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The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Design Guidelines

The Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has adopted historic preservation design guidelines to assist property owners contemplating projects to repair, rehabilitate, or alter historic properties in Montgomery County. These guidelines are a tool for architects, contractors, local advisory panels and others who assist in the design and review process. The guidelines will also assist the HPC in their consideration of historic area work permit (HAWP) applications.

The guidelines supplement – not replace – the existing review criteria, established in the Historic Preservation Ordinance and Executive Regulations, the HPC uses in administering its review authority over designated historic sites. The guidelines use photographs, illustrations, and clear narrative to articulate nationally accepted historic preservation best practices consistent with the HPC’s review criteria, and as such, the guidelines should be useful for owners of historic property throughout the County.

Boyds Amendment and Map | Vision of Boyds
Brookeville
Capitol View
Cedar Grove
Chevy Chase Village
Clarksburg Amendment and Map | Vision of Clarksburg
Damascus-Goshen
Garrett Park
Germantown
Greenwich Forest
Hawkins Lane
Hyattstown Amendment and Map | Vision of Hyattstown
Kensington Amendment and Map | Vision of Kensington
Linden Lane/Forest Glen
Potomac Overlook
Sandy Spring/Ashton
Somerset
Takoma Park
Upper Patuxent/Etchison

Solar Panels at Historic Sites

In 2017, the County Council adopted an Emergency Climate Mobilization resolution (Resolution No.: 17-974), which declared a climate emergency and accelerated our community-wide climate goals to be carbon neutral by 2035.

The Historic Preservation Commission is committed to safeguarding our heritage and protecting our environmental resources. In response to the Council’s resolution, the HPC adopted new policy guidance and developed visual design guidelines to provide a framework for the expanded installation of solar technology in Master Plan Historic Sites and Historic Districts.

Policy #20-01, Addressing Emergency Climate Mobilization Through the Installation of Roof-Mounted Solar Panels

Solar Panel Illustrated Design Guidelines