Based on the mapping of legal provisions, normative acts and Heritage Letters, this article discusses the preservation of built heritage in medium-sized Brazilian cities, considering the specificities of their cultural assets, often characterized by modest works that, however, acquired with time important cultural significance as potential objects of the collective memory of its residents. At the end, it presents an innovative experience of safeguarding local heritage, which can contribute as a model for cities with insufficient (or even non-existent) instruments to protect buildings of historical and cultural value.