Historic Preservation Office

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if my property is a historic resource?

A:  Please contact the Historic Preservation Office to find out if your property qualifies as a historic property.

Q:  What if my property qualifies as a historic resource?

A:  If your house is listed on the city’s Historic Property Register or as a local landmark, all exterior alterations, additions, and repairs require Building Permit Review by the Historic Preservation Office. This includes alterations that do not require building permits.

Q:  How do I research the history of my property?

A:  The major locations to complete research on a historic property in Phoenix are the Burton Barr Central Library – Arizona Room, Arizona Historical Society, Arizona State University-Luhrs Reading Room and Historic Preservation Office. Collections and contact information are available in the Guide to Historic Property Research section of this Web site.

Q:  Is my property designated?

A:  The city maintains the Phoenix Historic Register that lists all locally designated historic properties. This includes individually designed properties as well as historic districts. All local historic designations are actually zoning overlays affixing a “HP” or “HP-L” suffix to the property base zoning. You can check whether a property has these overlays by accessing the zoning maps for a particular address through Phoenix Maps Online or by contacting the city Historic Preservation Office at 602-261-8699.

Q:  How do I designate my property?

A:  Information is available in the Phoenix Historic Register section of this Web site. You may also contact the city Historic Preservation Office at 602-261-8699 for additional information.

Q:  What are the benefits of designating my property?

A:  There are a number of incentives for owners of designated historic properties. These are detailed in the Financial Incentive Programs section of this web page.

Q: Can I paint my house any color I want?

A:  Yes. The Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission does not regulate paint colors inside or out. Should you want to remove paint from a masonry house the Historic Preservation Office recommends that you do not use abrasives, such as sandblasting or any other “blasting method”, but instead consider a chemical paint remover.

Q:  Can the city help me purchase a historic house?

A:  No.

Q:  Can I put an addition on my historic property?

A:  Yes. The Historic Preservation Commission prefers additions to be located away from public view to preserve the property’s historic streetscape appearance. The Historic Preservation Office requires property owners to meet with a Preservation Planner in the Historic Preservation Office in the earliest design phase of a project to obtain professional feedback and input on the design. All additions should be compatible with the scale, massing, and architecture of your property and compatible with adjacent properties. The General Design Guidelines for Historic Properties (4.3Mb PDF, requires Adobe Reader.) provides useful information to help property owners design sensitive additions. Additions also must comply with the city zoning ordinance and building code.

Q:  Do I need permission to perform ordinary maintenance to my house?

A:  No. As long as the materials and design are not changed, you do not need permission to paint, make repairs, or replace materials in-kind (replacing cedar shingles with cedar shingles, wood siding with same type of wood siding, etc.)

Q:  Is there a fee for a Certificate of Appropriateness?

A:  No.

Q:  Where can I receive help designing an addition for my house?

A:  The city Historic Preservation Office publication Historic Homes of Phoenix: An Architectural and Preservation Guide as well as General Design Guidelines for Historic Properties are available to provide useful information on appropriate designs and materials to use for your project. In addition, the Historic Preservation Office staff is available by appointment to review preliminary designs. Please contact the Historic Preservation Office at 602-261-8699 to order a book or to set up a pre-application meeting.

Q:  Is there historical information, available my historic property?

A:  The Historic Preservation Office maintains historic property inventory forms on all buildings in designated historic districts.

Q:  What is the difference between listing on the Phoenix Historic Property Register and listing on the National Register of Historic Places?

A: The Phoenix Historic Preservation Office administers locally designated historic properties while the State Historic Preservation Office administers properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each register offers different incentives (see Financial Incentive Programs section of this web page). Your property may be listed on one of these registers, or possibly on both registers.

Q:  If I have more questions, whom should I talk to?

A:  Call the city Historic Preservation Office staff at 602-261-8699 or email us at historic@phoenix.gov

Back to top