The Historic District Commission (HDC) is responsible for all functions relative to regulated Local Historic Districts and Local Historic Properties. To find out if a property in question is regulated by the HDC because it is situated within a Local Historic District (LHD) or is a Local Historic Property (LHP) please see map. Additionally, to further historic preservation in Westport, a major function of the HDC is to help interested residents create new Local Historic Districts and Properties. For more information about Westport’s current Local Historic Districts and Properties, and how to establish new ones, please see the following page.

Certificate of Appropriateness 

The HDC’s primary tool for regulating Local Historic Districts and Local Historic Properties is the Certificate of Appropriateness process. In general, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required for projects that would alter exterior architectural features visible from a public way in Local Historic Districts and Local Historic Properties. Note that the HDC does not regulate paint colors, landscaping, or interior alterations and use. For more information regarding the Certificate of Appropriateness process, please see the following page.

 

Recognizing that modern zoning codes can inadvertently burden historic properties, in 2008 the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission adopted a special permit regulation that offers zoning incentives in exchange for the preservation of historic structures in Westport’s residential zoning districts. For more information, please see the following page.

The Historic Homes Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program administered through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development provides a 30% tax credit up to $30,000 per unit, for historic restoration and rehabilitation of one to four unit historic homes listed on the State or National Register of Historic Places either individually or as a contributing resource to a district. A minimum historic rehabilitation expenditure of $15,000 is required.  For more information, please review the ct.gov website.

The Town of Westport has a demolition delay ordinance, §14-21, that provides a 180 day waiting period following the filing of a demolition permit application for buildings 500 sq. ft. or larger and 50 years or older.  The Building Department refers the application for the proposed demolition of any such structure to the HDC for review and comment.  If the HDC or any other registered party does not oppose the demolition, then the applicant does not have to wait 180 days for the demolition permit to be issued.

 Historic District Commission Demolition Policy

Historic District Commission Demolition Recission Policy

Westport’s regulations for certain non-residential zones specify instances in which the HDC has advisory responsibility to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z). Sometimes, when specified, the advisory responsibility is exercised through a Joint Committee made up of members of the HDC and the Architectural Review Board (ARB). For more information, please see the following page.

In 1986, Westport proudly became the first municipality in Connecticut to become a Certified Local Government (CLG), and it is the policy of the Town of Westport, as expressed in the 2017 Westport Plan of Conservation and Development, that Westport should retain its CLG status. Under the CLG program, a local government gains access to certain benefits from the Federal government (through the National Park Service) and State government (through the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) in the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development) if the local government follows certain Federal and State requirements for historic preservation. Among the benefits Westport receives as a CLG are grants, technical assistance, and training. Among Westport’s responsibilities as a CLG are:

● Maintaining a system for the survey and inventory of local historic resources (the Westport Historic Resources Inventory - “HRI”)
● Maintaining the preservation standards established by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior
● Facilitating public participation in local preservation, including the process of recommending properties for the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register, which is non-regulatory, honors individual properties and districts (areas containing multiple properties) which are significant to the history of the nation. A map of Westport’s National Register properties and districts can be found here.