Historic Districts
Village of Libertyville's Local Historic District
The Village of Libertyville Local Historic District, established in 2018, stipulates all properties that require review by the Historic Preservation Commission for proposed exterior changes, new development, or demolition requests.
How do I know whether my property is within the Downtown Libertyville Historic District?
To view the boundaries of the Downtown Libertyville Historic District, please click here.
What does review by the Historic Preservation Commission involve?
Properties within the Local Historic District must submit an application to the Historic Preservation Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) before making exterior changes, new development, or demolition. The Commission reviews the proposal, and the Village Board of Trustees provides final approval. Contact Wil Richardson, Planner at 847-918-2115 for information on the application.
What are the benefits of being in the Local Historic District?
Designation helps preserve the historic character of Libertyville's downtown by ensuring exterior changes, new development, and demolition are reviewed for consistency with the district's historic appearance.
Interested in establishing a Historic District?
The Historic District Designation criteria and procedure can be found in the Historic Preservation Ordinance. Any questions about the Historic District Designation process, including what is required for a submission, can be directed to Wil Richardson, Planner, at 847-918-2115.
National Register of Historic Places, Libertyville Downtown Historic District
The National Register of Historic Places Historic District is a separate district from the Village's Local Historic District. Although the two districts overlap, the boundaries of the National Register Historic District are determined by the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service and do not specify which properties require review of exterior changes by the Village's Historic Preservation Commission and Village Board of Trustees. The district is honorary and unlocks financial incentives, such as Historic Tax Credits, for use by properties that are contributing to the district.
Is my property within the National Register Boundaries?
A map of the final Downtown Historic District Boundaries is available, which includes a view of all the identified non-contributing properties within the district. Non-contributing properties do not meet the criteria for historic designation, often due to newer construction or significant alterations and, therefore are not eligible for the same benefits that historic properties receive under the National Register of Historic Places
Does this mean I can't alter my property?
No. National Register listing does not restrict what property owners can do with their property. Design review requirements may still apply, since many of the same properties are within the Village's Local Historic District, which is regulated separately by the Village's Historic Preservation Commission and Village Board of Trustees.
What are the benefits associated with the National Register of Historic Places designation?
Listing makes contributing properties eligible for financial incentives, most notably the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive, a 20% income tax credit for qualified rehabilitation of income producing historic buildings, and the Illinois Historic Preservation Tax Credit, a 25% state income tax credit, which can be paired with the federal credit for additional savings. Listed properties and districts may also qualify for certain federal and state preservation grant programs. Beyond financial incentives, the designation formally recognizes the district's historic significance and supports heritage tourism. To learn more about the financial incentives, please click here.
More Information on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Libertyville Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior on April 21, 2025, . A press release issued by the Village of Libertyville on April 30, 2025, is available for view. To learn more about the process that listed the district on the National Register of Historic Places, please click here.
Document Center
The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.
Documents sorted by SEQ in Ascending Order within category