Historic Preservation Commission

Program Coordinator:
Caroline T. Swope, M.S.H.P., Ph.D.

Department Phone:
(256) 341-7520

Alabama Historical Commission

National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Park Service

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation

Background and Purpose

The City of Decatur Historic Preservation Commission was established by City Ordinance Number 90-2882A Article II on February 5, 1990. The creation of locally designated historic districts subject to historic overlay zoning was mandated by residents of the Old Decatur and New Decatur/Albany Historic Districts to help maintain the integrity of these two National Register districts. The Historic Preservation Commission is a municipally-appointed board who by law review all building and demolition permits within the designated districts for appropriateness.

Decatur houses approximately 1,000 buildings and nearly 100 blocks of homes on the historical register.

2020 Meeting Dates and COA Submission Deadlines

Important Note: Per city ordinance, the deadline to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) application and supporting documentation is fourteen (14) days in advance of the scheduled monthly meeting date. In the case where the COA deadline falls on a holiday, the COA deadline will be extended to the following Monday (see dates, if any, marked with an asterisk*). Please turn in all CoAs into the Building Department, on the fourth floor of City Hall, or submit them digitally to Caroline T. Swope, M.S.H.P., Ph.D. . Failure to submit COA requests in a timely manner will result in the item not being included on the meeting agenda. The Decatur Historic Preservation Commission meets at the Decatur City Hall Annex, which is located at 308 Cain Street NE Decatur, AL 35601. COA hearings begin at 5:30 P.M. The property owner or a representative of the property must be in attendance at the meeting. For more information, please contact 256-476-7520 or Caroline T. Swope, M.S.H.P., Ph.D. . For HPC policies and procedures and design guidelines, please visit the Document Downloads section.

The Historic Preservation Commission and Certified Local Government staff and board also serve as a resource and advocate for history and preservation efforts throughout the entire city.  For additional information and assistance please contact: Caroline T. Swope, M.S.H.P., Ph.D. .