The City of Jefferson has an appointed Historic Preservation Commission.  It is tasked with encouraging the preservation of buildings and properties with historic character, and with reviewing applications for changes to buildings and properties to ensure they are consistent with established historic character.  The Historic Preservation Commission’s regular meeting date is the second Thursday of the month, at 6:30 p.m., at the Jefferson Civic Center, 65 Kissam Street, Jefferson, Georgia 30549. 

Current Historic Preservation Commission members and their terms of appointment are as follows:  Christy Johnson -Chairman,  Nick Bledsoe, Don Kupis, Brian Mitsdarffer and Len Sturkie. Correspondence to individual commission members can be directed to the Main Street Jefferson Department (see link on this web page under “departments,” which works closely with the commission, or to the Department of Planning and Development.  

There are four locally designated historic districts in Jefferson.  A local historic district differs from the National Register of Historic Districts.  A composite map of Jefferson’s local historic districts is available for download in .pdf format on this web page. Within any designated local historic preservation district in Jefferson, a “certificate of appropriateness” is required for any “material change in appearance” to property or building(s).  This includes signs.  Projects which require a certificate of appropriateness are divided into “major” and “minor” works in the Land Use Management Code (see Article 21, Chapter 21.5 for more about procedures and requirements).  Some form of public notice for applications for certificates of appropriateness is required, depending on whether it is a major or minor work.    

Applications for certificates of appropriateness are filed with the Department of Planning and Development (a fee and certain submissions are required).  See “electronic forms” to apply for a certificate of appropriateness.  “Ordinary maintenance and repair” is exempt from the requirement to obtain a certificate; property owners are encouraged to inquire with the Department of Planning and Development as to whether a particular actions is exempt under the “ordinary maintenance and repair” provision, and to obtain a statement of exemption if a certificate is not required. 

The Historic Preservation Commission and Jefferson City Council have adopted design guidelines to help it make decisions on applications for certificates of appropriateness.  The guidelines are available for download from this web page in .pdf format.