the Lee County Historic Preservation Program

This information will provide homeowners and contractors with a basic understanding of the guidelines used in evaluating the appropriateness of proposed projects involving historic buildings as well as new structures in a historic district. These guidelines are intended to encourage collaboration between the historic district's property owners, members of the building industry and county staff in order to preserve the architectural heritage of the historic district.

In general, the procedures of the Historic Preservation Program are quite streamlined and an applicant should always keep in mind that although obtaining one permit may be contingent upon obtaining approval for other permits, an applicant should always explore the possibility of submitting several applications at the same time. For instance, although a request for zoning relief will not be granted prior to approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness (CA), an applicant could save time and expedite the process by submitting both the CA and zoning relief application at the same time.

The applicant should contact the Lee County Planning Division and request a pre-application conference while a project is still in a conceptual stage. Because historic homes and vacant lots in a historic district may not conform to many current county regulations, an owner wishing to rehabilitate a historic building or to build a new building should take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the pre-application conference. The pre-application conference, an informal meeting with county staff, is not required but is highly recommended. You may submit a pre-application on the internet by clicking here.

Properties within the historic district are designated under the Lee County Historic Preservation Ordinance. In general, improvements to properties designated as contributing properties will be evaluated for compliance with the Secretary of Interior's Standards of Rehabilitation and improvements to properties designated as non-contributing will be evaluated for compliance with the specific historic district's guidelines.

An applicant must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (CA) prior to applying for a building permit. It is a requirement that an approved CA accompany all building permit applications for properties designated under the Lee County Historic Preservation Ordinance. There are two types of CA's, Regular and Special.

Once the CA is issued an applicant can apply for administrative relief (as allowed by county regulations) in order to deal with some specific problems associated with the proposed project.

After obtaining a CA and any other necessary documentation, the applicant can submit an application for a building permit.

Historic Preservation Information

Certificates of Appropriateness