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1. What makes a property eligible for listing in the Pierce County Register of Historic Places?

The criteria used to determine eligibility of a property for listing in the Pierce County Register of Historic Places are similar to those used to determine eligibility for listing in the historic registers at the federal or state levels.

A property must be at least 50 years of age, although exceptions may be allowed for special resources, and possess the quality of significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, culture and have integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. The property must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
  
• It is associated with the lives of persons significant in Pierce County's past; or
  
• It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction or that represents the distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
  
• It has yielded or may be likely to yield information important in prehistory or history

2. Why would an owner want to designate a property to a historic register?

• The pride and satisfaction from preserving historic resources important to Pierce County heritage
  
• Technical assistance from the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission's 11-member board
  
• Eligibility for tax incentives at the federal or local levels for rehabilitation of designated property achieved according to applicable historic preservation rehabilitation standards
  
• Contribution to preserving 'sense of place' in our communities by protecting historically significant landmarks and resources

3. What is the process to nominate a property for designation to the Pierce County Register of Historic Places?

A nomination application (photo guidelines) can be filed with Planning & Public Works. It is customary for property owners to file such a nomination for their own property.

The Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission reviews and determines whether a nominated property is eligible for listing in the Pierce County Register of Historic Places. Once determination is made, the commission's evaluation and determination are forwarded to the County Council for final action.

4. What kind of tax incentives can a property owner expect?

• Federal Level
  
  
  
  • If a commercial or income producing property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, certain federal tax incentives may apply. Contact the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and/or the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation for the most current tax incentives.
  
  
  
  
• Pierce County Level
  
  
  
  • Property tax incentives are available under Special Tax Valuation for historic rehabilitation:
    
    
    
    • A special valuation of historic properties listed in the national, state or Pierce County Register of Historic Places revises the assessed value of historic properties by subtracting eligible rehabilitation costs for the tax assessment. Applicant must apply for Special Tax Valuation through the County Assessor-Treasurer's Office within two years from the time the rehabilitation activities began. If approved, special valuation status remains in effect for 10 years.
    
    
    
    
  • Properties with qualifying open space resources are assessed on the current use basis:
    
    
    
    • The Washington State Open Space Tax Act (RCW Chapter 84.34) allows property owners with qualifying open space resources to apply to have their properties assessed on the current use basis. Although not a high priority resource for current use tax consideration, historic sites are among the open space resources included in the Public Benefit Rating System applied by Pierce County (PCC Chapter 2.114) to rate open space resources for this program.