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A Baltimore property qualifies for the CHAP credit if it is individually listed on the National Register, sits within a National Register district or landmark, is a Baltimore City Landmark, or contributes to a City historic district. Check the address in the City's CityView mapping tool, because a non-contributing house in a historic district may not qualify.
I am Ed Drost, a Maryland State Certified Residential Appraiser. I have worked in Baltimore's neighborhoods since 1989, and "Does my block qualify?" is the first CHAP question I hear. It is a fair question, with a two-part answer: which designation covers the property, and does the house itself count. This is part of our Baltimore appraisal Q&A series. For the full process, see the CHAP Historic Tax Credit Guide.
What are the ways a property can qualify?
The City's eligibility test is about designation. A property can qualify through any one of four routes:
- It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- It lies within a National Register district or landmark.
- It is a Baltimore City Landmark.
- It contributes to a City historic district.
Baltimore has 92 historic districts in total by the count I use. 74 are on the National Register, 38 are local districts, and 20 are both. A district that is on the National Register but not designated locally does not carry the City's local design review for ordinary exterior changes, but CHAP still reviews the work you do under the credit.
What is the difference between local and National Register districts?
| Local historic district | National Register district | |
|---|---|---|
| Who designates | Baltimore City | National Park Service, through the State |
| Design review for exterior work | Yes, through CHAP, for covered work | Not by itself. It is an honor, not a regulation. |
| Eligible for CHAP credit? | Yes, if the property contributes | Yes, if the property is in the district and qualifies |
| Federal credit? | Not by itself | Only for income-producing property |
| Count in Baltimore | 38 | 74 (20 districts are both) |
Owners are often surprised that a National Register address can claim the credit without ever being under local design review. The catch is that CHAP reviews the work you do for the credit under its Historic Design Guidelines. The credit is the reason the review applies.
How do you check whether an address qualifies?
- Open the City's CityView mapping tool and search the address.
- Look at the historic district layers: local district, National Register district and City Landmark.
- Check whether the building is contributing or non-contributing. A house in a district that is classed as non-contributing may not qualify.
- Call or email CHAP with the address. Their answer is the one that counts.
- Keep a copy of the response for your application.
The map layers help, but they do not tell you whether your particular house contributes. If the layers and your own sense of the block disagree, ask CHAP.
Which neighborhoods are examples?
Well-known historic neighborhoods in Baltimore include Bolton Hill, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Butchers Hill and Canton. I name them as examples only. Designation can differ from block to block, and I cannot tell you that a given address qualifies without looking it up. Neighborhoods developed under covenants, such as Roland Park, are worth checking too, but a covenant is a private deed matter and is not the same as a historic designation.
How much of the City is covered?
CHAP's materials describe its historic districts as covering roughly a fifth of the City's land area. That is a fair way to say that many Baltimore homeowners are in a district, and many are not. If you are near an edge, the exact boundary matters.
Common questions
How many historic districts does Baltimore have?
By the count I use, 92: 74 on the National Register, 38 local, and 20 that are both.
Does a National Register district qualify me for CHAP?
Yes, a property within a National Register district can qualify, but the property still has to meet the program's rules and the work has to be approved by CHAP.
What is a contributing structure?
A building that adds to the historic character of the district. A non-contributing building in a district may not qualify, so confirm your property's status.
Where do I look up my address?
The City's CityView mapping tool. Then confirm the result with CHAP.
Do I need to live in the house?
Not for eligibility. CHAP eligibility turns on the property's designation. Whether you live there matters for other programs, such as the federal credit, which excludes owner-occupied homes.
Does being in a district mean I must renovate a certain way?
In a local district, CHAP reviews covered exterior work. In a National Register-only district there is no local design review, but CHAP reviews work you do under the credit.
Sources
- Baltimore City Historic Tax Credit, CHAP
- Historic Tax Credit FAQ, CHAP
- Historic Tax Credit Rules and Regulations, Baltimore City Department of Finance (effective December 14, 2020)
- Baltimore City Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP)
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Program rules change and every project is different. Confirm current requirements with CHAP and the Baltimore City Department of Finance before you start work.
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