Historic preservation boards: the gatekeepers of good taste, old buildings, and headaches.
If you’ve ever tried to renovate a historic home, you know that getting approval can feel like auditioning for Shark Tank—except the sharks are obsessed with clapboards and cornices instead of quarterly earnings.
But fear not, fellow preservation warrior. Whether you’re restoring a Craftsman porch or updating your 1920s bungalow kitchen, these six sly (and totally legit) moves will help you get that sweet, sweet “Yes” faster than you can say “Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.”
Let’s dive in.
1. Play by the Book
If your renovation plans don’t jive with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, you might as well be remodeling in invisible ink.
These guidelines are the Holy Grail for preservation boards. They love them. Sleep with them under their pillows. So use them.
Quick hit: Don’t remove stuff that’s repairable. Preserve original materials. This is historic preservation 101. Any changes should be reversible. When in doubt, don’t demo—defer.
Why it matters: Aligning with these standards doesn’t just improve your odds of approval—it basically makes your plan un-hateable.
2. Bring Receipts (Documentation is Everything)
You wouldn’t show up to court without evidence, right? (…Right?) The same goes for the preservation board.
Include:
- Photos of existing conditions (and no, not blurry ones from your Motorola Razr).
- Detailed material specs with exact replacements or preservation techniques.
- Historical photos or Sanborn maps if you’re proposing changes based on the original look.
Pro tip: The more you can show that you understand the historic character of the building—and your plan respects it—the more they’ll trust you.
3. Architectural Drawings = Instant Credibility
Sure, you could submit a napkin sketch of your dream dormer window. But if you want that approval? Bring real-deal architectural drawings.
Boards want to see:
- Elevations
- Site plans
- Cross-sections
- Joinery details (yes, even those sexy mortise and tenon joints)
The flex: Well-drafted plans scream, “This person knows what they’re doing,” even if you’re just pretending to.
4. Don’t Fix What Ain’t Broken (Literally)
Here’s a fast track to a rejection letter: tell the board you’re ripping out the original windows “because they’re old.”
Nope.
Boards are all about repair over replace. And they’re usually right—most old materials are better quality than anything off the shelf today.
What to do instead:
- Propose repair with traditional techniques.
- Show evidence (with photos) if something is too far gone.
- Offer “in-kind” replacement only when necessary.
Bonus: You’ll avoid fines or costly re-do’s down the road. Trust us—ripping out a $15,000 vinyl door you weren’t supposed to install is not the kind of DIY you want.
5. Hire a Pro (Because Experience Talks)
You’re good at lots of things. Making sourdough. Parking backward. But historic compliance? That’s a job for the pros.
Consult with:
- A preservation architect
- A restorer with actual experience (not just a guy with a belt sander)
- Or even a historic preservation consultant who can help navigate local regs
Boards take professionals seriously. It shows you’re not just winging it—and they’ll sleep better knowing you’re in good hands.
6. It’s Cheaper to Do It Right the First Time
Yes, hiring experts and producing full documentation might cost more up front. But here’s the deal:
It’s WAY cheaper than…
- Paying fines
- Reversing unapproved work
- Losing your permit
- Going full Money Pit because your roofer used liquid nails on your slate tiles
Doing it the board’s way the first time speeds up approval, prevents costly mistakes, and makes you look like a preservation rock star. Which you are. Obviously.
Think Like a Bureaucrat, Renovate Like a Boss
Getting a “yes” from the historic board isn’t about trickery—it’s about strategy. Respect the process, bring good documents, and act like the building’s legacy is in your hands (because it is).
Follow these six tricks and you’ll turn the board from an obstacle into an ally—and get back to what really matters: making your historic property freaking awesome.
Sources:
- National Park Service: Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: Working With Preservation Commissions
- Preservation Briefs – Technical Preservation Services
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance.