Historical Commission

Please note that the process for submitting applications to the Historical Commission has changed! We are now using our online partner OpenGov. Please see application section below for links to applications.

The Historical Commission preserves, promotes and develops the historic assets of the city. The Commission reviews alterations proposed to properties that are located in local historic districts and administers the city’s Building Demolition Delay Ordinance.

Commission Profile How to Join

Elm Park LHD Study

At their September 26, 2023 meeting, upon the recommendation of the Worcester Historical Commission, the Worcester City Council voted unanimously to ordain the Elm Park Neighborhood Local Historic District. The vote followed a two-and-a-half year long study of the area as prescribed by MGL Chapter 40C, which included historical research, photography and an open dialog with neighborhood residents, property owners and the public at large.

Learn More

Preservation Awards

The Worcester Historical Commission, in partnership with Preservation Worcester, has established an annual awards program to recognize outstanding restoration, renovation and development projects that foster historic preservation in the City. Awards will be considered in a variety of categories:

  • Residential Rehabilitation - Recognizes excellence in the sensitive preservation or rehabilitation of a privately owned, single-family residence that is owner occupied.
  • Commercial Rehabilitation - Recognizes excellence in the preservation or rehabilitation of a commercial building while retaining its historic integrity and character. This category includes adaptive reuse.
  • Stewardship - Recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated consistent and considerate maintenance of a property, and has shown commitment to its preservation.
  • Compatible Construction – Recognizes new construction that is visually compatible in mass, scale and style with historic buildings in the immediate vicinity, and contributes to the preservation of a neighborhood.
  • Merit Award - Recognizes preservation work involving other types of structures, such as bridges, monuments, fences, etc., as well as scholarly and educational contributions to the field of historic preservation.

Past Winners

Meetings

Meet twice monthly on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

Please review the Meeting Schedule for meeting dates and application deadlines.

Date/Time of Next Meeting: Thursday December 21st, 2023

December 15 December 1 November 17 November 3 October 27 October 6 September 29 September 22 September 8 August 25 August 11 July 28 July 14 June 30 June 16 June 2 May 19 May 5 April 21 April 7 March 24 March 10 February 24 February 17 February 10 January 27 January 20 January 13
December 30 December 16 December 9 December 2 November 17 October 28 October 14 September 30 September 23 September 16 September 2 August 19 August 5 July 22 July 8 June 24 June 10 May 27 May 13 April 29 April 15 April 1 March 18 March 4 February 18 February 4 January 21 January 7
December 17 December 3 November 12 October 29 October 15 October 1 September 17 September 3 August 20 August 6 July 23 July 9 June 25 June 11 May 28 May 14 April 30 April 16 April 2 March 19 March 5 February 20 February 6 January 30 January 23 January 9
December 12 December 3 November 21 November 7 October 17 October 3 September 19 September 5 August 22 August 8 July 25 July 11 June 20 June 6 May 23 May 9 April 25 April 11 March 28 March 14 February 14 January 31 January 10
November 29 November 8 October 25 October 11 September 27 September 13 August 30 August 16 August 2 July 12 June 21 June 14 June 7 May 24 May 10 April 26 April 12 March 29 March 15 February 22 February 1 January 25 January 10 January 4
December 21 November 30 November 9 October 19 October 5 September 7 August 24 August 17 August 3 July 24 July 20 July 6 June 22 June 1 May 17 May 11 April 20 April 13 March 23 March 9 February 23 February 16 February 9 January 19 January 5
December 15 November 17 November 3 October 13 September 29 September 21 September 1 August 11 August 3 July 21 June 30 June 9 May 19 April 28 April 7 March 17 February 25 January 28 January 7
December 10 November 19 November 12 October 29 October 15 October 1 September 17 September 3 August 20 August 6 July 23 July 9 June 25 June 11 May 28 May 14 April 30 April 16 April 2 March 19 March 12 March 5 February 12 January 22 January 8
December 18 December 4 November 20 November 6 October 16 October 2 September 18 September 4 August 27 August 21 August 7 July 24 July 10 June 19 June 5 May 22 May 8 April 24 April 10 March 27 March 13 February 27 February 6 January 23 January 9
December 19 December 5 November 21 November 7 October 24 October 10 September 26 September 12 August 29 August 15 July 25 July 11 June 27 May 30 May 16 May 2 April 18 April 4 March 21 March 7 February 21 February 7 January 24 January 10
December 13 November 29 November 15 November 1 October 18 October 4 September 20 September 6 August 23 August 9 July 26 July 12 June 28 June 14 May 24 May 3 April 19 April 5 March 23 March 8 February 23 February 9 January 26 January 12
December 15 December 1 November 17 November 3 October 20 October 6 September 22 September 8 August 18 August 4 July 21 July 7 June 23 June 9 June 1 May 26 May 12 April 28 April 20 April 14 March 24 March 10 February 24 February 10 January 27 January 13
December 30 December 16 December 2 November 18 November 4 October 14 October 7 September 30 September 16 August 26 August 19 July 22 July 8 June 24 June 10 May 27 May 13 April 22 April 8 March 25 March 11 March 4 February 25 February 11 January 28 January 14
December 17 December 3 November 19 November 5 October 22 October 8 September 24 September 10 August 27 August 13 July 23 July 9 June 25 June 11 June 10 May 28 May 20 May 14 April 30 April 9 March 12 February 26 February 12 January 29
December 18 December 4 November 25 November 20 November 6 October 23 October 9 September 25 September 11 August 28 August 14 July 24 July 10 June 26 June 12 May 29 May 15 May 10 April 24 April 10 March 27 March 13 February 28 February 14 January 24 January 10
December 27 December 13 November 8 October 25 October 11 September 27 September 13 August 23 August 9 July 26 July 12 June 28 June 14 May 24 May 10 April 26 April 12 March 22 March 8 February 22 February 8 January 25 January 11
December 28 December 14 November 16 November 2 October 26 October 12 September 28 September 14 August 24 August 10 July 27 July 13 June 22 June 8 May 25 May 11 April 27 April 13 March 23 March 9 February 23 February 9 January 19 January 5
December 15 December 8 November 3 October 6 September 29 September 1 August 4 July 7 June 16 April 21

BDDW-23-41 - 18 HAYNES STREET

COA-23-21 - 16 CONGRESS STREET

COA-23-24 - 26 NEWBURY STREET

COA-23-25 - 42 SOMERSET STREET

COA-23-26 - 9 ASHLAND STREET

COA-23-27 - 54 WEST STREET

COA-23-28 - 60 WILLIAM STREET

Applications

Please view the Historical Commission's Local Historic Districts Rules & Regulations.

For information on all city permits, licenses and fees, visit Permit/License Center.

We encourage you to submit your application ONLINE through our portal links below! Please complete all required fields, electronically sign and upload the appropriate documents.

Before you can submit an application you must create an account. Please see Signing Up, Creating a Profile & Accessing Your Information.

Building Demolition Delay Waiver • Apply Now!

Application Requirements:

  • Certified Abutters List.
  • Clear, color photos showing current conditions of the overall property and detailed photos showing areas of proposed work.

Resources

Certificate of Non-Applicability • Apply Now!

Application Requirements:

  • Clear, color photos showing current conditions of the overall property and detailed photos showing areas of proposed work.

Certificate of Appropriateness & Building Demolition Delay Waiver • Apply Now!

Application Requirements:

  • Certified Abutters List.
  • Clear, color photos showing current conditions of the overall property and detailed photos showing areas of proposed work.
  • If you feel that you may qualify for a waiver due to extenuating financial circumstances, please attach a supplemental Undue Financial Hardship Application to your Building Demolition Delay Waiver Application. This supplement can be found in the Resources section below.

Resources

*Please note: For anyone that does not have access to a computer or needs assistance, call our office at 508-799-1400 and we will be happy to assist.

Design Review Guidelines

Resources

Screenshot of Online Permitting Portal Website Home Page

Online Permitting Portal

Online permitting is available for building, electrical, gas, plumbing, mechanical and housing/health permits from Inspectional Services, as well as the sale of tobacco products and select DPW&P Engineering and Water Operations permits.

Contact Information

Planning & Regulatory Services
City Hall Room 404
455 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608

Accessible via WRTA Bus Line. View Schedules

Phone: 508-799-1400
Fax: 508-799-1406
Email Us

Sign Up for Board/Commission Agendas

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

About Worcester

Quick Links

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Worcester 311
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone: 311
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