OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Preserving our past for a brighter future
The NJ Historic Preservation Office focuses on the cultural aspect of “environmental protection.” Historic resources in our communities keep us connected to our shared past. We help the public find these resources, protect them in our present and include them in our future.
What's New? Learn More About UsOur core programs
Federal Tax Incentives
State historic preservation offices, such as our office, send Historic Preservation Tax Incentives applications to the National Park Service.
- Find out if your resource qualifies
- Download an application and instructions
- Check that your application package has all necessary parts before applying
Community Assistance
Preservation starts at the local level.
- Protect historic resources using local tools
- Set up an effective historic preservation commission
- Read the historic preservation sections of New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law
- Join the Certified Local Government Program and access its grant funding
Registration
Resources can be listed for benefits and legal protection.
- Learn more about the two Registers of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program
- Check if a resource is already listed
- Explore the nomination process and State Review Board meetings
Project Review
Projects implemented or permitted by government agencies can impact resources. Learn about the regulations and processes for:
- Section 106 review
- New Jersey Register Review and Historic Sites Council meetings
- DEP Review
- How to write alternative analyses reports
Survey and Inventory
Identifying resources is the first step in most efforts to preserve them. Learn about:
- Types of cultural resource surveys
- Guidelines for writing archaeological and architectural survey reports
- New Jersey’s statewide inventory of historic resources
- How to research resource surveys in HPO’s collections
- Significant survey initiatives
Planning
Planning is crucial to achieving long term benefits for historic resources.
- Learn how our office prepares statewide comprehensive historic preservation plans
- Participate in the planning process
- Read the active statewide plan and its goals
- Download past statewide plans
Popular resources
LUCY Online Map Viewer
“Look Up Cultural-resources for Yourself,” or LUCY, is our web application for exploring our mapped resource data.
- Visit LUCY
- Download LUCY’s user guide
- Use our reference tables to understand a resource’s level of significance
Tools
In addition to LUCY, our main Tools hub has:
- Reference guides for our collections
- Online catalogs and download links
- Guidance documents for survey reports, nominations and photography
- The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
Submit a review request
Submit review requests and documentation here for easier project tracking.
Topics
Many of our office’s activities do not fall under a single program. These topics include:
- Beginners guides to historic preservation concepts and how to achieve your preservation goals.
- More focused topics, such as protecting your property from flooding and other future disasters.
Technical assistance
Contact us if you need guidance! Our staff routinely assist individuals and organizations undertaking a variety of preservation activities through in-house research, site visits or general consultation.