Frequently asked questions

Community members have asked for clarification about how the Historic District would impact them. Below are frequently asked questions with concise answers and clickable links. Click on any question below to learn more.

The Historic Districts Commission has no budget to provide grants for home repairs or any other purpose. We could not find an instance where a homeowner in the Historic District received a grant:

The NPW website makes clear that “Owner-occupied residential properties do not qualify for the federal rehabilitation tax credit.”

This information pertains to the 20% federal tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic properties.

  • The amount of credit available under this program equals 20% of the qualified expenses of your rehabilitation.
  • The tax credit is only available to properties that will be used for a business or other income–producing purpose, and a “substantial” amount must be spent rehabilitating the historic building.
  • Your building needs to be certified as a historic structure by the National Park Service.
  • Rehabilitation work has to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, as determined by the National Park Service.

According to the HDC Proposed Bylaw, the Historic Districts Commission shall have all of the authority, power, and duties of Historic District Commissions provided in Chapter 40C as it may be hereafter amended, including but not limited to:

  1. Alterations and/or additions to the exterior of structures and buildings within the Districts;
  2. Construction of new structures and buildings within the Districts;
  3. The incorporation of or removal of landscaping and/or landscape features within the Districts including but not limited to driveways, guardrails, bollards walkways, fences, retaining walls, lighting, light fixtures, and yard ornaments;
  4. The attachment to the exterior of a building or structure or the freestanding placement adjacent thereto of satellite dishes, antennae, awnings, utility connections, structures, or other apparatus, heating or air conditioning units or equipment, or other appendages; signage, temporary or permanent;
  5. Signage, temporary or permanent, attached or freestanding, except for road signs installed in accordance with and following the specifications of Mass Highway the installation of which and the location thereof have been coordinated with and reviewed and approved by the Commission;
  6. Temporary or permanent recreational features such as tennis courts, swimming pools, or skating rinks;
  7. Changes of material, style, or color of exterior elements;
  8. The approval or prohibition of the demolition or removal of structures or buildings or portions thereof;
  9. The installation of solar or wind utility structures, components, or apparatus; and
  10. Alterations or changes to landscapes, streetscapes, or other elements which in a material way impact the visual integrity of the Districts.

Supporting Materials to be provided with an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness include:

  • Scaled drawings (site plan, floor plans & elevations) of changes, showing relation to existing structure(s): 1 set of “to scale” drawings, 3 reduced copies not to exceed 11” x 17”;
  • Photographs of the project site;
  • Paint color cards/ chips from manufacturer;
  • Material color samples (e.g. roof shingles, etc.);
  • Manufacturer’s brochures and/or samples for materials (e.g. windows, doors, light fixtures, etc.).

To complete the application, include all of the supporting information noted above (as applicable). You must provide enough material so that the Commission will be able to see, in detail, how the changes you intend to make will appear when finished. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Yes, there is no carve-out for new construction. According to the HDC Proposed Bylaw:

Regulation of properties, structures, and landscapes under the authority of this Chapter and by Chapter 40C of the General Laws shall involve the portions of such properties, structures, and landscapes within the Districts that are visible from public ways, ways to which the public has access, pedestrian walkways or trails to which the public has access, parking areas to which the public has access, public parks, public bodies of water, or otherwise visible to the public in the opinion of the Commission. The Commission may consider and approve screening it deems appropriate so as to obscure the view of incongruous elements. In instances where the District does not encompass an entire property (so-called split zone properties) the Commission shall be consulted as to changes to the portion(s) of such properties which lie outside the Districts when such portion is in view from a public way or way to which the public has access, pedestrian walkways or trails to which the public has access, parking areas to which the public has access, public parks, public bodies of water, or otherwise visible to the public in the opinion of the Commission so as to develop appropriate methods of screening if warranted in the opinion of the Commission

The Historic District and the National Register of Historic Places are different. Dozens of residences are currently in the Historic District–none is on the National Register. Of Groton’s seven places on the National Register, three are outside the Historic District. Significant supporting documentation may be required; for instance, Groton allocated $7,800 of CPC funds to support the application of the First Parish Church.

  1. The Groton Inn
  2. The First Parish Church
  3. Prescott School
  4. Boutwell House (the Historical Society)
  5. District 7 School
  6. Bennett-Shattuck House
  7. Leatherboard Company
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