• Historic Preservation Ordinance
• Historic Tax Exemption Ordinance

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Historic Preservation?

Preservation is the act or process of applying measures necessary to sustain the existing form, integrity, and materials of an historic property. Rehabilitation is the act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values. Restoration is the act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of features from other periods in its history and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period. Reconstruction is the act or process of depicting, by means of new construction, the form, features, and detailing of a non-surviving site, landscape, building, structure, or object for the purpose of replicating its appearance at a specific period of time and in its historic location.

Is my property within an Historic District?

If you own property in the Central Business District or within the vicinity of Church Street, your property may be located within an Historic District. If you are unsure if your property is located within an Historic District, please contact the City of Paris.

No. The Historic Preservation Ordinance does not require any property owner or resident to make modifications or repairs to their property.

If you want to make changes in the design, material, color, or outward appearance of your property, you must file an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness with the Historic Preservation Officer.

The Historic Preservation Commission meets each month on the second Wednesday at noon and the fourth Monday at 4:00 p.m. at the City of Paris City Council Chambers. The deadlines for filing Applications for consideration at these meetings are the first Wednesday and third Wednesdays Monday of each month.

Your Application will be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission by the Historic Preservation Officer; however, you should make arrangement to attend the meeting in the event the Commission has any questions.

In order for the Commission to properly consider an Application, a property owner should provide a detailed description of the proposed work; current photographs of the property, including historic photos, if available; drawings of the proposed changes or new construction along with samples of the materials to be used (adequate enough in size for the Commission to fully understand the effect of the proposed change); and any other information that the Historic Preservation Officer deems necessary in order for the Commission to make a full review of the Application.

No. Ordinary maintenance is defined as "any work that does not constitute a change in design, material, color, or outward appearance, and includes in-kind replacement or repair." If you are unsure if what you are doing would be considered ordinary maintenance, you may call the Historic Preservation Officer for assistance.

The design standards established in the "Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings" are those by which the Historic Preservation Commission determines appropriateness. Additionally, the Historic Preservation Commission has contracted with a consulting firm to prepare design guidelines specific to each district. When those guidelines are completed, they will supplement the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and they will be placed on-line.

The "Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties" are available on-line at http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/standguide/index.htm.  Additionally, the City Council adopted Ten Criteria by which the Historic Preservation Commission is bound when considering Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness.

Yes. The Historic Preservation Commission is comprised of individuals who are well versed in historic preservation, and they are all more than willing to assist any property owner if they have questions about what designs, colors, or materials are appropriate for the type of structure you own. Furthermore, their assistance is provided to you at no cost.

If a property owner can establish that their property is incapable of earning a reasonable return on their investment, that the property cannot be adapted for another use that can result in a reasonable return, or that no potential purchaser of the property with a reasonable offer who intends to preserve it can be identified, then that property owner may make an application for hardship relief for the purpose of obtaining a permit to place, construct, alter, demolish, or remove any structure on the property.

Yes. All proposed work must be commenced within 6 months and completed within 1 year of the date of approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness.

Yes. If you want to appeal any decision of the Historic Preservation Commission, you must file a written application with the City Council through the City Clerk’s office within thirty (30) days of your receipt of the Commission’s written decision. The City Council’s decision is final, however, and not appealable.

What happens if I fail to file and Application for Certificate of Appropriateness?

If you fail to file an Application or if you perform work inconsistent with an approved Application, you may be subject to a fine of up to $2,000.00 for each and every day’s continuance of such violation. However, you can avoid this fine if you take necessary corrective actions upon notice from the Historic Preservation Officer.