Historic Preservation in Virginia (2026)
14 rules on the books across Virginia, 14 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Historic-Cultural Monuments
How buildings, sites, and trees are nominated and designated as Historic-Cultural Monuments, the protections that follow, and the demolition-stay process.
Albemarle County
Significant RestrictionsAlbemarle County created the Monticello Historic District (MHD), a dedicated zoning classification under County Code §…
Read full rule →Fairfax County
Significant RestrictionsFairfax County protects 14 named Historic Overlay Districts, adding zoning-level review for sites of special…
Read full rule →Hampton
Significant RestrictionsHampton's Historic Preservation Overlay protects individually designated cultural and architectural sites, requiring…
Read full rule →Hanover County
Significant RestrictionsHanover County has designated thirteen Historic Preservation Overlay districts, from Scotchtown and Polegreen Church to…
Read full rule →Loudoun County
Significant RestrictionsInside Loudoun's designated Historic Overlay Districts, you cannot erect, alter, move, or demolish a structure, wall…
Read full rule →Spotsylvania County
Significant RestrictionsSpotsylvania County designates historic landmarks and Historic Overlay Districts through its Historic Preservation…
Read full rule →Stafford County
Significant RestrictionsStafford County protects landmarks and culturally significant sites by designating them into a Historic Resource…
Read full rule →Lynchburg
Some RestrictionsLynchburg's Historic Preservation Commission designates an official marker for any building, structure, or landmark…
Read full rule →Norfolk
Some RestrictionsInstalling a statue, monument, or memorial that the City of Norfolk has acquired, on city-owned property, requires…
Read full rule →Prince William County
Some RestrictionsPrince William County designates county historical landmarks by board resolution under Code Sec. 2-97, acting on the…
Read full rule →Frederick County
Light RestrictionsFrederick County lets owners of structures at least 50 years old apply for local historic designation under Chapter 97…
Read full rule →Portsmouth
Light RestrictionsPortsmouth's zoning ordinance defines a historic landmark as a building or place of special public value for its…
Read full rule →Richmond
Light RestrictionsRichmond runs its cultural monument and historical marker decisions through the History and Culture Commission, created…
Read full rule →Virginia Beach
Few RestrictionsOwners can list historic buildings and sites on the voluntary Virginia Beach Historical Register, which carries no…
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