New Castle County, DE Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum age
- 50 years, or exceptionally important
- Designation criteria
- 14 listed factors (A-N)
- Review body
- Historic Review Board (HRB)
- HRB decision window
- 75 working days
- Failure to decide
- Deemed approved
- Key ordinance
- Ord. No. 20-071, § 9 (2020)
Summary
New Castle County designates buildings, sites and districts as cultural landmarks through Historic overlay zoning under UDC Section 40.15.110. A resource must be at least 50 years old, or exceptionally important, and meet at least one of fourteen listed criteria tied to cultural, historic or architectural significance.
A building, complex of buildings, structure, site, object or district may be designated for preservation as an Historic overlay zoning district if it is significant to the County as identified in this section. The resource must be at least fifty (50) years old, or exceptionally important to the County, and meet one (1) or any combination of the following criteria: ... D. Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social or historical heritage of the community. ... J. Is a landmark; that is, an established and familiar visual feature which assists in defining the character of the neighborhood, community or County due to its unique location or singular physical characteristic.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
110, a building, complex of buildings, structure, site, object or district can be designated for preservation as an Historic overlay zoning district if the County finds it significant. The threshold age is fifty years, unless the resource is exceptionally important regardless of age, and it must meet one or a combination of fourteen criteria (A through N). " Other criteria reach National Register eligibility, sites of significant historic events, distinguishing architectural or engineering characteristics, and association with historically important persons. 120 criteria, supported by boundary exhibits, photographs, video or drawings.
160 requires HRB-approved permits before any exterior alteration, demolition, relocation, construction or reconstruction, with the HRB required to act within 75 working days of a complete application or the permit is deemed approved. 170 adds annual County inspections of designated properties to guard against "demolition by neglect," with results reported yearly to the HRB and County Council. These provisions trace to Ord. No. 97-172 (1997) and were substantially revised by Ord. No. 20-071, Section 9 (October 27, 2020).
Violations & Fines
Undertaking exterior alteration, demolition, relocation, construction or reconstruction on a designated cultural landmark or historic district property without first obtaining HRB-reviewed Department approval violates Section 40.15.160. The Department of Land Use may not issue any building or use permit for such work until the historic resources application has cleared HRB review, and noncompliant work discovered through the County's annual demolition-by-neglect inspections under Section 40.15.170 is reported to both the HRB and County Council for further action under the Property Maintenance Code process referenced in Chapter 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies a property as a cultural landmark in New Castle County?
Who decides whether a property gets historic designation?
Can I alter or demolish a designated landmark once it's zoned Historic overlay?
What happens if a designated property is left to deteriorate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Castle County
Compare New Castle County to another location·View the Delaware historic preservation overview
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