Schaumburg, IL Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Who can nominate
- Any person, group, the commission, or Village Board
- Decision-maker
- Village Board, after Plan Commission recommendation
- Criteria weighed
- 13 factors incl. historic event, architect, archaeology
- Owner restriction
- No exterior work/demolition without Village okay
- Exception
- Ordinary repair/maintenance with no exterior change
- Safety valve
- Director may certify demolition for public safety
Summary
Village Code § 154.71 lets Schaumburg designate any building or site a historic landmark on a Plan Commission recommendation and Village Board vote, weighing thirteen listed criteria such as architectural style and historic events. Once designated, owners cannot alter, add to, move, or demolish any exterior feature without prior Village authorization, though ordinary repair and maintenance stays exempt.
(A)Designation of Landmarks:(1)Procedures for Designation:(a)Any person, group, group of persons, association, the commission, or the village board may institute a request for a historic landmark designation for any structure or site in the village which may have historic significance. The community development department shall supply, upon request, application forms. All designations of landmarks in the village are subject to review by the plan commission. Notification for such public hearings must be in accordance with section 154.41.(b)Based on the designation criteria in subsection (A)(2) of this section, the plan commission shall make a recommendation to the village board concerning the proposed designation. The village board shall determine whether the designation criteria have been met and may designate the structure or site as a historic landmark.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56 Update 1 | Policy Manual: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
41. " Once a structure carries the designation, subsection (B)(1) makes it "unlawful" to "construct, move, alter, change, make addition to, make any improvement to, add structures or buildings on a lot or tract with a designated historical landmark, demolish or remove the exterior or any aspect of the exterior" without prior Village authorization, though "ordinary repair and maintenance" causing no exterior change is exempt. 195(E), with the commission weighing whether the work enhances or detracts from the landmark's character, whether it fits Secretary of the Interior rehabilitation standards, and whether it matches the Olde Schaumburg Centre design manual. A safety valve lets the director certify that alteration or demolition is required due to an unsafe condition, bypassing the review.
Violations & Fines
Section 154.71(B)(1) makes unauthorized construction, alteration, or demolition of a designated landmark's exterior "unlawful." Chapter 154 has no dedicated fine for this section, so a violation carries the Village's general penalty under § 10.99: a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $50,000, with "a separate offense... deemed committed upon each day during which a violation occurs or continues," on top of any Village order to halt or reverse unauthorized work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can nominate a building as a Schaumburg historic landmark?
What can't I do to my house once it's designated a landmark?
What criteria does the Village use to decide a landmark designation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Schaumburg
Compare Schaumburg to another location·View the Illinois historic preservation overview
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Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle historic-cultural monuments.