The Aurora Preservation Commission was established by the Aurora City Council in 1979 to preserve properties that reflect Aurora’s historical, cultural, artistic, social, and ethnic heritage. 

Since the preservation ordinance's inception, the City of Aurora has continued to develop and expand its preservation efforts.

The City of Aurora works to designate, preserve, enhance, and perpetuate those properties and improvements that reflect the historical, cultural, artistic, social, ethnic, or other heritage of the nation, state, or community, or that may be representative of an architectural or engineering type inherently valuable for the study of a style, period, craftsmanship, method of construction, or use of indigenous materials.

One of the primary roles of the Commission is to review Historic Certificate of Appropriateness applications approved by staff and make determinations on appeals in accordance with the Historic District Design Guidelines. Other services offered by the Commission for owners of Aurora’s designated historic properties include design review, technical assistance, professional preservation staff, architectural expertise, and rehabilitation resources.

Preservation Commission meetings are held once a month on the second Thursday following the first Committee of the Whole meeting of the month.