Historic Districts
Most historic designations are determined by the National Register of Historic Places or the Virginia Department of Historic Resources’ Virginia Landmark Register and are honorific, meaning they provide positive opportunities and potential financial incentives without government regulation. County (or Independent Town) historic districts, on the other hand, require landowners to submit their development plans to an architectural review board for approval. If your property falls within either designation, we encourage you to consider the related history in your projects and seek advice from the historians with consulting experience listed in this manual.
Federal incentives come in the form of grant monies to localities that are designated as a “Certified Local Government” (CLG) as defined by the guidelines of the National Park Service and specific guidance for the State Historic Preservation Office. Localities that are certified can apply for federal grants through the State Historic Preservation Office (VDHR, in Virginia’s case), and, if certified, may receive grants from the first 10% of Virginia’s federal grant allotment for historic preservation. These grants may be used for preservation planning, survey, and many other preservation planning programs. For more information on historic districts and grant opportunities contact:
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/programs/grants-funding-opportunities/
2801 Kensington Avenue Richmond, VA 23221
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Below is a list of the Historic Districts in Fauquier and Loudoun County, divided by county designation and Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places. We encourage you to research if your property falls within one of these districts and to familiarize yourself with their defining characteristics which will help you emulate them on your own property:
