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DeKalb County, GA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Covers
Buildings, sites, objects, monuments, artwork
Designated by
County governing authority via ordinance
Change requires
Certificate of appropriateness
Administered by
DeKalb Historic Preservation Commission

Summary

DeKalb County can designate a building, structure, site, object or work of art, including monuments, as a protected historic property through its Historic Preservation Commission.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of DeKalb County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Historic property means an individual building, structure, site, object or work of art including the adjacent area necessary for the proper appreciation thereof designated by the governing authority as a historic property pursuant to the criteria established in this chapter.

Material change in appearance means a change that will affect either the exterior architectural or environmental features of a historic property or any building, structure, site, object, landscape feature or work of art within a historic district, such as:

(1)A reconstruction or alteration of the size, shape or facade of a historic property, including relocation of any doors or windows or removal or alteration of any architectural features, details or elements;(2)Demolition or relocation of a historic structure;(3)Commencement of excavation for construction purposes;(4)A change in the location of advertising visible from the public right-of-way;(5)The erection, alteration, restoration or removal of any building or other structure within a historic property or district, including walls, fences, steps and pavements, or other appurtenant features;(6)The subdivision, aggregation or alteration of the boundaries of existing lot(s). Ordinance of designation means an ordinance proposed by the historic preservation commission for consideration by the governing authority to designate a property or district as historic.

Person includes any natural person or corporation.

Full Breakdown

DeKalb County Code § 13.5-2 defines a protected 'historic property' broadly enough to cover monuments and public artwork, not just buildings: an individual building, structure, site, object or work of art. Once the Historic Preservation Commission recommends and the governing authority adopts a designation ordinance under § 13.5-7, § 13.5-8 prohibits any material change to that monument's appearance unless the commission first approves a certificate of appropriateness.

Violations & Fines

Altering, moving or removing a designated historic property, including a designated monument, without an approved certificate of appropriateness violates the county's designation ordinance and its enforcement provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a monument be designated historic in DeKalb County?
Yes. § 13.5-2 defines 'historic property' to include any object or work of art, which covers monuments, once formally designated by ordinance.
Can I alter a designated historic monument on my own?
No. § 13.5-8 requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before any material change.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in DeKalb County

All DeKalb County rules

Compare DeKalb County to another location·View the Georgia historic preservation overview

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