Wicomico County, MD Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

C; unlike ordinary rezoning, the county does not have to show a mistake in the original boundaries or a changed neighborhood character to create one. Every provision of the underlying zoning district still applies on top of the historic designation. A Historic District Commission of at least seven residents, appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council for staggered three-year terms, administers the district. Anyone proposing to construct, alter, reconstruct, move, demolish or repair a structure in an HP District, where the work would change its exterior appearance, must file an application with the Department of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, which forwards it to the Commission.

The Commission judges applications on the structure's historic or architectural value, its relationship to the surrounding area, compatibility of design, materials and craftsmanship, and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, but it reviews only exterior features and cannot second-guess interior work or ordinary maintenance. No building permit for a covered change can be issued until the Commission files a certificate of approval, modification or rejection with the Zoning Administrator and Building Inspector, and no work may begin before that certificate is on file.

If the Commission does not act within 45 days of an application being filed, the application is deemed approved unless the applicant agrees to an extension. A rejected application cannot be resubmitted for the same or similar work for one year, absent a casualty loss, and an applicant may appeal a Commission decision to the Board of Appeals within 30 days.