Local Historic Preservation Ordinances

Municipalities in New Jersey obtain their authority to identify, evaluate, designate, and regulate historic resources (individual sites and districts) from the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL), the enabling legislation for municipal land use and development planning, zoning, and, since 1986, historic preservation zoning. A 1999 survey by the HPO of New Jersey's 566 municipalities revealed that 165 communities had historic preservation commissions established by local ordinance. The historic preservation ordinance is an extension of the municipality's zoning laws, and should be tailored to the community's character and historic preservation goals.

Historic Preservation Commissions

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is created and defined by the local ordinance. The MLUL requires that the HPC consist of between five and nine members, plus alternates, who have a variety of backgrounds ranging from preservation professionals to citizen advocates. HPC's may be either Advisory, where the Commission only makes recommendations to the planning board, or Regulatory, where the Commission itself is empowered to make final decisions on projects subject to its review.

Certified Local Government Program

CLG Community Links
Map of current CLG's and links to municipal websites.

The Certified Local Government (CLG) program offers municipalities the opportunity to participate more directly in state and federal historic preservation programs. Participation in the CLG program requires that a municipality have a historic preservation ordinance and a historic preservation commission conforming to the specifications of both the Municipal Land Use Law and the National Park Service approved New Jersey Certified Local Government Guidelines. As a CLG, the community is eligible to apply for Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grants for a variety of local preservation activities. The level of funding is contingent upon the annual appropriation from the National Park Service. Grant applications are available from the HPO annually.

Communities interested in becoming CLG's should review the documents available below and contact the HPO to discuss the application and designation process.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Community Investment and Economic Revitalization, Historic Preservation Office (HPO), offers grants to Certified Local Governments for eligible historic preservation activities.

The Historic Preservation Office is required to regrant 10% of the state's allocation of federal historic preservation funds for pass-through as sub-grants to Certified Local Governments (CLG). The total amount of available funding varies each year with the federal allocation. These funds are awarded on a competitive basis and applications are evaluated and ranked according to the established criteria available in the grant application. Matching requirements vary from year to year based on funding levels.

Goals for Historic Preservation Fund grant projects:

• To identify buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts which are significant in the areas of history, architecture, archaeology and engineering, and which meet the criteria for inclusion in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places; and
• To design and implement planning tools for the protection of historic resources.

Typical grant projects include:

• Architectural and Archaeological Surveys;
• Preparation of National Register Nominations;
• Preparation of a Historic Preservation Element of a Municipal Master Plan;
• Educational Outreach Materials;
• Historic Structure Reports and Preservation Plans;
• Local Preservation Planning Activities;
• CLG Training;
• Pre-Development Projects;
• Preparing Planning and Construction Documents;
• Technical Assistance; and
• Disaster Planning for Historic Properties and Districts.

If you are not sure if an activity is eligible to receive funding, please contact the Certified Local Government Coordinator for guidance before completing any application forms. Please direct any questions to Cassidy Deegan, Certified Local Government Coordinator:

• Cassidy.Deegan@dep.nj.gov.

How to submit:

• Review Application Instructions and Recorded CLG Grant Training
• Complete application in the System for Administering Grants Electronically (SAGE)

The 2026 (FFY2025) Certified Local Government grant round will open November 20, 2024.

Application submission deadline: February 28, 2025.

Please note: In order to submit an application for CLG funds the Certified Local Government must be in good standing and have a current annual report on file with the HPO.

Forms and Publications:

• Take The Next Step Brochure (PDF Format)
• Municipal Land Use Law, Historic Preservation Related Sections (PDF Format)
• New Jersey Historic Preservation Commission Directory, 1999 (PDF Format)
• New Jersey Certified Local Government Guidelines (PDF Format)
• Developing Design Guidelines: An Introduction (PDF Format)
• New Jersey CLG Communities: Map with links to municipal websites

Useful Links:

1. National Park Service - Certified Local Government Program (NPS Website)
2. National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
3. Other Links

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