​​​​*NOTICE*

​​​​Applications for review by the Historic District Commission and applications for minor work that has been designated to staff for approval are being accepted at this time and may be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected]g. 

City staff continue to work remotely to answer questions and review applications for staff approval. Please email questions to [email protected] or leave a message at 734-794-6265 x42608. 

Return to In-Person Meetings - Beginning January 1, 2022, the Historic District Commission will return to in-person meetings.    

• Regular meetings of the Historic District Commission will return to Council Chambers, second floor, of City Hall, 301 East Huron Street. 
• All persons are required to wear face masks inside City Hall. 
• Regular meetings are broadcast for viewing online and cable television.   
• Public hearing comments may be made in person at the meeting. There is not an option for zoom or phone comments at HDC meetings.
  
• Working sessions will be held in-person immediately following regular HDC meetings, on an as needed basis. In-person attendance is necessary to watch or participate in working sessions.
• Please be mindful that the return to in-person meetings is required for compliance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Temporary provisions that allowed electronic participation since March 2020 expired on December 31, 2021. The City of Ann Arbor remains very sensitive to the on-going and ever changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. ​
  

​​Staff Services ​​

• Information on the City's historic districts
• Review of building permit applications for property within historic districts
• Assistance with applications for work in historic districts
• Assistance with historic district regulations

Information on the DTE Meter Project in the Old West Side Historic District

​DTE has launched a program to remove gas meters from within basements and mount them on the exteriors of houses. The process that DTE will follow and guidelines for locating the exterior meters is consistent with existing Historic District Commission rules. For each property, the property owner or DTE or its contractors may apply for a staff approval if the proposed meter location 1) does not impact significant architectural features, and 2) is on the rear of the house or occasionally the side near the rear (if the rear is not possible) or if the meter is not visible from the street or sidewalk.  All other meter configurations (on the sides of houses where they are visible from the right-of-way) require an application to the HDC (not staff) that is signed by the property owner and must be approved by the commission.  

The design guidelines followed by the HDC (see links below) for mechanical equipment state that it is appropriate to install mechanical equipment (including meters) in a location that is not visible from a public right-of-way and that they must be installed in a way that historic materials and features are not damaged or obscured. 

If a property owner or occupant has concerns about the proposed location of a gas meter on their home after meeting with DTE representatives, please contact Jill Thacher at [email protected] ​

Current Historic District Commission Packet

Historic District Commission agenda and packet information is now available at the City of Ann Arbor's Legislative Information Center. 

• Access the calendar page​.
• Select "Historic District Commission" from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
• Click on the "Search Calendar" button. 
• Staff reports can be found by clicking the "Meeting Details" link for each meeting date.

Is This Property in a Historic District?

To find out if an address or parcel number is in a historic district, follow these steps.

1. Click to go directly to eTRAKIT or go to the City homepage and click on eTRAKIT under "Working In".
2. Next, click the PROPERTIES box.
3. Enter all or part of the address in the search box, or change the search field to search by parcel number or owner.
4. Double click on the correct address in the results box.
5. Click the LAND USE tab for historic district and other information. 

See maps of each historic district.

Application Process

See more information about the HDC Application Process.

• 2021-2022 HDC Meeting Schedule (PDF) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one or more of these meetings may be held electronically instead of at the listed location. Notices of electronic meetings will be posted there no later than 18 hours prior to the meeting start.
• Application Form (PDF)
• Fee Schedule (PDF)
  
• Historic Building Plaque Information and Application (PDF)
  

Design Guidelines

• Historic District Design Guidelines (PDF). This publication provides information on the types of work that are appropriate inside historic districts.
• Guardrail and Handrail Examples (PDF) for historic porches and stairs. 
• Solar guidelines with worksheet (PDF)
• Sign Guidelines (PDF) 
• Window guidelines with worksheet (PDF)
• Additional window information

City Code Relating to ​Historic Districts;         By-Laws

• Chapter 8 - Boards & Commissions (PDF)
• Chapter 103 - Historic Preservation (PDF) 
• By-Laws of the HDC (PDF)

State Public Acts 

• "Public Act 169" - Local Historic District Act Legislation of 1970 (PDF)

Site Navigation

• Introduction to Historic Preservation (PDF)
• Frequently Asked Questions​
• Historic Districts and Related Maps​

• Members of the Commission​ 
  Staff Approval List 101217.pdf
  
  ​
  

  ​