Cary, NC Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Who Can Apply
- Resident, owner, Commission, or Council
- State Review Window
- 30 days for NC DNCR comment
- Violation Penalty
- 48-month ban on redevelopment plans
- Recording
- Filed with Wake County Register of Deeds
Summary
The Town of Cary designates historic landmarks by ordinance when the Historic Preservation Commission finds a property has special historical, architectural, or cultural significance, following public hearings before the Commission and Town Council.
Town Council may adopt and from time to time amend or repeal an ordinance designating one (1) or more historic landmarks. No property shall be recommended for designation as a landmark unless it is deemed and found by the Historic Preservation Commission to be of special significance in terms of its historical, prehistoric, architectural or cultural importance, and to possess integrity of design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling and/or association.
(2) Inventory of Possible Landmarks As a guide for the identification and evaluation of landmarks, the Historic Preservation Commission shall maintain an inventory of properties of historical, architectural, and cultural significance within the land development jurisdiction of the town.
(3) Application An application for the designation of a property as a historic landmark may be submitted to staff by any of the following:
(a) The Historic Preservation Commission
(b) The Town Council
(c) The Planning Department; and/or
(d) Any resident or property owner within the zoning jurisdiction of the town.
(e) Any resident or property owner within the zoning jurisdiction of the town.
(4) Required Application Information Applications shall be filed with staff. Each application shall be accompanied by a sketch plan that describes the boundaries of the proposed
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).
Full Breakdown
Any resident, property owner, the Historic Preservation Commission, Town Council, or the Planning Department may apply to designate a building, structure, site, or object as a historic landmark within Cary's zoning jurisdiction. The application needs a sketch plan, building images, and a report on its historical, architectural, or cultural significance. The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has 30 days to comment, then the Historic Preservation Commission holds a public hearing and recommends action to the Town Council, which holds its own hearing before adopting, amending, or rejecting the designating ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Demolishing, altering, or removing a designated landmark outside these rules bars new redevelopment plans on the property for 48 months, waivable only by a three-fourths Town Council vote for good cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can request historic landmark designation in Cary?
What happens if a designated landmark is illegally demolished in Cary?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cary
Compare Cary to another location·View the North Carolina historic preservation overview
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Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle historic-cultural monuments.