Process for Establishing a Local Historic District

Michigan's Local Historic Districts Act, Act 169 of 1970, provides the legal foundation for the creation of local historic districts. It is a public act that was created to:

"provide for the establishment of historic districts; to provide for the acquisition of certain resources for historic preservation purposes; to provide for preservation of historic and nonhistoric resources within historic districts; to provide for the establishment of historic district commissions; to provide for the maintenance of publicly owned resources by local units; to provide for certain assessments under certain circumstances; to provide for procedures; and to provide for remedies and penalties."

Below is an overview of the process for establishing a local historic district in Michigan. For full requirements, please see Section 3 of Public Act 169 of 1970, Michigan’s Local Historic Districts Act for complete requirements.

Citizens ask local legislative body to adopt a resolution to approve a historic district study
Local legislative body appoints a Historic District Study Committee
Study Committee performs photographic inventory and research
Study Committee evaluates resources using National Register of Historic Places criteria
Study committee prepares a preliminary historic district study committee report according to Section 3 of PA 169
Study Committee officially transmits report to local planning board, SHPO, Michigan Historical Commission and State Review Board
At least 60 days after the official transmittal of the report the Study Committee holds a public hearing
Study Committee has up to 1 year after the public hearing to submit a final report to the local legislative body
Local legislative body votes to approve or reject the proposed historic district
A historic district ordinance must be adopted and a historic district commission appointed at the time the historic district is approved
Property owners apply to Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) before undertaking work in the historic district