Historic Preservation Commission

Historic Preservation Commission Overview

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) guides development and renovation in the 5 local Historic Districts, safeguarding Rome's built resources according to the local Historic Preservation Ordinance provisions.

Before receiving a Building Permit, any work proposed on the exterior of a structure within a Historic District must be reviewed by the HPC or Historic Preservation Planner. This includes new construction as well as the reconstruction, renovation, restoration, maintenance, or painting of any property or historic landmark within the Historic District. It also includes work on-site features such as driveways, retaining walls, and fences.

Property owners seeking guidance on upcoming work plans are strongly encouraged to attend an HPC meeting as a study item before submitting a final application.

Design Guidelines

Projects that propose exterior alterations to buildings or construction/demolition on a property located within designated local historic districts are evaluated by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and the Planning staff per the adopted design guidelines. Design guidelines are intended to serve as a reference and a resource for property owners, clarifying in advance what is expected. The HPC or staff determines the appropriateness of a project after reviewing all applicable guidelines. The goal is to strike a balance that best serves both the resource and the owner.

Design guidelines provide an overview of the distinctive characteristics of each district and provide written standards governing exterior alterations to structures or properties of each district. The guidelines do not dictate styles or specific design motifs. Instead, they suggest a choice of approaches for achieving design compatibility.

For guidance not specifically listed in the Design Guidelines for Properties within Local Historic Districts, please refer to the Preservation Briefs Technical Preservation Service Branch provided through the National Park Service.

Consultant List

If you need a consultant, residents can view the State of Georgia's Consultant Directory (PDF) for a list of preservation professionals and contractors that work with historic buildings. Applications for demolition are not available electronically but can be obtained during a pre-application conference with the Preservation staff in the Rome-Floyd Planning Department.

Preservation Briefs

Preservation Briefs provide information on preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring historic buildings. These NPS Publications help historic building owners recognize and resolve common problems before work. The briefs are especially useful to Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program applicants because they recommend methods and approaches for rehabilitating historic buildings that are consistent with their historic character.

Historic Preservation Tax Incentives

Get more information; Historic Preservation Tax Incentives.

Historic District Interactive Web App

On the Historic District Interactive Web App, you will find information regarding Historic Districts, Parcels, Historic Resource Survey, FEMA Flood Zones, and the current zoning of the parcel. The Historic District Interactive Web App is designed to operate on traditional desktop PCs, as well as tablets and smartphones, and is for informational purposes only. The Rome/Floyd County Planning Department endeavors to ensure that all data are as accurate as possible. However, we cannot be held liable for errors in the data and assume no legal responsibility for the data or its usage. Users are responsible to verify any information represented in these applications.