Historic Districts and Landmarks

NOMINATION

To initiate the process, a completed Landmark Nomination form must be submitted to the Department of Planning.

Nominations will not be accepted on old or outdated forms. Please be sure to download the current form and instructions. Historic Preservation Staff can answer questions about the nomination process, and may be able to assist with identifying available information about historic properties, but generally will not have time to conduct original research or prepare nomination forms.

Please note, that submitting a nomination does not provide any protections over a property or structure. Protections are not enabled until Stage 2.

HELPFUL DOCUMENTS

• How to Complete a Landmark Nomination
• Sample Nomination Form

STAFF REVIEW

After the nomination is submitted, staff will review it for completeness and that it has sufficient information. If the nomination is found to be incomplete or contain insufficient information, it will be returned to the nominator.

After the nomination is determined complete, staff will conduct additional research to determine if the property is eligible to be a Landmark based on the criteria that was used to justify the nomination. Staff will make a recommendation to the LPC on whether or not the property qualifies, at its Landmark Hearing.

NOTICE

1. After a nomination has been determined complete and staff review has been initiated or completed, the nomination will be placed on the agenda at a regularly scheduled meeting of the LPC.
2. Staff will schedule a hearing and then post a sign on the property giving notice of the date, time and location of the Landmark Hearing. The sign must be posted within 45 to 60 days before the scheduled Public Hearing. After a sign is posted, the property is protected by Article 32, Title 7 of the Baltimore County Code.
3. The property owner will be notified of the public hearing date by certified mail. The nominator, if different from the property owner, will be emailed.

LPC HEARING

1. At the public hearing, which occurs at one of the LPC’s regular scheduled monthly meeting, staff will present the nomination and their findings based on any additional research.  Then the LPC will take testimony for and against the nomination from the public, if any.
2. The LPC will then have a discussion to determine, based on the nomination and staff’s additional research and review, that the nomination qualifies by meeting the criteria presented in the nomination. The property owner and nominator are notified regardless of the LPC’s decision. 
   1. If a structure qualifies—The LPC will vote to place it on the Preliminary Landmarks List. 
   2. If the nomination does not qualify—The nomination stops here. The property cannot be nominated again by anyone other than the property owner for three years.

After the LPC voted to place a property on the Preliminary Landmarks List:

1. Staff sends a packet of information to the Office of County Executive. The Office of the County Executive notifies the County Council of the new listing on the Preliminary Landmarks List. The County Executive may review the action, but does not have the authority to veto or modify the LPC’s decision.
2. County Council staff are responsible for scheduling the hearing to review the addition to the Preliminary Landmarks List.  There is no set timeline for when a Preliminary Landmark structure gets reviewed by the County Council. It could take two to 18 months or longer.  For owner-nominated properties, our office recommends communicating with the Council person for the district where the Preliminary Landmark is located.
   Important Note: A property on the Preliminary Landmarks list has the same protections as those listed on the Final Landmarks List (subject to Article 32 Title 7, of the Baltimore County Code). However, they may not qualify for the County’s Historic Rehabilitation Property Tax Credit program until after the property is added to the Final Landmarks list.
3. When a County Council hearing date is set, staff notifies the property owner at least 30 days prior to the meeting.
4. At the County Council hearing, staff will briefly introduce the bill to add Preliminary Landmark to the Final Landmarks List at the County Council hearing.
5. The Council may vote to place the property on the Final Landmarks List.
   1. If the Council votes to add the property to the Final Landmarks List—The property gets added to the official Final Landmarks list, available for public viewing on our website and County GIS.
   2. If the County Council chooses not to add a property on the Final Landmarks List—The property loses its protected status 90 days after the County Council's public hearing
6. After the property becomes a Final Landmark, it will be able to apply for tax credits.