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Questions & Answers What is "Historic Preservation"? The National Historic Preservation Act defines historic preservation to mean "identification, evaluation, recordation, documentation, curation, acquisition, protection, management, rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, maintenance and reconstruction, or any combination of the foregoing activities." Thus when we refer to "historic preservation activities" we have a very wide range of activities in mind. Some kinds of activities may not be possible under some circumstances, however; for example, Congress has not recently permitted use of Historic Preservation Fund monies for acquisition, management, rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, maintenance, or reconstruction of historic properties. "Historic preservation" as used in these papers refers to whatever range of the above activities is permitted by the laws and regulations governing the program under discussion. Historic Preservation in New Jersey What is the National Register? The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic resources worthy of preservation. The first historical registry was established by Congress in 1935 through the passing of the Historic Sites Act. This act directed the Secretary of the Interior to designate properties of national importance as National Historic Landmarks. The 1966 National Historic Preservation Act established a National Register of Historic Places to include significant districts, sites, structures, buildings, and objects of local, state, and national interest. The 1966 act instructed the governor of each state to appoint a State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) to work in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Register Office. For New Jersey, the SHPO is the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. The Historic Preservation Office constitutes the professional staff of the SHPO. More Information on the National Register What are the tax incentives for historic properties? Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit. To encourage rehabilitation of commercial buildings on the National Register, Congress in 1976 enacted a rehabilitation tax credit in the Internal Revenue Code. That provision entitles owners of income-producing properties on the National Register to a credit of 20 percent of rehabilitation costs if the work is done in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings. In the past year alone, the provision has leveraged $1.73 billion in private investment in National Register properties and has created 42,394 jobs. Moreover, many states have enacted complementary state tax credits to leverage the economic impact of the federal credit still further. The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program is one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs. The program fosters private sector rehabilitation of historic buildings and promotes economic revitalization. It also provides a strong alternative to government ownership and management of such historic properties. The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives are available for buildings that are National Historic Landmarks, that are listed in the National Register, and that contribute to National Register Historic Districts and certain local historic districts. Properties must be income-producing and must be rehabilitated according to standards set by the Secretary of the Interior. Detailed information on the tax incentives Are There Any Other Ways to Protect Historic Buildings in New Jersey? In addition to inclusion on the New Jersey and National Registers, preservation of New Jersey's historic properties may be accomplished through local historic preservation ordinances. Over 90 municipalities have enacted some kind of local historic preservation ordinance. These ordinances vary from municipality to municipality. Some ordinances provide strong regulatory provisions including architectural review of alterations, demolition, and new construction within the designated historic areas. Locally designated historic districts may be certified by the Secretary of the Interior for federal tax advantages. Local landmarks and historic district regulations that may affect private property owner actions are completely separate from New Jersey and National Register regulations. The New Jersey and National Registers provide a degree of review and protection from public actions only. Historic Preservation in New Jersey

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What is "Historic Preservation"?

The National Historic Preservation Act defines historic preservation to mean "identification, evaluation, recordation, documentation, curation, acquisition, protection, management, rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, maintenance and reconstruction, or any combination of the foregoing activities." Thus when we refer to "historic preservation activities" we have a very wide range of activities in mind. Some kinds of activities may not be possible under some circumstances, however; for example, Congress has not recently permitted use of Historic Preservation Fund monies for acquisition, management, rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, maintenance, or reconstruction of historic properties. "Historic preservation" as used in these papers refers to whatever range of the above activities is permitted by the laws and regulations governing the program under discussion.
Historic Preservation in New Jersey

What is the National Register?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic resources worthy of preservation. The first historical registry was established by Congress in 1935 through the passing of the Historic Sites Act. This act directed the Secretary of the Interior to designate properties of national importance as National Historic Landmarks. The 1966 National Historic Preservation Act established a National Register of Historic Places to include significant districts, sites, structures, buildings, and objects of local, state, and national interest. The 1966 act instructed the governor of each state to appoint a State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) to work in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Register Office. For New Jersey, the SHPO is the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. The Historic Preservation Office constitutes the professional staff of the SHPO.
More Information on the National Register

What are the tax incentives for historic properties?

Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit.
To encourage rehabilitation of commercial buildings on the National Register, Congress in 1976 enacted a rehabilitation tax credit in the Internal Revenue Code. That provision entitles owners of income-producing properties on the National Register to a credit of 20 percent of rehabilitation costs if the work is done in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings. In the past year alone, the provision has leveraged $1.73 billion in private investment in National Register properties and has created 42,394 jobs. Moreover, many states have enacted complementary state tax credits to leverage the economic impact of the federal credit still further.
The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program is one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs. The program fosters private sector rehabilitation of historic buildings and promotes economic revitalization. It also provides a strong alternative to government ownership and management of such historic properties. The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives are available for buildings that are National Historic Landmarks, that are listed in the National Register, and that contribute to National Register Historic Districts and certain local historic districts. Properties must be income-producing and must be rehabilitated according to standards set by the Secretary of the Interior.
Detailed information on the tax incentives

Are There Any Other Ways to Protect Historic Buildings in New Jersey?

In addition to inclusion on the New Jersey and National Registers, preservation of New Jersey's historic properties may be accomplished through local historic preservation ordinances. Over 90 municipalities have enacted some kind of local historic preservation ordinance. These ordinances vary from municipality to municipality. Some ordinances provide strong regulatory provisions including architectural review of alterations, demolition, and new construction within the designated historic areas. Locally designated historic districts may be certified by the Secretary of the Interior for federal tax advantages.
Local landmarks and historic district regulations that may affect private property owner actions are completely separate from New Jersey and National Register regulations. The New Jersey and National Registers provide a degree of review and protection from public actions only.
Historic Preservation in New Jersey

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