Nomination Process

The Clark County Heritage Register (CCHR) (local register) is our local government’s official list of properties that are designated as significant contributors to the historical development of Clark County. The Register was established by ordinance for both the City of Vancouver and Clark County and designated the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission (CCHPC) as the party responsible for overseeing the stewardship of historic and architecturally significant properties.

Anyone may nominate a building, structure, site, or object for inclusion on the Clark County Heritage Register (CCHR) with the owner’s consent. Properties must be on the CCHR to access incentives such as the Current Tax Use or Special Tax Valuation Program.

If you would like to apply to registers other than the Clark County Historic Register, please follow the links below for more information:

National Register of Historic Places
Washington Heritage Register
Washington Heritage Barn Register

Eligibility

Any building, structure, site, or object may be designated for inclusion in the Clark County Heritage Register. Generally, a property must meet the following baseline criteria:

Have integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
Be at least 50 years of age or older; however, a property less than 50 years of age may be eligible if it is of exceptional importance or if it is an integral part of a district that is eligible for listing on the register.
Is significantly associated with the history, architecture, archeology, engineering, or cultural heritage of Clark County.

If those three criteria are met, then the site should meet at least one of the following criteria, though it is common for a nomination to meet many of these:

Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of national, state, or local history.
Embodies the distinctive architectural characteristics of a type, period, style or method of design or construction, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction.
Is an outstanding work of a designer, builder, or architect who has made a substantial contribution to their field.
Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the county’s history.
Is associated with the lives of persons significant in national, state, or local history.
Has yielded or may be likely to yield important archaeological information related to history or prehistory.
Is an historic building or cultural resource removed from its original location, but which is significant for architectural value, or association with an historic person or event, or prehistory.
Is a birthplace or grave of a prehistoric or historical figure of outstanding importance and is the only surviving structure or site associated with that person.
Is a cemetery or burial site which derives its primary significance from age, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events, or cultural patterns.
Is a reconstructed building that has been executed in an historically accurate manner on the original site.
Is a creative and unique example of folk architecture and design created by persons not formally trained in the architectural or design professions, and which does not fit into formal architectural-or-historical-categories.

Once a property is determined eligible for placement on the CCHR, it may be nominated.

Nominating a Property

The main steps in nominating a historic site to the Clark County Heritage Register include completing the Clark County Heritage Register Nomination Form and providing all necessary supplemental documents and information.

Once the application is received and reviewed by county or city staff the nomination goes before the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission (CCHPC) at a public hearing. They will determine whether to approve listing the property on the Heritage Register. The applicant will know the outcome at the end of the hearing. For a complete list of steps on how to complete your application packet see “Steps to Listing Your Property”. See the Application Review section below for more details on the process in reviewing a nomination.

How to Apply

Research your property. View "Steps to Listing Your Property" (in the Application Guidance section below) for guidance on how to research your property.
Review the Clark County Heritage Register Nomination Form to understand what information is required. Keep in mind the nomination form becomes a critical record for the property. The more information about the site, the more helpful to future property owners and commissions.
Download, complete, and submit the Clark County Heritage Register Nomination Form.
Include the following in the application form via narrative and supplemental documents.
- Historical information about the property and its early owners.
- A detailed description of its architectural features.
- New and old photographs and other supporting documentation. Digital photographs showing primary and secondary elevations and landscape; the property in the context of its neighborhood; and interior photos of significant interior features.
- Illustrative maps

Application Review

The following describes the process to nominate a historic site to the Clark County Heritage Register:

Apply. Complete the Clark County Heritage Register Nomination Form, provide all necessary supplemental documents and information (see application for more information) and submit to staff.
Fully Complete Review. Staff reviews the application to ensure it is fully complete. An application is fully complete when all items required to complete the review have been submitted.
Hearing Scheduled: For reviews by the Historic Preservation Commission, staff schedules a hearing at least 30 days following the fully complete determination. The commission meets the first Wednesday of each month.
Public Notice: Staff publishes a public hearing notice in the newspaper and sends a public notice prior to the hearing date.
Site Visit: A sub-committee of the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission may visit and view the property prior to the hearing date.
Hearing: Staff presents the nomination to the commission. The applicant, or a qualified representative or consultant, should be present and will have an opportunity to offer comments concerning the nomination.
Decision: During the public hearing, the Historic Preservation Commission decides on whether to list the property on the Heritage Register.
Notification: Staff notifies the applicant of the final decision and forwards relevant documents for the applicant’s files.

Heritage Plaque Program

Clark County does not currently have a historic register plaque program; however, the Clark County Historic Museum does, which you may participate in. Learn more about the program.