Guilford County, NC Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Commission size
- at least 3 members appointed
- District representation
- 1 member max per historic district
- Required approval
- Certificate of Appropriateness
- Approval process
- evidentiary hearing before HPC
- First-offense fine
- $50, rising to $500
- Effective date
- April 1, 2021
Summary
Guilford County's Historic Preservation Commission, created under G.S. 160D-303, reviews and recommends Historic Landmark and Historic District designations to the Planning Board and Board of Commissioners, and it alone can grant or deny a Certificate of Appropriateness for work on a designated landmark or within a Historic District Overlay.
1. To review, analyze, and recommend to the Planning Board, items which pertain to existing and potential historic districts and individual buildings, structures, objects, sites, or areas to be designated by ordinance as "Historic Landmarks". ... 4. To grant or deny the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness in accordance with this Ordinance. The Historic Preservation Commission must hold evidentiary hearings on the issuance or revocation of such Certificates (Section 3.5.D., Certificate of Appropriateness). ... 15. In the case of any building, structure, object, site, or area designated as a Historic Landmark or of any property located within a Historic District Overlay being threatened with demolition, as the result of willful neglect or otherwise, material alteration, rehabilitation, or removal, except in compliance with this Ordinance, the HPC, the Board of Commissioners or any other party aggrieved by such action may institute any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct, or otherwise abate such violation, or to prevent any illegal act or conduct with respect to such property.
Full Breakdown
The Commission has at least three members appointed by the Board of Commissioners, with no more than one seat per existing historic district and the remainder chosen for demonstrated expertise in history, architecture, archaeology or a related field (UDO Subsec. B, C). The Guilford County Joint Historic Properties Commission, created by ordinance on June 16, 1980, is designated to perform the Historic Preservation Commission's duties (Subsec. D). Its powers include recommending that the Planning Board designate or remove designation of a Historic District after an investigation of the area's significance, and recommending removal of a landmark designation for cause (Subsec.
3, 8). Before any new construction, alteration, relocation or demolition proceeds on a Historic Landmark or inside a Historic District Overlay, the Commission must issue a Certificate of Appropriateness after an evidentiary hearing (Subsec. 4, 13). The Commission can also acquire property outright or by lesser interest, including options to purchase, to preserve, restore or resell it subject to covenants protecting public access (Subsec. 6). If a designated landmark or a property in a Historic District Overlay is threatened with demolition by willful neglect, material alteration or removal outside the Ordinance's process, the Commission, the Board of Commissioners, or any aggrieved party can go to court to prevent, restrain or correct the violation (Subsec. 15). These provisions took effect April 1, 2021.
Violations & Fines
Doing new construction, alteration, relocation or demolition on a Historic Landmark or inside a Historic District Overlay without a Certificate of Appropriateness is a UDO violation. Guilford County's general civil penalty schedule applies: $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second, $200 for a third, and $500 for every offense after that, collectible as a debt if unpaid within 15 working days (UDO Subsec. 10.06.A).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Guilford County's Historic Preservation Commission actually do?
How many members sit on the Historic Preservation Commission?
Do I need approval before altering a designated historic property in Guilford County?
Who can stop a historic property in Guilford County from being demolished by neglect?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Guilford County
Compare Guilford County to another location·View the North Carolina historic preservation overview
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