FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE -SUEM. COBB- SECRETARY OF STATE
The National Register of Historic Places is an official listing of properties throughout the country
that reflect the prehistoric occupation and historic development of our nation, states, and local
communities. The Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the Secretary of the
Interior. It is used primarily as a planning tool in making decisions concerning the development
of our communities to ensure, as much as possible, the preservation of buildings, sites, structures,
and objects that are significant aspects of our cultural and historic heritage. Sometimes there are
misunderstandings as to what listing in the National Register will mean for a property owner.
The following is an outline of what it will do and what it will not do.
WILL DO
. The National Register provides recognition that the property is deemed by the federal and
state governments to be significant in our history at the national, state, and/or local levels.
Most properties are significant because of their' local significance.
. The National Register identifies the properties that local, state, and federal planners should
carefully consider when developing projects. Projects involving federal funding, permitting,
liqensing, or assistance and that may result in damage or loss of the historic values of a
property that is listed in the National Register or is eligible for listing are reviewed by the
State Historic Preservation Office and the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
A similar review takes place under state law for state or state-assisted undertakings. A
typic example of projects that are given such review is road construction or improvement.
For more information, call the Compliance and Review Section of the Florida Bureau of
Historic Preservation at (850) 245-6333.
. Listing may make a property eligible for a Federal Income Tax Credit. If a registered
property that is income producing undergoes a substantial rehabilitation carried out according
to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, the owner may apply for a 20%
income tax credit. The credit amounts to 20% of the cost of the rehabilitation. For more
information, contact the Architectural Preservation Services Section of the Florida Bureau of
Ristoriation Preservation at (850) 245-6333.
. In 1992,the Florida Legislature passed legislation that allows counties or cities to grant ad
valorem tax relief for owners of properties that are listed or eligible for listing in the
National Register or in a local district. When a property is improved its value is increased
and the assessment is raised accordingly. The ad valorem tax legislation provides that the
increase in assessed value of the improved property will be exempted for up to 10 years from
taxation for those portions of the tax bill affected by local option county or municipal
exemption ordinances. This provision is available for both income and non-income
producing properties. Contact your local property appraiser to see if this provision is
available.
. Listing may make a property exempt from certain Federal Emergency Management Act
(FEMA) requirements and eligible for some American Disabilities Act (ADA) and
building safety code adjustments. For more information, call the Architectural Preservation
Services Section of the Bureau of Historic Preservation at (850) 245-6333.
. Listing or being determined eligible for listing is not required for receiving state
preservation grants. The competition for the grants is intense, however, and this official
recognition adds weight to the argument that a property is significant and should be awarded
a grant. For more information, call the Grants and Education Section of the Bureau of
Historic Preservation at (850) 245-6333.
WILL NOT DO
. Listing in the National Register or being determined eligible for listing does not
automatically preserve a building, and does not keep a property from being modified or even
destroyed.
. Unless an undertaking is state or federally funded, or regulated by local ordinance, private
property owners may deal with their property in any way they see fit. Architects in the
Bureau of Historic Preservation are available to provide advice concerning the best ways to
approach rehabilitation needs while maintaining the historic character of a property. For
more information, call the Architectural Preservation Services Section at (850) 245-6333.
. Private owners are not required to open their listed property to the public for visitation.
. The federal and state governments will not attach restrictive covenants to a property or seek
to acquire it because of its listing in the National Register.
Further information is available at the following Web sites:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publicationslbulletinslbrochure/
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publicatonslbulletins/spanishbrochure/
"My Property is Important to America's Heritage: What Does that Mean?"
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publicationslbulletins/myproperty/
BUREAU OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION-R.A. GRAY BUILDING
500 SOUTH BRONOUGH STREET -TALLAHASSEE,FLORIDA 32399-0250
TELEPHONE (850) 245-6333 OR 1-800-847-7278
FAX (850) 245-6437
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