The Louisburg Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is authorized by local ordinance to have specific "powers". These include:

1. Undertake an inventory of properties of historical, pre-historical, architectural and/or cultural significance.
2. Recommend to the Town Council areas to be designated by ordinance as "Historic Districts" and individual structures, buildings, sites, areas or objects to be designated by ordinance as "Landmarks".
3. Recommend to the Town Council that designation of any area as a historic district, or part thereof, or designation of any building, structure, site, area or object as a landmark, be revoked or removed for cause.
4. Review and act upon proposals for alterations, demolition or new construction within historic districts, or for the alteration or demolition of designated landmarks.
5. Conduct an educational program with respect to historic districts and landmarks within its jurisdiction.
6. Cooperate with the State, Federal and Local Government in pursuance of the purposes of this Ordinance; to offer or request assistance, aid, guidance or advice concerning matters under its purview or of mutual interest. The Town Council, or the Commission when authorized by the Town Council, may contract with the State or the United States, or any agency of either, or with any other organization provided the terms are not inconsistent with State or Federal Law.
7. Enter, solely in performance of its official duties and only at reasonable times, upon private lands for examination or survey thereof. However, no member, employee or agent of the Commission may enter any private building or structure without express consent of the owner or occupant thereof.
8. Prepare and recommend the official adoption of a preservation element as part of the Town of Louisburg comprehensive plan.
9. Acquire by any lawful means the fee or any lesser included interest, including options to purchase, to properties within established districts or to any such properties designated as landmarks, to hold, manage, preserve, restore and improve the same, and to exchange or dispose of the property by public or private sale, lease or otherwise, subject to covenants or other legally binding restrictions which will secure appropriate rights of public access and promote the preservation of the property. All lands, buildings, structures, sites, areas or objects acquired by funds appropriated by the Town Council of Louisburg shall be acquired in the name of the Town of Louisburg unless otherwise provided for by the Louisburg Town Council.
10. Restore, preserve and operate historic properties.
11. Negotiate at any time with the owners of a building, structure, site, area or object for its acquisition or its preservation, when such action is reasonably necessary or appropriate.

The HPC is a seven member commission that conducts meetings to further the directives of the Louisburg Town Council. Commissioners are:

Mr. Blake Talbott, Chairman Mr. Pete Saunders Mr. George Manley Ms. Martha Hyman

Mr, Ricky Raynor, Vice Chairman Dr. Paul Stewart Mr. Joe Pearce

Louisburg Asst. Town Administrator, Tony L. King, serves as the Secretary to the Commission and staff liaison.

The majority of the HPC's work is the consideration and approval of Certificates of Appropriateness (COA). These certificates are the authorizing permit to allow structural modifications to homes located in the Louisburg Historic District. There are various activities which may be undertaken in the Louisburg Historic District, these include:

Routine Maintenance: activities that have been identified and determined not to require a COA by the HPC.

Minor Works: activities that have been defined and determined that if undertaken within the scope as set forth by the HPC, do not require approval by the HPC, rather may be approved by town staff. While specific activities are outlined as "minor works", generally, any activity which affects a property located with the local district that results in no change in Design, Material, or Appearance (DMA) is considered a "minor work".

Major Work: any activity affecting a property located within the local district and not otherwise identified as either routine maintenance or as a minor work. These activities require a complete and thorough review by the HPC. This review takes place in the form of a quasi-judicial hearing process that is conducted in a similar manner as a court hearing. Evidence is presented and testimony is offered under oath and penalty of perjury. After complete review and consideration of testimony and evidence, the HPC makes findings to support the issuance or denial of the Certificate of Appropriateness

A description of allowable Routine Maintenance and Minor Work activities may be found in the HPC Rules of Procedure.

Relationship to Zoning Ordinance

The COA is a completely different permit and process than the issuance of a Zoning Permit! Zoning law applies to land use and the standards established for such use. A Zoning permit is required for any activity affecting property in the Town Limits or Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Example: The HPC would not review whether a business is allowed in the district, but would regulate what the structural appearance and materials used to construct its building would be.

Please note that all activities proposed in the Louisburg Historic District must be reviewed by Town Staff for compliance with both the Historic Preservation Ordinance and the Louisburg Zoning Ordinance PRIOR to undertaking such activity.