Public participation is a vital part of historic preservation in the District of Columbia. Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and community organizations help communities by providing a local voice in historic preservation decisions. Volunteers and advocates for historic preservation rediscover neighborhood history and help to preserve the heritage and beauty of their communities through a commitment of their own time and energy.

The Historic Preservation Office and Historic Preservation Review Board can help ANCs and communities in several ways. HPRB gives communities a voice in proposed neighborhood development and an opportunity to shape neighborhood change. HPO helps communities plan for preservation of their heritage, involves community representatives in the preservation review process, and offers financial and technical assistance for community preservation projects.

Current Projects in Your Neighborhood

• In Your Neighborhood

Neighborhood History

• About Historic Landmarks and Districts
• DC History

Community Preservation Activities

• Preservation Planning
• Community Heritage
• Preservation Grants
• Historic Designation
• Archaeology
• Homeowner Grants
• Preservation Awards

About Permits and Preservation Review

Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and historic preservation organizations are encouraged to participate in the review of construction projects that affect their communities. To assist with this review, HPO sends a monthly notice of project applications to all ANCs and community organizations on the HPO mailing list. Major cases are typically noticed two months in a row to ensure sufficient time for ANC involvement but more routine cases may proceed more quickly if they do not involve ANC review. An affected ANC may contact the HPO staff to request automatic deferral of any case to ensure that it has a full 45-day notice before the HPRB hearing. Contact information is provided on the monthly notice.

• Permits
• Government Project Review
• Inspections and Enforcement
• Design Guidelines