New Britain, CT Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 19-144
- Commission size
- 7 members, mayor-appointed
- Review trigger
- Demolition, visible alteration, new construction
- Hardship threshold
- Cost increase over 20 percent
- Deemed-granted deadline
- 45 days
- Enforcement
- Licenses/inspections and municipal development
Summary
New Britain's Historic Preservation Commission, created by Code of Ordinances Sec. 19-142, reviews any demolition, visible alteration, or new construction affecting a "protected property": anything individually listed on the National Register, the state register, or as a local historic property, or located inside a historic district, under Sec. 19-144.
Creating a mechanism to identify, preserve and enhance distinctive areas, sites, structures, features and objects that have historic, cultural, architectural and archeological significance; ... No person or entity may, without first applying and obtaining the approval by the common council, after a recommendation by the commission, file an application for a demolition permit pursuant to section 7-4 of the Municipal Code, for a building permit pursuant to section 7-1 of the Municipal Code for:(1)Any demolition of any protected property or part thereof, or any property for which an application is pending for any level of protected status;(2)Any alteration of any such protected property or part thereof if that alteration is visible from a street other than a street which faces only the back of the building; or(3)Any construction of a new structure in any local, state or federal historic district.
Full Breakdown
Article X of Chapter 19 was rewritten in full by Ord. No. 34246-4 on February 25, 2019. Sec. 19-140 finds that the city, once known as the "Hardware Capitol of the World," derives much of its character from historic structures, parks and neighborhoods, and enacts the article under the City Charter and the Home Rule Act, Sec. 7-147 of the General Statutes. Sec. 19-141 states the article's purpose: creating "a mechanism to identify, preserve and enhance distinctive areas, sites, structures, features and objects that have historic, cultural, architectural and archeological significance," while applying design standards flexibly so preservation does not stifle new development.
The seven-member commission, appointed by the mayor under Sec. 5-2(e) of the Charter, meets at least monthly and serves staggered terms up to five years, capped at two consecutive five-year terms. Sec. 19-143 defines "protected property" as anything individually listed on the National Register, the state register, or as a local historic property, plus any site, structure or object inside a national, state or local historic district. Under Sec. 19-144(a), no one may even file a demolition or building permit application for demolishing a protected property, visibly altering it, or building new construction inside a historic district, without first securing commission review and, for demolition, common council approval.
The commission must place a complete application on its agenda within 7 days and act within 45 days, or the application is deemed granted. Sec. 19-144(c) lets an owner claim economic hardship if compliance would raise a project's cost by more than 20 percent, backed by two comparable professional cost estimates. Emergency-hazard demolitions ordered by the department of licenses, permits and inspections are exempt under Sec. 19-144(f). Enforcement under Sec. 19-147 runs through the director of licenses, permits and inspections and the director of municipal development.
Violations & Fines
Filing a demolition or building permit for a protected property, or for new construction in a historic district, without first getting the required commission review violates Sec. 19-144(a). Sec. 19-147 puts enforcement in the hands of the director of licenses, permits and inspections and the director of municipal development, who refer any violating property owner to the corporation counsel for legal action under state statutes and the Code of Ordinances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a protected property?
Can I demolish a listed building if I own it?
What if compliance costs too much?
How long can the commission take to decide?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Britain
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