Portsmouth, VA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Historic districts
- Truxtun, Cradock, Port Norfolk, Olde Towne, Park View
- Marker content
- Construction date and historic significance
- Removal consent
- Requires owner and City approval
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 misdemeanor, escalating fines
- State law basis
- Code of Virginia § 10.1-2200
Summary
Portsmouth's zoning ordinance defines a historic landmark as a building or place of special public value for its architectural, archaeological, or cultural significance, and every historic landmark owner may receive an official marker under Sec. 40.2-206(G)(5). The marker must show the construction date and historic significance, and only the owner may authorize its removal.
[Article VI - Definitions] HISTORIC LANDMARK—One or more buildings or places in which historic events occurred or having special public value because of notable architectural, archaeological or other features relating to the cultural or artistic heritage of the community, of such significance as to warrant conservation and preservation. Contributing properties within a registered district are historic landmarks by definition (Code of Virginia § 10.1-2200). [Sec. 40.2-206(G)(5)] (5)Historic Markers.(a)Historic markers shall be made available to the owner of any building designated as a historic landmark.(b)The markers shall show the date of construction and the historic significance of the structure and shall be placed on the structure or adjacent to it.(c)It shall be unlawful for anyone to display an unauthorized marker or to remove an authorized marker without the prior consent of the structure owner and the City.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
1-2200. Every contributing property inside one of the city's five historic districts, Truxtun, Cradock, Port Norfolk, Olde Towne, and Park View, established under Sec. 2-206(C), is a historic landmark by definition. Under Sec. 2-206(G)(5), the City makes a historic marker available to the owner of any building designated a historic landmark. The marker must display the date of construction and the property's historic significance, and it is placed either on the structure itself or immediately adjacent to it. It is unlawful for anyone, owner or otherwise, to post an unauthorized marker on a designated landmark or to remove an authorized one without both the structure owner's and the City's prior consent.
Because Sec. 2-554's civil-penalty list for historic district infractions does not separately name marker violations, an unauthorized posting or removal falls under the Ordinance's general penalty in Sec. 00 for each following ten-day period. New markers and any exterior work on a landmark still require a Certificate of Appropriateness under Sec. 2-536 before work begins.
Violations & Fines
Displaying an unauthorized historic marker or removing an authorized one without the owner's and City's consent is a misdemeanor under Sec. 40.2-553, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00 for a first offense, escalating to $1,500.00 and then $2,000.00 for every following ten-day period the violation continues uncorrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building a historic landmark in Portsmouth?
Can I remove a historic marker from my building?
What does a Portsmouth historic marker have to show?
What happens if someone puts up an unauthorized marker?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portsmouth
Compare Portsmouth to another location·View the Virginia historic preservation overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.