The concept of sustainable development is the subject of a series of discussions and debates. Sustainability, which emerged as a result of environmental concerns, has become a comprehensive concept with the addition of social components in the following years. In 1987, the United Nations Commission on Environment and Development’s (UNCED) “Our Common Future” report, also known as the “Brundtland Report,” provided the most widely accepted and effective definition of “sustainable development.” Today, sustainable development goals are used as a method to ensure the sustainability of cities and societies. In this study, sustainable development is addressed within the scope of the social sustainability component, specifically for historic environments. Using the content analysis method, we examined 29 architectural conservation charters published since the Brundtland Report. The analysis results indicate that the concept of sustainable development began to be included in conservation charters in the late 1990s, and social sustainability was emphasized as a driving force for sustainable development. As a result, this study provides a general framework for social sustainability criteria in historic environments and architectural heritage.