Certified Local Government Program

Introduction

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 forged a successful partnership between State Historic Preservation Offices and the National Park Service (NPS). In 1980, Congress expanded this partnership to include local governments. This new relationship, the Certified Local Government (CLG) program, connects municipalities with state and federal historic preservation programs. If communities meet certain requirements, they can access grant funding, technical assistance and other benefits that aid local preservation.

CLG communities map

Find existing CLG Communities across New Jersey.

What are the benefits?

Local governments benefit from participating in the Certified Local Government program in many ways, including …

Grant funding

Certified Local Governments are eligible to apply for grants to fund historic preservation planning projects. The State Historic Preservation Office sets aside at least 10% of its annual federal Historic Preservation Fund appropriation from the National Park Service for sub-grants to participating communities.

CLG grants

Learn more about the grant process and eligible projects.

Activities

CLG grants fund a wide variety of activities. Browse some of the possibilities.

Sample projects

Visit a showcase of projects funded through CLG grants.

Community documentation

CLG grants can fund publications that back up the local historic preservation program with credible and objective documentation. These include, but are not limited to,

Cultural resource inventories
Preservation plans
Design guidelines

Federal program participation

Certified Local Governments have a voice in all New Jersey and National Register nominations in their jurisdiction. Similarly, these communities receive notifications of federal projects reviewed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Integration with local planning

The CLG program helps foster historic preservation as a function of local government. In these communities, staff regularly work with their planning office on preservation issues. This helps forge critical connections between historic preservation and land use planning.

Training and continuing education

HPO and others provide training sessions for local historic preservation commissions and municipal staff. Our office also notifies communities of other relevant training when available.

Technical assistance and communication

HPO routinely reviews local ordinances and commission procedures in CLG communities. We also assist members with general preservation issues. Communication is not limited to HPO and individual communities, however. We foster communication among these communities through the HPClist email forum and other channels.

Historic Preservation Commission mailing list (HPClist)

Review how to use or unsubscribe from our Listserv-style mailing list.

Becoming a Certified Local Government

Communities interested in joining the CLG program should review the following, then contact HPO to discuss how to apply.

The process

CLG certification involves both state and federal approval.

First, the municipality must pass a preservation ordinance that establishes a Historic Preservation Commission and complies with both the Municipal Land Use Law and the New Jersey Certified Local Government Guidelines. The ordinance must empower the Historic Preservation Commission to designate and regulate locally designated historic properties.
Then, the municipality must submit a Certification Application with all required documentation.
Once our office determines the historic preservation ordinance complies with the program requirements, we forward the application and certification recommendation to the National Park Service for a final determination.

Requirements for certification

These requirements are outlined in detail in the Guidelines, along with additional program details and the Certification Application (Appendix B).

New Jersey's Certified Local Government Guidelines

Read the full guidelines and use the CLG Performance Standards Checklist to evaluate your community’s program.

Municipal Land Use Law

Read the Title 40 excerpts for information about ordinances and historic preservation commissions.

Generally, CLGs must do the following as part of the program:

Local designations

Enforce appropriate state and local legislation for the designation and protection of historic properties.

Commission

Establish an adequate and qualified historic preservation review commission.

Members: The Commission must be composed of a minimum of five (5) members with demonstrated interest, competence or knowledge in historic preservation.
Vacancies: Any vacancy must be filled within 60 days.
Meetings: The Commission must hold regular meetings at least 4 times per year.
Decision Making: Designation and review decisions must be made in a public forum.

Historic inventory

Maintain a system for the survey and inventory of historic properties.
Surveys must conform to the HPO’s Guidelines for Architectural Surveys or an approved alternate.

Public participation

Provide for adequate public participation in the historic preservation program, including the process of recommending properties to the National Register.

Commission meetings: Meetings must be publicly announced, open to the public, have previously advertised agenda, and held in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act (“Sunshine Law”).
Decisions: All decisions by the Commission shall be made in a public forum and applicants given written notification of decisions.
Minutes: The Commission must keep minutes of all decisions and actions on file and available to the public, including the criteria/standards applied and reasons for making decisions.
Rules of Procedure: All rules of procedure adopted by the Commission must be made available to the public.

Maintaining Certified Local Government status

To remain in good standing in the Certified Local Government program, municipalities must meet the following requirements:

Comply with certification requirements as outlined in the Guidelines and the municipality’s certification agreement.
Submit an annual report by March 31 of each year. This report covers the Historic Preservation Commission’s activities for the period of January 1-December 31. For more details, read Appendix C of the Guidelines.
Participate in the Historic Preservation Office’s periodic monitoring. Assure our office that your municipality continues to meet requirements and perform its responsibilities. See Appendix D of the Guidelines for more details.