D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A1005
Historic properties are recognized through designation as historic landmarks or historic districts in the DC Inventory of Historic Sites, the city's official list of historic properties. Listing in the National Register of Historic Places provides additional recognition by the federal government.
Listed properties gain protection under District and federal preservation laws, and are eligible for benefits like preservation tax incentives. The city's historic districts are highlighted in Map 10.1, and its historic structures are highlighted in Map 10.2. Historic structures in Central Washington are shown in Map 10.2A. 1005.1
Table 10.1: Listing of Historic Districts 1005.2
Map 10.1: Historic Districts* 1005.3
Map 10.2: Historic Structures
Map 10.2.A: Existing Landmark Structures and Sites
Policy HP-1.3.1: Designation of Historic Properties
Recognize and protect significant historic properties through official designation as historic landmarks and districts under both District and federal law, maintaining consistency between District and federal listings whenever possible. 1005.6
Policy HP-1.3.2: Designation Criteria
Maintain officially adopted written criteria and apply them consistently to ensure that properties meet objective standards of significance to qualify for designation. The criteria are given in Figure 10.1. 1005.7
Policy HP-1.3.3: Leadership in Designation
Systematically evaluate and nominate significant District-owned properties for historic designation. Encourage, assist, or undertake the nomination of privately owned properties as appropriate in consultation with owners, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and community groups. 1005.8
Policy HP-1.3.4: Historic District Designation
Use historic district designations as the means to recognize and preserve areas whose significance lies primarily in the character of the community as a whole, rather than in the separate distinction of individual structures. Ensure that the designation of historic districts involves a community process with full participation by affected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, neighborhood organizations, property owners, businesses, and residents. 1005.9
Policy HP-1.3.5: Consulting the Public on Designations
Ensure that the views of property owners, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, neighborhood organizations, and the general public are solicited and given careful consideration in the designation process. 1005.10
Action HP-1.3.A: Nomination of Properties
Act on filed nominations without delay to respect the interests of owners and applicants, and to avoid accumulating a backlog of nominations. When appropriate, defer action on a nomination to facilitate dialogue between the applicant and owner or to promote efforts to reach consensus on the designation. 1005.11
Action HP-1.3.B: Nomination of National Register Properties
Nominate for historic landmark or historic district designation any eligible National Register properties not yet listed in the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites. 1005.12
A record number of permits for restoration of historic properties has been issued in recent years.
Figure 10.1: Designation Criteria for Historic Landmarks and Districts
Historic and prehistoric buildings, building interiors, structures, monuments, works of art or other similar objects, areas, places, sites, neighborhoods, and cultural landscapes are eligible for designation as historic landmarks or historic districts if they possess one or more of the following values or qualities:
Action HP-1.3.C: Nomination of Federal Properties
Encourage federal agencies to nominate their eligible properties for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and sponsor concurrent nomination of these properties to the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites. 1005.14
Action HP-1.3.D: The Historic Plan of Washington
Complete the documentation and designation of the historic Plan of the City of Washington as a National Historic Landmark. 1005.15
Action HP-1.3.E: Updating Designations
Evaluate existing historic landmark designations and systematically update older designations to current professional standards of documentation. Evaluate historic district designations as appropriate to augment documentation, amend periods or areas of significance, or adjust boundaries.
The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9 a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A1005