Troy, MI Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

A Historic Landmark in Troy is legally defined as a historic district containing only one resource that is significant to the city's, state's or nation's history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture (Chapter 13, Sec. 2(I)). Any exterior work on such a landmark or on a broader Historic Resource triggers Section 3(A): no construction, alteration, repair, moving or demolition of exterior features may proceed without a certificate of appropriateness (COA) or a notice to proceed issued under the chapter. Applications for a building permit affecting a resource go to the Building Official, who must forward them to the Planning Director and the seven-member Historic District Commission (appointed by City Council for three-year terms, at least two members from a history group and, where possible, a registered Michigan architect).

S. Secretary of the Interior's standards for rehabilitating historic buildings under 36 CFR part 67, weighing historical/architectural value, exterior compatibility and design, and may not disapprove on grounds outside those factors. If the Commission does not act within sixty (60) days of the application, the plans are deemed approved and the Planning Director processes the permit without a COA (Sec. 7(F)). 1501 et seq. (Sec. 7(L)). Demolition of a resource is discouraged and the Commission may approve it only where a public agency finds a hazard, retention would be a deterrent to a community-benefiting improvement, retention causes undue financial hardship, or retention is not in the community's interest (Sec. 8). A proposed (not-yet-established) historic district gets the same interim permit-referral protection for up to one year while the City Council decides.