The City of Bozeman is in the process of updating its historic preservation program! For more details including project information and on how to provide input visit engage.bozeman.net/landmark.

What is Historic Preservation? 

Welcome to the City of Bozeman's historic preservation program. Historic Preservation is an established priority of city planning in Bozeman. Preservation goes beyond saving old buildings, it creates a unique sense of place, a sense of community and bridges the gap between the past and our future. Preservation is about recognizing and celebrating what our community values and ensuring it can be enjoyed by future generations. 

Bozeman's Preservation Program at a Glance

• The City of Bozeman adopted the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) in 1991 to support a sense of place and preserve the historic districts and neighborhood character. 
• There are over 4000 properties within the NCOD.
• Bozeman has 10 unique historic districts - check out the Historic Places page to learn more about them.
• There are 46 individually listed properties on the National Register of Historic Places - check out the Historic Places page to learn more about them. 

Do you own a historic building or are considering purchasing one?

The City has additional regulations and requires planning review for buildings within the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District. The questions below can help you better understand what you can do with your property. 

How do I know if my property is within the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District?

You can find out if your property is within the NCOD via this map. Type the address in the lower left and if your property is within the black boundary, you are located in the NCOD. The colored shapes means you are in a National Register Historic District. You can even learn more about your property through the external link that directs you to an architectural inventory form. Heads up though, some are very outdated and we are working on updating them in the upcoming years. 

Does owning a historic property mean I can't make any changes or alterations to it?
Absolutely not! This is one of the most common myths of historic preservation. Local regulation and the Secretary of Interior Standards manage changes but are not meant to prevent them. Preservation is not about freezing a building in time, but managing change to maintain integrity. Character-defining features should be preserved and maintained but if deterioration is beyond repair, the feature should be replaced to emulate the feature. New construction should be compatible but not detract from the character defining features and should be clearly identifiable as new and not convey a false sense of history.

Do I have to obtain approval to modify a historic resource?
If there are any exterior changes to a structure within the NCOD, you have to apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) application through the Planning Division prior to getting a building permit and doing the work. Check out the Development Center to gain access to the application and learn more about the process to apply. Make sure you check out Section 38.340, Overlay District Standards, of the Bozeman Municipal Code and the Bozeman Guidelines for Historic Preservation and the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District to learn more about the standards. 

Can a historic structure be demolished?
There are no such protections that exist in federal or state laws to prevent a historic structure from being demolished. There is a demolition review process outlined in the Bozeman Municipal Code that varies depending on the status of the structure's historic classification. Studies have shown that preserving and reusing historic buildings can have a higher environmental savings over demolition, however it may not always be feasible. If you have additional questions, we encourage you to reach out to the Historic Preservation Officer. 

Isn't it very expensive to repair and preserve a historic resource?
Preserving a historic building can take a great deal of care and initial rehabilitation costs. However, the traditional materials and craftsmanship, when maintained properly, can result in a longer-lasting building and safer structure. There are some resources available to help you rehabilitate a historic building such as tax incentives and grants. See the Preservation Guidance page for some helpful resources.