Heritage Preservation Commissions
Become an advocate for your community's unique historic character. Encourage your local government to establish a heritage preservation commission (HPC) that will identify, protect and preserve the community's irreplaceable historic and archaeological resources.
HPC Responsibilities
Citizen members of HPCs can:
- Conduct historic resource surveys.
- Recommend local designation of historic properties.
- Develop and enforce design guidelines for locally designated historic properties.
- Undertake preservation education in the community.
Getting Started
- Contact SHPO staff for interpretation of Minnesota's HPC enabling legislation and guidance on HPC powers and responsibilities.
- Once your HPC is set up, send your members to the SHPO's annual statewide historic preservation conference. Each fall the conference, hosted by a different Minnesota city, addresses topics central to the work of preservationists, provides practical working sessions for HPCs and sponsors field trips to local historical venues.
- Use your HPC as a stepping stone to becoming a Certified Local Government (CLG). Through the CLG Program your local government can take part in other national historic preservation programs including federal matching grants.
For More Information
Contact: Michael Koop, Historic Preservation Program specialist.
