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Page22 056 A community may designate local districts and landmarks that are not listed in the National Register. Since the state enabling legislation requires that a designation report be prepared before a local landmark or local district is designated, some local preservation commissions use a National Register nomination as the basis for the local designation report. (For this reason the two types of designations are sometimes confused.) However, National Register listing does not mean that local designation will necessarily follow. Local Landmarks. Landmark designations apply to individual buildings, structures, sites, areas, or objects that are studied by the commission and judged to have historical, architectural, archeological, or cultural value. Designation is an honor, meaning the community believes the property deserves recognition and protection. The local government designates landmarks through passage of an ordinance. Owners of landmarks are eligible to apply for annual 50% property tax deferral as long as the property ' s important historic features are maintained. Recapture penalties may apply if the owner destroys the property or damages its historic value. Local Districts. Historic district designation is a type of zoning that applies to entire neighborhoods or other areas that include many historic properties. The zoning provides controls on the appearance of existing or proposed buildings . Designation is an honor, meaning the community believes the architecture, history, and character of the area are worthy of recognition and protection. Historic district zoning can help to improve property values by stabilizing and enhancing the neighborhood ' s character, and it benefits property owners by protecting them from inappropriate changes by other owners that might destroy the special qualities of the neighborhood. Unlike landmark designations, local historic district designation has no effect on local property taxes for property owners within the designated district. Certificates of Appropriateness. Owners of local landmarks and of property in local historic districts are required to obtain a certificate of appropriateness from their preservation commission before making significant changes or additions to a property, before beginning new construction, or before demolishing or relocating a property . The commission' s review of proposed changes ensures that work on properties in districts or on a designated landmark is appropriate to the special character of the district or landmark. A certificate of appropriateness for demolition cannot be denied unless the property is deemed to be of statewide significance by the State Historic Preservation Officer. In all other cases, the commission may delay demolition or relocation for up to 365 days to explore alternatives to demolition or relocation. Tax Credits and Local Designations. Locally designated landmarks and contributing properties located within local historic districts that are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places are eligible for the federal or state historic preservation tax credits previously discussed. An owner of a property that is both locally designated and listed in the National Register who is seeking investment tax credits for rehabilitation must acquire a local certificate of appropriateness and tax certification through separate applications . Approval for one does not imply or guarantee approval for the other, though in most cases local design review guidelines and federal rehabilitation standards are in concurrence and are mutually reinforcing. FOR MORE INFORMATION about National Register and Local Historic Landmarks and Districts, contact: Melinda Coleman, Preservation Services Coordinator Survey and Planning Branch, State Historic Preservation Office NC Division of Archives and History 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 -2807 Telephone (919) 733 =6545 Fax (919) 715 -4801 FOR MORE INFORMATION about the federal and state historic preservation tax credit programs, contact: Tim E. Simmons, AIA, Preservation Tax Credit Coordinator Restoration Branch, NC State Historic Preservation Office NC Division of Archives and History 109 E. Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27601 -2807 Telephone 919433 -6547 Fax 919=7154801