Historic Preservation Commission

A: The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is a city board made up of Leadville residents (at least two) and others who promote and protect the historic buildings in Leadville’s National Historic Landmark District. The HPC reviews Certificate of Appropriateness applications, develops preservation programs, plans surveys, and gives out historic preservation awards.

Q: What is a National Historic District?

A: A National Historic District is a place with a large concentration of historic buildings worthy of preservation because of their significance in local, state, or national history. The Leadville Historic District is also a National Historic Landmark, a special designation for some of the most significant places in American history; there are only twenty-five other National Historic Landmarks in all of Colorado. Leadville was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

Q: Where can I find a map of Leadville’s historic overlay – and why is it important?

A: A map of the historic overlay is available here. The overlay shows the boundaries of Leadville’s National Historic Landmark District, the part of town that contains the greatest concentration of buildings that retain their historical integrity. It is important to retain that integrity in order to preserve Leadville’s past and maintain National Historic Landmark status.

Q: Can the HPC help me research the history of my home or property?

A: YES—the HPC is a great place to begin researching the history of your property. We won’t be able to do everything, but we can get you started. We have several free resources available, and can also point you to other resource-rich local sources as well.

Q: Are there funds available to help with renovating my property?

A: YES—there are significant tax credits and grant funds available for historic renovations as well as the upkeep of your property. The HPC can introduce you to the process.

Q: Does having a historic home or building affect my property values?

A: YES—having a historic home or building adds value to your property. As a matter of fact, since Leadville is a designated National Historic District, your historic home or building adds value to ALL of Leadville.

Making Changes to Your Property (COAs)

Q: What is a COA?

A: COA stands for Certificate of Appropriateness – the process of applying for and meeting the requirements of any new construction, moving (relocation), demolition (partial or total), alteration or addition to any building or structure within the Leadville Historic Overlay area.

Q: How do I get information about the COA process?

A: Information is available on the HPC website, or you can contact the Leadville City Administrative Assistant at adminassistant@leadville-co.gov.

Q: Does any project to my home or property require a COA?

A: Some smaller projects are considered “insubstantial,” meaning that the COA is administratively approved and does not need to go before the full HPC for review. The HPC or the Leadville City Administrator can help you determine whether your project is “insubstantial.”

Q: What are some of the types of projects that might require a COA?

A: It’s always best to ask! These are some (but not all) of the types of projects that might require a COA:

Building a new home
Demolishing any structure (or part of any structure)
Any addition to your home or building
Constructing a new driveway or parking area
Changing the type and/or style of windows or exterior doors
The addition, modification, or removal of a porch
Changing the style or materials of a roof
Changing the exterior paint color
Changing the shape or style of exterior siding

Q: Do I need a COA to remodel the interior of my home or building?

A: NO—you are free to remodel or renovate the interior of your home or building as you see fit with no outside requirements.

Q: Is a COA the same thing as a Building Permit?

A: NO—these are two different things. For instance, your interior renovations may require a Lake County Building Permit, while being free of the requirement of a COA.

Q: Does Leadville have a list of approved historic colors for the exterior of my home or property?

A: YES—Leadville has a substantial selection of historic colors from the city’s famous past. You can see the color palette here, and there is also a display of these colors at Bighorn Ace Hardware. Use of them is encouraged as a way to maintain Leadville’s traditional look and feel.

Q: Is a COA required for a demolition?

A: YES—a COA (as well as a Building Permit) is required to demolish any structure (or any part of a structure) on your property. This includes any and all outbuildings as well as porches and decks, regardless of condition.

Q: Why should I keep the old outbuildings on my property?

A: Leadville is famous for its mining-era outbuildings! In addition to their historical significance, many original outbuildings are located on the extreme edges of your property. Removing one would subject your future building plans to current code setback requirements, potentially reducing the viable useable square footage of your property.

The Historic Preservation Commission was formed in 2013 in order to administrate the design standards for protecting the integrity of properties inside the National Historic Landmark District. The HPC has created residential design guidelines, that City Council passed on 5-16-17. These guidelines apply to all new construction and renovations within the Landmark District. Please find a PDF of the final design

The commission is made up of five people. At least 2 members must have been a resident of Leadville for at least 2 years. At least 2 members must have a preservation-related background such as history, architecture, law or real estate. The Leadville City Council appoints the members. Each member is on the Commission for three years. The HPC is currently meeting twice per month, but meetings will be held only as necessary once design standards have been adopted. If you would like to become a member, please submit an application to the Administrative Services office at 800 Harrison Ave.

Historic Preservation Commission meetings are currently held the 2nd and Optional 4th Tuesdays of every month.

Historic Preservation Commission Application

History Colorado partners with the City of Leadville to review and evaluate the Historic Preservation Commissions compliance with the Certified Local Government requirements. The state of Colorado also offers tax incentives to help rehabilitate and restore historic properties. In July 2015, the state of Colorado offered a new tax credit for the rehabilitation of qualified historic buildings. This credit expands and improves upon the original rehabilitation tax credit that has been on the books since 1990. The new program creates two sources of financial incentives- Residential and Commercial. To learn more about this program and opportunity please check out the following link: https://www.historycolorado.org/preservation-tax-credits