Akron, OH Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Article 2 of Chapter 31, adopted by Ord. 388-1997, creates the seven-member Urban Design and Historic Preservation Commission under § 31.391 to act "in an advisory capacity to the City government in connection with historic preservation." Members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council for staggered three-year terms and paid one hundred dollars per meeting; the Director of the Summit County Historical Society (or a designee) and a representative of the Akron Area Board of Realtors sit as standing members, and at least one member must be an architect.

To start a designation under § 31.394, "[a]ny individual or group wishing to have a structure, site or district designated a historic landmark shall file with the Planning and Urban Development Department a designation application." The code sets the fee at a nonrefundable $75 for a structure or site and $250 for a district. If the applicant does not own the property, they must notify the owner by certified mail and file proof of that notice; no further action occurs until thirty days after the owner is notified. The Planning Department then forwards a report and conservation guidelines to the Commission, which must hold a public hearing and, at least fifteen days beforehand, invite the property owners, all owners within five hundred feet of the proposed designation, and anyone who requested notice.

Under § 31.392, the Commission reviews and approves or denies Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior alterations, environmental changes, or demolition affecting a designated landmark or district, and recommends landmark and district designations to the Planning Commission. Section 31.393 additionally requires Commission review of designs for structures built on city land, and of private structures such as arches, bridges or awnings that extend over public streets, before the Planning Commission or Council can approve construction.