Historic Preservation Program

On these pages you will find information on Ann Arbor's fifteen local historic districts, which range in size from a single property to 344 properties. Work in these districts is reviewed by the Historic District Commission (HDC) and by city staff on their behalf.

A new feature on this site is the Ask Ann button in the lower right hand​ corner. Ask Ann can search for any information on this website and often speeds up finding the information you need. Questions like "Are paint colors regulated in historic districts?" and "Can I replace my wood windows?" will give you short answers and links to more information.   

​​​​What rules do I need to follow in a Historic District? 

The primary source of guidance for work that can be done in historic districts is the Ann Arbor Historic District Design Guidelines. The Design Guidelines inform the Commission and staff on whether work you are contemplating is appropriate. 

Is This Property in a Historic District?

There are three ways to look up whether an address is in a historic district: ​​​

1. ​Visit the City Assessor's website, and click Online Assessment and Property Tax Data. Then you can search by address. Under General Information for Historical District, it will say Yes or No. Please note that listings for Personal Property​ by address in the Assessor's database do not contain accurate historic district information; this is only shown accurately under the parcel listed for each ​address.
2. Visit the City's Zoning Map, and click Map Layers in the top right corner. Under Community Planning Layers, enable Historic Districts. The historic districts will be shaded in corresponding colors. Enter an address to see if it is located in a shaded historic district. 
3. See maps of each historic district​.​​

​Current Historic District Commission Packet

Historic District Commission agenda and packet information is now available at the City of Ann Arbor's Legislative Information Center. 

• Access the calendar page​.
• Select "Historic District Commission" from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
• Click on the "Search Calendar" button. 
• Staff reports can be found by clicking the "Meeting Details" link for each meeting date.​

Staff Services ​​

• Information on the City's historic districts
• Review of building permit applications for property within historic districts
• Assistance with applications for work in historic districts
• Assistance with historic district regulations​