What is a "Historic Preservation Commission?"

A Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) comprises 11 volunteer members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Members must have demonstrated interest, experience, or knowledge related to historic preservation. The HPC is responsible for overseeing the inventory and designation of Historic Landmark properties. The HPC also makes recommendations on nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. It also reviews applications to repair, alter, relocate, or demolish designated historic properties.

How are historic properties identified and documented?

Historic properties are identified through a survey in which properties of at least 50 years of age are inventoried, photographed and documented in a database. Thematic surveys may also be conducted for certain property types such as farms, schools or churches. Guilford County began inventorying historic properties in 1979 with updates in 1982 and 1995.   

What is the difference between "Historic Districts" and “Historic Landmarks?

Historic Districts are geographically defined areas that contain a concentration of historic properties that share common historic events, architectural features, or physical development characteristics. Historic Landmark designations are typically single structures but may be a collection of buildings such as a historic farmstead or mill complex.

What guidance is available for changes to Historic District and Landmark properties?

Once a property has been designated as a Historic Landmark, the HPC provides for a process to ensure that proposed changes will retain the character of the property. The designation report includes Review Standards that are used by the HPC, applicants, and the Planning staff to determine if proposed changes to historic properties are appropriate. The Review Standards include and expand further upon on the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation as outlined by the National Park Service. A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is then issued to indicate that the proposed project or changes have been found by the HPC or its staff to be in keeping with the historic character of the property. The process for COA project review is outlined in Article 3 of the Guilford County Unified Development Ordinance. 

Historic Landmarks Program FAQs

What is a Guilford County Historic Landmark? 

A Historic Landmark is an individual building, structure, object, site, or area, that is recognized through official designation by the Guilford County Board of County Commissioners. The property must be deemed and found by the Guilford County Historic Preservation Commission* to be of historical, prehistorical, architectural, archaeological, and/or cultural significance, and to possess integrity of design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling and/or association. There are more than 100 individual properties designated as Historic Landmarks in Guilford County.  

What are the benefits of designating a property as a Historic Landmark? 

Honor – Historic Landmark designation is an honor that is bestowed on only a few of the County’s significant properties each year. 

Deferred Property Taxes - The owner of a privately-owned Historic Landmark is eligible for an annual 50% property tax deferral, as long as the special historic character of the property is maintained.  

Design and Technical Assistance – Design review standards based on the Secretary of Interior’s Standards (of the National Park Service) guide the Historic Landmark owner in planning  changes in such a way that a Landmark’s historic value  and character is preserved. The Planning and Development Department staff can provide technical preservation assistance to owners of Historic Landmarks upon request. 

How are Historic Landmarks designated? 

The Board of County Commissioners designates Historic Landmarks upon recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). Procedures for Historic Landmark designation are established in the Guilford County Ordinance, Article 3. 

Eligibility – Guilford County’s survey of historic architecture is used as a guide to evaluate a property’s eligibility for Historic Landmark designation. In addition, the HPC maintains an inventory of historic properties, which includes properties that are potentially eligible. Other properties may be eligible; however, it is suggested that the applicant discuss the property’s eligibility with staff before proceeding with an application. Historic Landmark designation is usually initiated by the property owner or the Historic Preservation Commission. 

Application and Designation Report – A Historic Landmark designation application is completed and submitted to the staff of the Historic Preservation Commission. The report must include current data about the property and site; a complete description of the property proposed for designation; pertinent historical information; and photographs. The Historic Landmark designation application specifies the information required. There are professional standards for designation applications, and typically architectural historians or qualified preservation consultants will prepare an application on behalf of the interested party. 

Historic Preservation Commission Recommendation – Once staff determines that the report is complete, it is submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission for review and recommendation the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Staff forwards the application to the State Historic Preservation Office for non-binding review and comment on the report. The State has thirty (30) days to respond. 

Public Hearing – Comments from the property owner, the State Historic Preservation Office, and other interested parties will be heard at the appropriate HPC’s public hearing. At a subsequent meeting, the HPC will make a final recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, which will then vote on adopting the designation ordinance. 

Notification – Upon adoption, written notice of the designation is mailed to the property owner. A certified copy of the ordinance is also mailed to the owner after it is filed with the Guilford County Register of Deeds. 

How do Historic Landmarks obtain a property tax deferral? 

Historic Landmarks are eligible for the property tax deferral beginning in the year following designation. The tax deferral is claimed by submitting an application for Historic Property Deferment and a copy of the Historic Landmark ordinance to the Guilford County Tax Assessor during the January tax listing period. 

Please note that it takes several months for the completion of the Historic Landmark designation process. In order to ensure an adequate amount of processing time, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends that property owners who wish to meet the December 31 deadline set by the N. C. General Statutes submit a completed designation application form and report no later than August 1. 

What happens if a property receiving the tax deferral loses its Historic Landmark status?

If a designated Historic Landmark loses its landmark status due to demolition or alterations that affect the special character of the property, the owner will be responsible for up to three (3) years of back taxes plus statutory interest.

For more information on the Guilford County Historic Landmarks program, please call Guilford County Planning and Development Office at 336-641-3334.