City of Aspen - Community Development

Historic Preservation Program

123 W. Francis

The City of Aspen Community Development Department has been committed to preserving and restoring historical property and buildings within the City of Aspen for over 30 years.

Questions about the Historic Preservation Program should be directed to the Historic Preservation Officer, Amy Guthrie at (970) 920-5096, amyg@ci.aspen.co.us

To make alterations, additions, or demolish any structures that are currently on the City of Aspen's Historical Inventory, Landmarks, or sites within the Historic Overlay District a review must be completed by the City's Historical Preservation Officer and possibly by the Historical Preservation Commission.

Any development involving properties designated on the Aspen Inventory of Historic Landmark Sites and Structures, as an individual building or located in a historic district, unless determined exempt (such as interior remodeling, choice of paint color, and some minor maintenance work,) requires the approval of a Development Order and either a Certificate of No Negative Effect or a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit or any other work authorization will be issued by the City. All work that is not exempt must comply with the "City of Aspen Historic Preservation Design Guidelines."

Application Form

There are three classifications of review on Historical Properties:

An Exempt Development may be approved by the Community Development Director if it meets the criteria for an exemption in Section 26.415 of the City of Aspen Land Use Code.
A Minor Development approval would be needed for development on a historic property that could not be exempted according to the criteria for exemptions in the Land Use Code. This would require a public hearing before the Historic Preservation Commission.
A Significant Development approval would be needed for a major alteration, addition, or demolition of an existing historical property. A Significant Development approval would require a public hearing before the Historical Preservation Commission on the conceptual development plan and then another public hearing before the Historical Preservation Commission on the final development plan.

HPC Fact Sheet