# Determine historic status of a building in Chicago Chicago Cityscape incorporates four maps that help researchers identify the historic status of a building in Chicago. 1. City Council-designated landmarks & landmark districts 2. National Register of Historic Places locations 3. Chicago Historic Resources Survey buildings 4. Evanston historic districts All of these maps are found in Property Reports and Place Reports for Chicago addresses and areas, respectively. Find City Council-designated landmarks & landmark districts and National Register of Historic Places locations in one section and Chicago Historic Resources Survey buildings in another section. ## About each of the map types ### City Council-designated landmarks & landmark districts Chicago City Council, upon the recommendation of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks and the Historic Preservation Division staff in the Department of Planning & Development, designates buildings, properties, artwork, areas, and objects as landmarks. #### Associated regulations Designated landmarks are regulated and protected by 2-120-580 et seq. Districts may include "contributing" and "non-contributing buildings". Contributing buildings have essentially the same regulations as individually landmarked buildings and objects. Non-contributing buildings are still subject to some regulation. The district designation report will list the contributing and non-contributing buildings. - [View all individual landmarks](/maps/index.php#/?places_type=chicagolandmark) - [View all landmark districts](/maps/index.php#/?places_type=landmarkdistrict) #### How to determine status 1. [Look up an address](/address.php) and load its Property Report, or [look up](/maps/index.php) and load a Place Report. 2. Scroll down to "Landmarks" or select on "Landmarks" in the Table of Contents. 3. Select the "Load landmarks" button. 4. A map and data table will show nearby landmarks, landmark districts, and locations in the National Register of Historic Places (see Screenshot 1). Some landmark districts in our database are known to have a list of contributing buildings; these will be noted under the "More info" section of their Place Reports (each Chicago landmark district has an associated Place Report).  *Screenshot 1* ### National Register of Historic Places locations The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is a [database](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm) of important locations that meet certain criteria established by the National Park Service (NPS) and State Historic Preservation Offices. As of January 12, 2022, there are 362 locations in Chicago, and four districts in Evanston. [View all locations on the National Register of Historic Places in Chicago](http://chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php#/?places_type=nationalregister) #### Associated regulations The City of Chicago does not have regulations specific to a building's listing on the NRHP. Note that many listed buildings are also designated Chicago landmarks or contributing buildings in designated Chicago landmark districts. Additionally, check state and federal guidelines before modifying a listed building. #### How to determine status *These locations are found in the same section as Chicago landmarks and landmark districts* 1. [Look up an address](http://chicagocityscape.com/address.php) to open a Property Report, or [look up a Place Report](http://chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php). (The Property Report or Place Report must be of a Chicago or Evanston location.) 2. Scroll down to "Landmarks" or select on "Landmarks" in the Table of Contents. 3. Select the "Load landmarks" button. 4. A map and data table will show nearby landmarks, landmark districts, and locations in the National Register of Historic Places (see Screenshot 1 above). ### Chicago Historic Resources Survey buildings In the 1980s and 1990s, City of Chicago staff compiled a database of historic and potentially historic buildings that were at least 50 years old. Chicago Cityscape does not have the entire database. [Access the City of Chicago's dedicated website](https://webapps1.chicago.gov/landmarksweb/web/historicsurvey.htm) to learn more about the survey and find more information than is presented in Chicago Cityscape's Property Reporst and Place Reports. [View all Chicago Historic Resources Survey buildings](http://chicagocityscape.com/historicresourcessurvey.php) #### Associated regulations Buildings rated orange or red are regulated by 14A-4-407.6 in the Chicago Building Code. This section sets a 90-day demolition delay. The 90-day period begins when a complete demolition permit applications is submitted to the Historic Preservation Division staff in the Department of Planning & Development. #### How to determine status 1. [Look up an address](http://chicagocityscape.com/address.php) to open a Property Report, or [look up a Place Report](http://chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php). 2. Scroll down to Historic Resources Survey and select the "Load historic resources" button. 3. A map and data table will show nearby (Property Report) or overlapping (Place Report) resources. Buildings are color-coded orange and red, indicating their significance (red is greater).  *Screenshot 2: Screenshot of the Chicago Historic Resources Survey map and data table for a Place Report* In Property Reports, by default, the five nearest resources within 1/8 mile will appear. You can adjust the search radius to up to 1 mile. ### Evanston historic districts The City of Evanston has four historic districts, three of which overlap with its National Register of Historic Places districts (all but the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union historic district). #### Associated regulations Please refer to the City's website about [Historic Preservation](https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/community-development/planning-zoning/historic-preservation). - [View all Evanston historic districts](http://chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php#/?places_type=historicdistrictevanston) #### How to determine status 1. [Look up an address](http://chicagocityscape.com/address.php) and load its Property Report, or [look up](http://chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php) and load a Place Report. (The Property Report or Place Report must be of an Evanston location.) 2. Scroll down to "Landmarks" or select on "Landmarks" in the Table of Contents. 3. Select the "Load landmarks" button. 4. A map and data table will show overlapping Evanston historic districts. ## Related Knowledge Base Articles - [[Property history|Research the history & age of a property]]