Historic Property Survey & Preservation Ordinance

On August 19, 2021, the Town Council adopted the Historic Preservation Advisory Ordinance, which previously received a recommendation from the Planning Board. The ordinance was proposed by the Historic Resources Steering Committee (HRSC), which was established in 2016 to take stock of the Town's historic architecture and develop policies, programs and strategies to protect it. The HRSC included representatives from the Town Planning department, Yarmouth Historical Society, Village Improvement Society, Maine Preservation, and residents.

The Historic Preservation Advisory Ordinance is designed to identify and preserve sites and structures that have historic, cultural, architectural and archeological significance and to preserve the historic character of the Town. The ordinance has three main elements:

The Historic Preservation Committee is tasked with carrying out these duties, in addition to assisting, advising, and educating residents, property owners, and Town officials concerning all aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse of historic, cultural, architectural and archeological sites.

With the adoption of the Historic Preservation Advisory Ordinance, if the owner of a property wants to make changes to the exterior of a property located within the historic districts or activities that affect a Historic Site, Historic Object or Historic Landmark, the property owner is encouraged to first consult with the Yarmouth Planning and Development Department.

Depending on the scope of the project and the structure, once a Building Permit is submitted, a review by the Historic Preservation Committee may be required. The Committee will offer guidance to the property owner on steps that could be taken to preserve the historic character of the structure. While the process is mandatory, the guidance is advisory only and will not be a prerequisite for the Building Permit to be approved. Some types of projects may only require an administrative review and others, such as those which involve building demolitions, may require more extensive review by the Planning Board in consultation with the Historic Preservation Committee. Learn more about the types of projects that require review.

If you have questions, please contact Wendy Simmons, Administrative Assistant.

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Links7 documents

• Historic Preservation Ordinance
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  (See Article X in Chapter 701, adopted August 19, 2021)
• Historic Preservation Elements
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• Planning Board Report to Town Council
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• Read Public Presentations (Powerpoint)
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• Read Reports to the Planning Board
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• Timeline for Historic Preservation Work and Public Outreach
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• Interactive Historic Structures Map Viewer
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Background Materials9 documents

• Video of Historic Yarmouth narrated by Greg Paxton
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• History of Yarmouth and its Architecture (Historic Context Statement)
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• Architectural Survey Project Report - Phase I
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• Property Classification Matrix,  Architectural Survey-Phase I
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• Preservation Plan
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• FAQs: About Yarmouth's Historic Properties
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• Demolition Delay Overlay Zone and Historic Districts
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• Chapter 701, Article IX and Article X
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• Yarmouth Design Manual
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