Raleigh, NC Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Designation starts with an application and a designation report on the property's historic, architectural or cultural significance, submitted under Sec. B; interior spaces can only be included with the owner's written consent, and the application must specify which interior features would be covered. The Planning Director reviews the application, then forwards the designation report to the Historic Development Commission, which sends it on to the State Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Office of Archives and History for comment: the Commission and City Council are released from considering the state's comments if none arrive within 30 days of receipt.

The Historic Development Commission then holds a noticed legislative hearing (per Sec. 8 and Sec. C), with written notice mailed to every owner and occupant whose address can reasonably be determined, before making a recommendation to City Council. City Council holds its own legislative hearing and may adopt the designation ordinance as proposed, adopt it with amendments, reject it, or send it back to the Commission for further review. The ordinance sets the substantive test: no property may be recommended for designation unless the Historic Development Commission finds it of 'special significance' in historic, prehistorical, architectural, educational or cultural terms and finds it possesses integrity of design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling and association.

Every designation ordinance must also require the state-law demolition waiting period be observed and must provide a sign or plaque marking the property (placed on the property with owner consent, or on the nearest public right-of-way without it). Once adopted, a copy goes to the Wake County Register of Deeds, the City Clerk's office, the local building inspector and the county tax assessor, and the designation is noted on county tax maps for as long as it remains in effect.