About
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) provides advice to Howard County agencies, Boards, Commissions, and property owners regarding historic sites and historic districts and is the steward of the historic preservation plan. It determines if exterior changes to a local historic district or historic structure comply with local plans and issues certificates of approval for all exterior changes, such as, new construction, historic building relocation, demolition, repair or alteration of any structure and other changes that impact the appearance of a historic district or site. The Commission also assists with identifying historic resources on sites and provides advice regarding the design of development.
Important News
February 12 Application Deadline Important Update: If the County offices are closed on Wednesday, February 12, then the application deadline would be extended to Thursday, February 13 by 5:00 pm. Otherwise if County government remains open, then the deadline will remain Wednesday. In addition to paper copies, a complete pdf version of the application should be emailed to preservation@howardcountymd.gov. Please reach out to us with any questions - preservation@howardcountymd.gov.
Are you an architect interested in serving on the Historic Preservation Commission? More information can be found here: HPC Information
Are you an a resident or property owner in the Lawyers Hill Historic District interested in serving on the Historic Preservation Commission? More information can be found here: HPC Lawyers Hill Information
February 6, 2025 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Information
The Commission will conduct their regular February meeting as a virtual meeting February 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm, where the public is invited to speak on the agenda items.
The Historic Preservation Commission meeting on February 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm will be a WebEx meeting only. If you would like to testify, you must pre-register so you can be identified during the WebEx meeting. Please see the "Registering or Joining by Telephone" and “Providing Testimony” tabs for additional instructions.
Join the meeting via computer: If you would like to join the meeting through your computer to view and hear the presentations, you will need to register. Once registered, further instructions and a call-in attendee number will be provided via email.
Register Here:
https://howardcountymd.webex.com/weblink/register/r60c7b0164a899bfea9c21046ff3a2aa1
Join the meeting via telephone only: If you only want to listen to the meeting and are not providing testimony call 1-650-479-3207 at the meeting time. When prompted, insert 2317 435 3561# as the event access code. After entering the event access, a password may be required – please enter 93727226# from phones.
Oral Testimony - Those who wish to provide oral testimony are required to sign up online by noon on February 6, 2025. Please follow the instructions for registering on the “Registering” tab, where there will be an option to sign-up to testify. After you register through WebEx, please email preservation@howardcountymd.gov by noon on February 6 with the case information that you wish to testify on.
In accordance with HPC Rule of Procedure 102.B, only those parties who registered in advance of the Thursday, December 5, 2024 meeting may participate in the proceedings by asking questions and giving testimony for continued case HPC-24-69, 3701 Mill Creek Way/Homesite/Lot 9 Lacey Property.
For all other cases, only those parties who registered in advance of the February 6, 2025 meeting may participate in the proceedings by asking questions and giving testimony.
Documentary Evidence – Documentary evidence must be submitted by noon on February 6. All documents must be submitted in a pdf format to preservation@howardcountymd.gov (please contact HPC staff at the above email address for questions/assistance). Anyone submitting evidence must participate in the virtual meeting and present the evidence or it will not be incorporated into the record.
Minor Alteration Determinations
The Executive Secretary has determined that the following applications are considered minor alterations and do not require a Certificate of Approval from the Commission. Each application will be posted on this website for 5 days.
If any member of the public, or any member of the Historic Preservation Commission, objects to a determination below, please email the Executive Secretary at preservation@howardcountymd.gov within the 5 days of posting. Any application that is subject to an objection will be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission at the next regularly scheduled meeting for which legal advertising obligations have been met. More information on the Minor Alteration Process can be found here: Minor Alterations Code
Current Applications for Minor Alterations and Tax Credit Pre-Approval:
3880 Ellicott Mills Drive, Ellicott City -- Updated application posted 2/14/2025
Application Submissions
The Department has established procedures to streamline the processing of Historic Preservation Commission applications. Please review the Application Submission Procedures to ensure your application is properly submitted and can therefore be reviewed by the Commission.
Additional Information
Meeting Schedule & Application Deadlines
2025 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE
If you have an emergency, please contact Samantha Holmes at 410-313-4428 or preservation@howardcountymd.gov.*
Download printable schedule for 2025
Design Guidelines
Rules of Procedure
View the Commission's Rules of Procedure: Rules of Procedure
Application Forms
The Historic Preservation Commission reviews several types of applications, including applications for Certificates of Approval to make exterior alterations to properties within a local historic district, applications for Historic Property Tax Credits and applications for Advisory Comments to properties under going subdivision or site development plans that contain a historic property.
Past Meetings
2024 Meetings
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Previous Years Minutes
Board Members
- Julianne Danna, Chair
- Ellen Flynn Giles, Vice Chair
- Cathy Allen
- Ben Barlow
- Erica Zoren
Staff Contact
Samantha Holmes, Department of Planning and Zoning
410-313-4428
Margaret Stella Melikian, Department of Planning and Zoning
410-313-4332