Greenville County, SC Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

To have a building formally designated historic in unincorporated Greenville County, an owner applies to the Greenville County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) for preliminary certification before starting any work, per County Code § 7-13(D)(1)-(2). The HPC places the application on its next agenda and must issue a written decision within 30 calendar days. A property qualifies as historic if it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or if it is at least 50 years old and the HPC designates it historic based on architectural significance, association with a notable person or group, or recognized statewide or national significance, § 7-13(b)(3)-(4).

Rehabilitation work must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and any county design guidelines, and the HPC reviews exterior repairs, exterior alterations, new construction on the parcel, alterations to interior primary spaces, and any work counted toward the minimum expenditure test, § 7-13(c)(1). That test requires spending exceeding 50% of the appraised fair market value for an owner-occupied building or exceeding full fair market value for an income-producing building, § 7-13(c)(2). Once the HPC grants final certification confirming the completed work matches approved plans and the spending threshold was met, County Council's special property tax assessment applies for up to 10 years, extendable by Council resolution to a maximum of 20 years for large-scale projects that foster the surrounding community's economic viability, § 7-13(a).

If preliminary certification is not approved, the owner may revise the application or appeal to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, § 7-13(D)(2)(c).