8. What is the difference between National Register of Historic Places and Local Historic Districts?

Answer

The National Register of Historic Places is an ongoing project of the federal government to document the nation’s most significant historic properties (buildings, structures, sites and districts). Although it encourages preservation, it does not restrict the rights of private owners in their use, development, or sale.

Local historic districts are far more effective at preventing inappropriate changes to historic structures by requiring owners to obtain a certificate of appropriateness.