The Standards that follow were originally published in 1977 and revised in 1990 as part of
Department of the Interior regulations (36 CFR Part 67, Historic Preservation Certifications).
They pertain to historic buildings of all materials, construction types, sizes, and occupancy,
and encompass the exterior and the interior of historic buildings. The Standards also
encompass related landscape features and the building’s site and environment as well as
attached, adjacent, or related new construction.
The Standards are to be applied to specific rehabilitation projects in a reasonable manner,
taking into consideration economic and technical feasibility. The application of these
Standards to rehabilitation projects is to be the same as under the previous version so that
a project previously acceptable would continue to be acceptable under these Standards.
1. A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires
minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.
2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of
historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be
avoided.
3. Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use.
Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural
features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.
4. Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance
in their own right shall be retained and preserved.
5. Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship
that characterize a property shall be preserved.
6. Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of
deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the
old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities and, where possible, materials.
Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical, or
pictorial evidence.
7. Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic
materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures, if appropriate, shall be
undertaken using the gentlest means possible.
8. Significant archaeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and
preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken.
9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic
materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old
and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect
the historic integrity of the property and its environment.
10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a
manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property
and its environment would be unimpaired.
For a complete copy of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards contact the State Office of
Historic Preservation at 916-653-9019.
Department of the Interior regulations (36 CFR Part 67, Historic Preservation Certifications).
They pertain to historic buildings of all materials, construction types, sizes, and occupancy,
and encompass the exterior and the interior of historic buildings. The Standards also
encompass related landscape features and the building’s site and environment as well as
attached, adjacent, or related new construction.
The Standards are to be applied to specific rehabilitation projects in a reasonable manner,
taking into consideration economic and technical feasibility. The application of these
Standards to rehabilitation projects is to be the same as under the previous version so that
a project previously acceptable would continue to be acceptable under these Standards.
1. A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires
minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.
2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of
historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be
avoided.
3. Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use.
Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural
features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.
4. Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance
in their own right shall be retained and preserved.
5. Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship
that characterize a property shall be preserved.
6. Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of
deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the
old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities and, where possible, materials.
Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical, or
pictorial evidence.
7. Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic
materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures, if appropriate, shall be
undertaken using the gentlest means possible.
8. Significant archaeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and
preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken.
9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic
materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old
and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect
the historic integrity of the property and its environment.
10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a
manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property
and its environment would be unimpaired.
For a complete copy of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards contact the State Office of
Historic Preservation at 916-653-9019.
| Carefully removing a non-historic addition can return the property to its original state. |
Last update (JFM)
Jan 2, 2006
Jan 2, 2006
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| State Office of Historic Preservation (916) 653-9019. |
| Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Properties |