Local Historic Districts

Local Historic Districts

Design Guidelines for Preservation

• Decatur Design Guidelines for Preservation - Part I
• Decatur Design Guidelines for Preservation - Part II
• Decatur Design Guidelines for Preservation - Part III

Local Ordinances

• Historic Preservation Ordinance, Article 5 of Decatur Unified Development Ordinance 
• Old DeKalb County Courthouse 
• Scottish Rite Hospital for Cripple Children
• MAK District
• Clairemont District
• Ponce de Leon Court
• Old Decatur District
• Parkwood District

Supplemental Design Guidelines

• MAK District
• Clairemont District
• Ponce de Leon Court
• Old Decatur District
• Parkwood District

How to Create a Local Historic District

The City Commission, through a cooperative process with the Historic Preservation Commission and the city's neighborhoods, can create local historic districts to help preserve the historic character of the neighborhoods. A historic district is a geographically designated area that contains buildings, structures, sites, objects, landscape features and works of art or a combination thereof, which:

• Have special character or special historic/aesthetic value or interest
• Represent one or more periods, styles or types of architecture typical of one or more areas in the history of the municipality, county, state or region
• Cause such area, by reason of such factors, to constitute a visibly perceptible section of the municipality or county

Building in a Historic District

Historical, cultural and aesthetic heritage is among the City's most valued and important assets. As the first city in DeKalb County and one of the oldest in metro Atlanta, Decatur is home to some of the oldest buildings in DeKalb County and many are of local or regional importance. The City was largely built out during the 1920s with Craftsman bungalows. Houses dating from the early 1900s are common throughout many of the City's neighborhoods. In 1990, the Decatur City Commission created the Decatur Historic Preservation Commission to guide preservation efforts.

Historic Preservation in Decatur is guided by the Historic Preservation Commission, which issues Certificates of Appropriateness for projects located within the four local historic districts or one of the two local historic landmarks - the Old DeKalb Courthouse and the Old Scottish Rite Hospital campus - to ensure that any material change is consistent with the historical character of the property. Please click here for information on the Decatur Historic Preservation Commission.

Certificates of Appropriateness

• Certificate of Appropriateness application form

Certificates of Exemption

• Certificate of Exemption application form

 Decatur Historic Preservation Commission

Historic Preservation in Decatur is guided by the Historic Preservation Commission, which issues Certificates of Appropriateness for projects located within the four local historic districts or one of the two local historic landmarks - the Old DeKalb Courthouse and the Old Scottish Rite Hospital campus - to ensure that any material change is consistent with the historical character of the property. Please click here for information on the Decatur Historic Preservation Commission.

A resource for Decatur and DeKalb County history, The DeKalb History Center is housed in the Old Courthouse on the Square at the intersection of Clairemont and Ponce de Leon Avenues. There you'll find the Jim Cherry museum which presents new and ongoing exhibits about DeKalb County history and Civil War memorabilia. Visitors to Decatur can also find helpful information at the Welcome Center located inside the front door.

• For more information visit: www.dekalbhistory.org.

A guide to common house styles in Decatur

How to Get a Property Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Anyone can prepare a nomination to the National Register, but nominations are most often documented by property owners, local governments, citizens or state historic preservation office staff. Nominations are submitted to a state review board, which makes a recommendation to the state historic preservation officer (SHPO). The SHPO forwards recommended nominations to the National Park Service to be considered for registration if a majority of private property owners has not objected to listing. Click here for more information

What Are the Criteria for Listing? 
The National Register's standards for evaluating properties review the significance to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture present in nominated districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. 

How Old Does the Property Have to Be? 
Properties eligible for listing in the National Register are at least 50 years old. 

How Long Does It Take? 
Once the nomination form is fully documented and complete, the review and notification requirements process takes a minimum of 90 days. A decision on whether to list the property is made within 45 days of submission to the National Park Service.