State Register of Historic Places

The State Register of Historic Places is an official listing of properties and sites important to the historical development of Connecticut. It uses the same criteria for listing as the National Register except that the special considerations are not applicable.

The State Historic Preservation Office is the responsible state organization for preparing, adopting and maintaining standards for the State Register of Historic Places. The Office of Historic Preservation shall nominate potential historic structures and landmarks and if determined eligible the State Historic Preservation Office will designate and list the property on the State Register of Historic Places. A property may be determined eligible if it meets the following criteria:

The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects of state and local importance that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and associations, and:

1. that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to our history and the lives of persons significant in our past; or
2. that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method or construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
3. that have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important to pre-history or history.

The State Historic Preservation Office has also authorized that all properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and all local historic districts that are favorably recommended by the SHPO be automatically listed on the Connecticut Register of Historic Places.

The benefits of listing a property on the State Register of Historic Places includes identifying a community's historically significant buildings, structures and districts and encouraging their preservation. Local and state agencies can identify and take into consideration these important historic properties when planning projects and if state-funded or assisted projects affect listed properties, then review by the SHPO is required. Some owners of listed properties may be eligible for state restoration funds and listing on will provide for special consideration under the State Building and Fire Codes, the American with Disabilities Act.

It should be noted that listing on the State Register of Historic Places does not restrict the rights of private property owners or automatically leads to historic district zoning. Frequently National Register and State Register Historic Districts are confused with a Local Historic District. These are very different types of designations. A National Register or State Register listing is more of a honorary recognition with relatively few limitations, while a Local Historic District designation is much more restrictive in terms of alterations to significant historic properties and is regulated by a Local Historic District Commission.

For more information on the State Register of Historic Places please use the link provided below.

State Historic Preservation Office (State Register)