Protection of contemporary cultural properties is a relatively new phenomenon in Poland. After sixteen years of existence of the Act on Spatial Planning and Development, it can be observed that the number of lists of contemporary cultural properties and, as a result, of protected objects themselves is still insufficient. The same problem applies to the small number of local development plans, which are intended by the legislator to provide guidelines for the protection of those buildings. As a result, the protection of contemporary cultural properties in some regions is still unsatisfactory. The article presents examples of the youngest protected objects in Poland and in European countries. Other ways of protecting valuable buildings than the register of monuments and lists of contemporary cultural assets are also presented.