Evaluation and Designation of Historic Properties

Determining whether or not a building is "historic" is a three-step process that first involves Identification followed by Evaluation and finally Designation. Not all old buildings meet the legal or generally-accepted definitions of "historic", but is important to note that there are different definitions, processes, and criteria used to evaluate historic significance.

Identification of historic properties

Generally speaking, the first step in historic preservation projects, research, and documentation is the identification of potentially historic properties. For purposes of the National Register of Historic Places, properties must generally be at least 50 years old or older to be considered for listing. When properties are identified, researchers, consultants, owners, or community members may record basic information about a property including construction date, architectural style and notable features, important persons or events associated with the property, and take photographs to document the property. For archeological resources, this may involve historical research, examination of reports about other archeological resources in the area, and may include some ground disturbance to determine if resources do exist.

Simply documenting a property does not mean that it is historically significant or designated in any way. This is simply a research activity to gather basic information and determine what, if any, the next steps should be. All data gathered through survey projects in Maryland is collected in the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties and is made available to the public online or by visiting the MHT Library.

The MIHP is solely an instrument for research and documentation: Inclusion in the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties involves no regulatory restrictions or controls. 

Maryland state law provides mechanisms – separate from the MIHP – giving both the State and local jurisdictions the authority to regulate appropriately designated historic resources.

Read more about the Maryland Inventory and its planning and regulatory implications.

Evaluating historical significance

After a potentially historic property has been identified, its significance to local, state, or national history, architecture, and/or culture is evaluated against objective criteria. The most common set of criteria used for evaluation is the National Register of Historic Places Criteria for Eligibility.

National Register Criteria 

To be eligible for the National Register, a property must demonstrate significance in terms of one or more of four broad criteria

• events or trends;
• association with individuals who made a demonstrable and lasting contribution;
• architectural merit;
• or the potential to yield information that will contribute to a better understanding of our past. 

Significance is evaluated in a national, state, or local context. 

Integrity

 In addition to demonstrating significance, a property must retain physical integrity to reflect that significance; it must not have been substantially altered since the period when the event occurred, or the person lived there. 

• Architecturally significant properties must retain the majority of the features that characterize their type. 
• Archeological sites must remain intact.

Local governments may determine their own criteria for evaluating historic properties, but these generally follow the National Register of Historic Places criteria. However, please contact your local Historic Preservation Commission for more information.

Designation of properties as "historic"

There is no one definition of a “historic” building.  Instead there are a variety of “historic” designations at the federal, state and local levels.  The type of regulation depends on the type of historic designation on the property.  These designations do not mean that property owners are prohibited from making any changes to a property; they ensure that changes made to a property do not harm important historic features.  There are three types of designation of which you should be aware:  

• Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties:  Listing on the MIHP does not trigger any regulatory review.  The MIHP is solely a research and educational tool.
  
• National Register of Historic Places:  Projects involving properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places (individually listed or within districts) are reviewed by MHT for compliance with State and federal laws, generally referred to as Section 106 Review only if state or federal funds, licenses or permits are involved [e.g. highway funding, Preserve America grants, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses, and Corps of Engineers permits].   If there are no state or federal licenses, permits or funding involved in your project, then there is no review of National Register-listed properties.
  
• Local Historic Designation:  Local Historic Designation is the most common review associated with historic properties.  In Maryland, county and municipal governments may choose to enact a historic area zoning ordinance that is consistent with Article 66B, Section 8.01-8.17.  Under such an ordinance, local elected officials designate individual historic properties or historic districts and appoint a Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to review and approve exterior changes to designated properties.  This includes changes to windows, doors, walls, roofs, porches, yards, sidewalks, storefronts, signs, etc.  The HPC review does not include interior arrangements, zoning, or how a building is used.   Generally, work that does not involve a change in design, materials, or appearance (e.g. painted a previously painted building) is considered "ordinary maintenance" and is not subject to HDC review.
  

In some cases, properties may have multiple designations.  If a property is listed on the National Register and designated as a local landmark or within National Register or local historic districts, then both reviews, if applicable, would be required.