Old Orland has a distinctive character that makes it an attractive place to live, work, and visit. In 1985, the Village Board of Trustees established the Historic Preservation Review Commission to promote the economic, educational, and cultural well-being of the community through the preservation and maintenance of the buildings in Old Orland.

Before you begin any projects that change the appearance of the site or exterior of existing buildings or involve new construction or demolition within the Historic District, the plans must be reviewed and recommended for approval by the Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) and approved by the Village Board of Trustees.

For projects to take place in Old Orland, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required. Check Section 6-209.G of the Land Development Code for the Review and Approval Process of different types of projects. Also, check the Certificate of Appropriateness application form for a list of required materials that must be submitted. A meeting with a Planning staff member is highly recommended before you submit your application.

At the HPRC meeting, each application is introduced by the Chair, and the staff makes a presentation and recommendation. You or your representative will be given an opportunity to address the Commission and may be asked questions by Commission members. Following the presentations and comments, the Commission will take up a motion on the Certificate of Appropriateness.

There are three things the Commission can do:

The Historical Preservation Review Commission is an advisory body. All decisions regarding your project are made by the Village Board of Trustees, which can approve, approve with conditions, or deny the project.