NOMINATING HISTORIC RESOURCES TO THE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Over 12,000 buildings and structures in Vermont are currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Most are included in historic districts.  The Division for Historic Preservation has files on all National Register properties and a quick call or note to the Division is all that is needed to determine if a particular building is already listed in the National Register.

Buildings not listed in the Register go through a multi-stage process to become listed.  A building or structure that is at least 50 years old and meets the criteria outlined on page 3 is nominated to the National Register in one of two forms:  either as an individual property or as part of a historic district.  A historic district is a collection of buildings and archeological sites that are related architecturally and/or historically; thus, many of our Vermont villages, neighborhoods or other complexes qualify as historic districts.  Rural areas may qualify as rural historic districts.  Some properties within an area that would be eligible for nomination as a historic district may be individually eligible for the National Register, but it is encouraged that the district be nominated.

Requests for Nomination

The first step in the process of nominating an individual building to the National Register is for the property owner to send a letter to the Division requesting that his/her building be reviewed for eligibility for the National Register.  The request is evaluated by Division staff.  If eligibility is questionable, it is presented at the next monthly meeting of the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Council then determines if the property meets the criteria for nomination to the National Register.  This preliminary approval is necessary for all properties being nominated to the Register.  The letter should contain:

1.  A brief statement on the history of the building, including information on past alterations;

2.  A street address AND a map showing the exact location of the property;

3.  Photographs of the exterior of the building, important interior details, the general context
of the building, all related outbuildings, and the landscape. 

4.  If you are considering a federal rehabilitation investment tax credit project for your property, please note this in the letter.

If the building is already included in the Vermont Historic Sites and Structures Survey, the owner need only write a short note requesting the preliminary review and supply current photos and any important additional information on the history of the building. Detailed genealogical and deed research is NOT required for preliminary review.

A town, regional planning commission, local historical society, business or neighborhood association, or other local group may propose a historic district by writing to the Division. Because of the more complex nature of historic districts, the Division may assist in defining boundaries of potential districts. If requested, staff is available to attend local public meetings to explain the National Register and answer questions.

A district can include an entire residential neighborhood, village center, urban commercial district, industrial complex, or rural area.  Often historic districts include some new or greatly altered buildings mixed in with the old historic structures.  These buildings may be included in a district but are designated "non-contributing" structures.  In order to qualify for the National Register as a historic district, an area must consist of primarily intact historic structures and archeological sites with only a minority of non-contributing structures.  Each "contributing" resource should enhance the historic character of the district, although each need not be of outstanding architectural quality.

If the Advisory Council determines that an individual property or historic district appears eligible for the Register, the owner or local sponsoring organization employs a qualified architectural historian to prepare the National Register nomination form.  The form includes an extensive architectural description of the property or properties, an evaluation of the historic and architectural significance of the building(s), maps, and black and white photographs.  The Division maintains a list of qualified architectural historians who have expressed an interest in preparing Register nominations on a free-lance basis. 

The list is available at http://www.historicvermont.org/programs/consult.pdf

Historic district nominations and most individual nominations also need review by a second independent architectural historian.  Before a nomination is submitted to the Division, the second consultant does a substantive and detailed review of the nomination, requests and reviews revisions from the primary consultant as needed, and certifies to the Division that the nomination is complete and meets National Register program technical requirements.     

Federal regulations then require that the Division inform all owners that their property is being considered for nomination to the National Register.  Owners are given 30 days in which they can concur in or object to the nomination, if they choose to comment.  Any comments are considered in the Vermont Advisory Council's final review of the nomination.  After the final approval by the Council, the nomination form is submitted to the National Register branch of the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., for federal review, approval, and official listing in the Register.  If a majority of the private property owners object to National Register listing and submit notarized letters to that effect, the nomination is reviewed at the federal level for eligibility for the Register but is not officially listed in the Register.

Nominating Properties in Towns Designated as "Certified Local Governments" (CLGs)

The towns of Bennington, Brandon, Burlington, Calais, Fayston, Hartford, Montpelier, Norwich, Rockingham, Shelburne, Stowe, Waitsfield, Warren, Waterville, Williston, and Windsor have become preservation partners with the Division for Historic Preservation through the Certified Local Government (CLG) program.  These towns have local historic preservation commissions that, among other things, participate in both the preliminary and final reviews of properties being nominated to the National Register.  If a property lies within a CLG town, the local commission will review the property prior to the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's review and will make a recommendation to the Council concerning eligibility of the property for the Register.  All National Register requests should be directed to the Division, which coordinates the local and state reviews.