District requirements, preservation organizations, tax credits, and the local trades who know how to do this work right — all in one place.
If your home sits in a local historic district, exterior work — including window replacement or alteration — requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from the district's commission before work begins. Here's what each district requires.
| District | Location | Commission | What Requires Approval | Review Focus | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zachary Downtown Historic District
Zachary |
Two-block area of historic downtown Zachary — eight buildings spanning late 19th century through 1960s | City of Zachary | All exterior alterations, repairs, and new construction. New owners are required to preserve structures' historic appearance. | Compatibility of size, texture, scale, and site plan. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. | City of Zachary ↗ |
|
Spanish Town Historic District
Baton Rouge |
Bounded by North Street, State Capitol Drive, N. 5th St., and N. 9th St. — oldest neighborhood in Baton Rouge, originally laid out 1805 | East Baton Rouge Parish Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) | Any exterior alteration, addition, demolition, fence, sign, light fixture, steps, or paving — a Certificate of Appropriateness is required before work begins. | Exterior compatibility with district character. Interior use and arrangement are not reviewed. Design guidelines adopted by HPC. | BRLA.gov ↗ |
|
Beauregard Town Historic District
Baton Rouge |
Bounded by North Blvd., South Blvd., East Blvd., and St. Louis St. — commissioned 1806, listed on National Register since 1980 | East Baton Rouge Parish Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) | All exterior alterations including windows, fences, lighting, and steps. Certificate of Appropriateness required. | Detailed design guidelines adopted October 2020. Focuses on scale, texture, materials, and compatibility with district character. | Design Guidelines ↗ |
|
Drehr Place Historic District
Baton Rouge |
Named for Alvin Drehr's 1919 land purchase — most homes built before the Great Depression. Well-preserved early 20th-century neighborhood. | East Baton Rouge Parish Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) | Certificate of Appropriateness required for all exterior alterations and new construction within district boundaries. | Architecture compatibility; 20th-century residential character. Design guidelines available from the Office of the Planning Commission. | Drehr Place ↗ |
|
Old South Baton Rouge Historic District
Baton Rouge |
South Baton Rouge — historically significant residential neighborhood | East Baton Rouge Parish Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) | Certificate of Appropriateness required for exterior work. HPC reviews against Secretary of the Interior's Standards. | Exterior integrity and compatibility. HPC meets at 1100 Laurel St. at 8:30 AM. | BRLA HPC ↗ |
|
Mid-City Historic District
Baton Rouge |
Mid-City Baton Rouge — early to mid-20th century residential neighborhood | East Baton Rouge Parish Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) | Certificate of Appropriateness required for all exterior alterations, including windows, doors, porches, and roofing. | Period-appropriate materials and design. HPC advisory; Metropolitan Council issues final designation. | BRLA Historic Districts ↗ |
Note: HPC review in Baton Rouge is advisory — final approval comes from the Metropolitan Council. Always verify current district boundaries and design guidelines directly with the Office of the Planning Commission at (225) 389-3144 before submitting a Certificate of Appropriateness application.
The agencies and organizations that govern, fund, and support historic preservation in Louisiana. Start here when navigating approvals, tax credits, or National Register nominations.
Louisiana stacked federal and state historic tax credits can cover up to 45% of qualified rehabilitation costs. Worth knowing about before you budget a major project.
These firms specialize in Louisiana historic tax credit applications. A CPA with HTC experience is strongly recommended for Part III cost certification.
Historic work requires trades who understand what they're touching. These are local craftspeople and firms with documented experience in Louisiana's historic building stock.
We restore them to the standard historic districts expect — and to the standard your home deserves.
Get a QuoteOr call: (225) 678-3900