# Division 4. Historic Area Work Permits

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Division 4. Historic Area Work Permits

### Sec. 29-107. Requirement for Historic Area Work Permit

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 29-107 (2026)

(a) A Historic Area Work Permit for work on publicly- or privately-owned property containing a historic resource classified as a Historic Site or property within a Historic District shall be obtained pursuant to the provisions of this Subtitle before:

  (1) Constructing, reconstructing, moving, relocating, demolishing, or in any manner modifying, changing, or altering the exterior features;

  (2) Performing any grading, excavating, construction, or substantially modifying, changing, or altering the appurtenances and environmental setting; or

  (3) Erecting or causing to be erected any sign or other advertisement. Those signs or advertisements exempted from sign permit requirements by Division 32 of the Zoning Ordinance are generally exempt from requirements for a Historic Area Work Permit, except for signs of historical interest; murals, paintings, or other artistic displays; name or location of cities, towns, villages, and the like; regulatory signs other than those mandated by State or local law; signs on windows, other than temporary signs; memorial signs or tablets; and gateways.

(b) Building, grading, razing, and sign permit applications shall indicate whether the structure or property is a historic resource. If it is classified as a Historic Site or property within a Historic District, or if the Historic Preservation Commission has determined that it should be classified under the provisions of Division 6 of this Subtitle, the applicant shall be required to complete a Historic Area Work Permit application, unless exempted by Subsection (d) of this Section.

(c) The Commission shall adopt procedures to encourage owners of historic resources to seek the advice of the Commission, prior to filing an application for a Historic Area Work Permit, on the appurtenances and environmental setting appropriate to the resource, appropriate design, construction methods and materials, financial information concerning historic preservation, or any other matter under this Subtitle affecting the issuance of a permit.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require the issuance of a Historic Area Work Permit for any ordinary maintenance, repair of exterior features, customary farming operations, or landscaping which will have no material effect on this historical, archaeological, architectural, or cultural value of the historic resource of which said features are a part. For the purposes of clarification of this Subsection, the Commission shall develop and publish guidelines regarding what activities constitute ordinary maintenance, and shall send a copy of these guidelines to the Director and the Planning Board, and by certified mail, return receipt requested, to all owners of historic resources delineated on the master plan for historic preservation.

### Sec. 29-108. Application for Historic Area Work Permit

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 29-108 (2026)

(a) Application for issuance of a Historic Area Work Permit shall be filed with the Director. The application shall provide such information as is deemed necessary by the Commission for its proper evaluation and action upon the application in accordance with the provisions of this Subtitle.

(b) Within three (3) working days after the filing of a completed application, the Director shall forward the application and all attachments to the Commission for its review.

### Sec. 29-109. Procedure for review of Historic Area Work Permit applications

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 29-109 (2026)

(a) Upon receipt of an application, the Commission shall schedule a public appearance at a Commission meeting to consider the application.

(b) After scheduling a public appearance, the Commission shall forward a notice of the public appearance to the applicant, the Director, the Planning Board, a municipality respecting land within its boundaries, and those citizens or organizations which the Commission feels may have an interest in the proceedings.

  (1) Upon being advised by the Commission that a public appearance has been scheduled, the Director shall forward copies of the application, and all attachments thereto, to the Planning Board and any appropriate municipality for their review and comments. Any comments which the Planning Board or municipality may wish to make shall be submitted, in writing, to the Commission prior to the public appearance.

  (2) In the event that a municipality objects to the issuance of a Historic Area Work Permit for property within the municipality, a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be required to override a municipal recommendation on the Historic Area Work Permit.

(c) At the public appearance, the procedures shall be informal and formal rules of evidence shall not be applicable. Interested persons shall be encouraged to comment and minutes of the proceedings shall be kept.

### Sec. 29-110. Action by Commission on Historic Area Work Permit applications

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 29-110 (2026)

(a) Within forty-five (45) days after the filing of an application or, in the event that the record is left open by the Commission, within fifteen (15) days after the close of the record, whichever occurs later, the Commission shall publish its findings, conclusions, and decision, except as provided in Subsections (d) and (e) of this Section. No record shall be held open for longer than seven (7) calendar days.

(b) The Commission's decision shall instruct the Director to:

  (1) Issue the permits;

  (2) Issue the permit subject to any conditions necessary to insure conformance with the provisions and purposes of this Subtitle; or

  (3) Deny the permit.

(c) The Commission's findings, conclusions, and decision shall be mailed to the applicant and sent to the Director, the Planning Board, any appropriate municipality and, upon request, to any other interested person.

(d) If, after a public appearance, the Commission finds that denial of the permit will result in the denial of all reasonable use of the property, or will impose undue hardship on the owner, there shall be a period of one hundred twenty (120) days after such finding to allow for the development of an economically feasible plan for the preservation of the structure. If, at the end of such period, no plan has been found, the Commission shall, with or without further public appearance, instruct the Director to issue a permit, with any conditions which will further the intent and purpose of this Subtitle.

(e) Failure of the Commission to act on an application within the time periods provided in this Section shall be considered as authorization by the Commission to issue the permit. The time period for Commission action may be extended with the written consent of the applicant.

### Sec. 29-111. Criteria for Historic Area Work Permits

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 29-111 (2026)

(a) The Commission shall instruct the Director to deny a permit if it finds, based on the evidence and information presented to it, that the alteration for which the permit is sought would be inconsistent with, or inappropriate or detrimental to, the preservation, enhancement, or ultimate protection of the historic resource and the purposes of this Subtitle.

(b) The Commission shall instruct the Director to issue a permit subject to such conditions as are found to be necessary to insure conformance with the purposes and requirements of this Subtitle, if it finds that:

  (1) The proposal will not substantially alter the exterior features of the historic resource;

  (2) The proposal is compatible in character and nature with the historical, archaeological, architectural, or cultural features of the historic resource and is in harmony with the purpose and intent of this Subtitle;

  (3) The proposal will enhance or aid in the protection, preservation, and public or private utilization of the historic resource in a manner compatible with its historical, archaeological, architectural, or cultural value;

  (4) The proposal is necessary in order to remedy unsafe conditions or health hazards;

  (5) The proposal is necessary in order that the owner of the subject property not be deprived of reasonable use of the property or suffer undue hardship; or

  (6) In balancing the interests of the public in preserving the historic resource with the use and benefit of the alternative proposal, the general public welfare is better served by issuance of the permit.

(c) In the case of any application for work within an environmental setting of a Historic Site, or on property located within a Historic District, the Commission shall be lenient in its judgment of applications for structures of little historical or design significance or for new construction. This shall mean that the Commission will authorize issuance of such permit, with any necessary conditions, if authorization of such permit would not impair the character of the Historic Site or Historic District.

(d) Nothing in this Subtitle shall be construed to limit new construction, alteration, or repairs to any particular period or architectural style.

### Sec. 29-112. Miscellaneous provisions

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 29-112 (2026)

(a) The applicant for a permit shall have the responsibility of providing sufficient information to support the application. If the property is subject to an easement held by another historic preservation organization, the applicant shall submit proof of approval of exterior architectural review by the organization holding the easement.

(b) Any permit issued by the Director may be subject to such conditions imposed by the Commission as are reasonably necessary to assure that work shall proceed in accordance with the permit. The work shall be performed in a manner not injurious to those characteristics and qualities of the historic resource which are of historical, architectural, archaeological, or cultural value.

(c) The Director is responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this Subtitle.

(d) Authorization by the Commission to issue a Historic Area Work Permit shall not be construed to eliminate the need to obtain any other permit required by State or local law, ordinance, or regulation, in conformance with all requirements applicable to such other permit. No other permit shall be issued, however, which would authorize work to be performed in violation of any conditions imposed by a Historic Area Work Permit, or in the absence of such permit.