Historic houses, churches, schools, public buildings, commercial blocks and factories, along with landscape features and elements of their settings, offer tangible links to the people who lived and worked here in the past and who shaped the city as it is today. They create a special sense of time and place that contributes to Providence's unique identity. In 1959 the City of Providence established a local historic district zoning ordinance to protect and preserve special areas of historic and architectural value. In a local historic district, a design review process guides development and change in a way that preserves important elements of the past for the benefit of future generations. Local historic district designation differs from listing in the National or State Registers of Historic Places.
All members are city residents with a demonstrated interest in historic preservation.
The PHDC reviews proposals for all exterior repair, alteration, new construction, moving, or demolition of buildings, structures and their appurtenances within the local historic districts. Before starting any work, a property owner must file an application and obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project. The Certificate of Appropriateness is required whether or not a building permit is also required. The PHDC holds a public hearing once a month to review applications for proposed alterations, new construction, demolition and moving of structures. Staff review generally takes only a few days from receipt of a complete application.