Since 1970 the State of New Jersey has recognized and protected historic
properties with a straightforward and effective law, the New Jersey Register
of Historic Places Act. The law allows historic properties to be nominated
and entered in the New Jersey Register of Historic
Places, which is maintained by the Department of
Environmental Protection, Division of Parks & Forestry, Historic Preservation
Office.
Once a property is listed in the New Jersey
Register of Historic Places, any public undertaking that would
"encroach upon, damage or destroy" the registered
historic property must receive prior authorization from the Commissioner
of the Department of Environmental Protection.
Strictly private undertakings are not reviewable under the law.
The Historic Sites Council, an advisory board to the Commissioner,
reviews all such proposed encroachments at an open public meeting and makes
recommendations to the Commissioner for final action.
