For Additional Information
Robert Fisher
Planner II

Town of Bel Air
Department of Planning & Community Development
705 E. Churchville Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: 410-879-9500
Fax: 410-838-0775

Purpose - Since its inception as a town in the 18th century, Bel Air has been a central part of the County’s development and history. To preserve this heritage, the Town’s Historic Preservation program seeks to provide assistance in preserving architecturally significant properties and to focus attention on the community’s history. These resources serve as visible reminders of the Town’s history and help to maintain and enhance the livability of the community. Preservation efforts also contribute to the economic development and vitality of the Town, fostering a sense of civic pride and an appreciation of the Town’s heritage among its citizens.

Adaptive Re-Use of Buildings
Bel Air has many fine examples of buildings which have successfully been adapted several times for different uses. Many of these exist on Main Street, Broadway and Rockspring Avenue and other older areas of the Town. An excellent example is The Mill, which was in operation as a feed mill for decades and now houses a retail operation.

Benefits of Historic Site Designation
Bel Air offers a ten percent (10%) property tax credit which may be spread over five years towards the cost of exterior renovations approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. A five percent (5%) property tax credit is available for compatible new construction.

Application for Certificate of Approval

Historic Properties in Bel Air
Each of these sites has been determined by the Bel Air Historic Preservation Commission and the Board of Town Commissioners to be of historic, archeological or architectural significance to the Town.

To inquire about a specific property, please contact the Bel Air Planning Department at 410.638.4540 or 410.879.9500.

Bel Air has 47 locally designated historic properties:

1. Graham-Crocker House - 30 N. Main Street
2. Van Bibber House - 303 S. Main Street
3. Jacob Bull House - 305 N. Franklin Street
4. Wilgis-Bennett House - 139 E. Broadway
5. Whitaker House - 105 E. Broadway
6. Mrs. Dunnigan’s Hotel & Restaurant - 33 W. Courtland Street
7. Second National Bank Building - 12-14 Office Street
8. Mrs. Dunnigan’s Bldg. - 31 W. Courtland Street
9. 18 Office Street - 18 Office Street
10. Old Aegis Building - 29 W. Courtland Street
11. Harford County Courthouse - 20 W. Courtland Street
12. Preston Gilbert Law Office - 6-8 Office Street
13. Webb-Hall House - 52 E. Broadway
14. Bel Air Post Office - N. Main & Gordon Streets
15. Bel Air Methodist Episcopal Church - 20 N. Main Street
16. Keen-McComas-Benfield House - 631 Roland Avenue
17. Bel Air Colored High School - Hays Street
18. Hays House - 324 S. Kenmore Avenue
19. Survey Stones (3) - Courtland, Office & Main Sts.
20. McComas House - 522 Rockspring Avenue
21. James Kennedy (Norris) House - 108 N. Bond Street
22. Worthington Tenant House - 211-213 Franklin Street
23. Bristow House - 615 N. Hickory Avenue
24. Carroll House - 405 E. Broadway
25. Ripken House - 321 E. Broadway
26. Rebecca Evans House - 612 Rockspring Avenue
27. Dale Coale House - 315 Webster Street
28. Everett House - 58 E. Broadway
29. Graham-Miller House - 314 E. Broadway
30. McMullen House - 318 Maitland Street
31. The Wren Box - 108 W. Gordon Street
32. Wallis House - 315 E. Broadway
33. Peverly House - 419 Choice Street
34. Livesey-Deaner House - 103 Powell Avenue
35. Schlehr-Chilcoat House - 327 E. Broadway
36. Pyle House - 329 Webster Street
37. Cassilly-Robinson House - 112 E. Broadway
38. Daneker-Broumel House - 333 E. Broadway
39. Wilkinson-Famous House - 338 E. Broadway
40. Rider House - 326 E. Broadway
41. Archer Building - 17 W. Courtland Street
42. Harlan House - 330 E. Broadway
43. Wattenscheidt’s Jewelry Store - 117 S. Main Street
44. First Aegis Building - 119 S. Main Street
45. Lee House - 330 W. Gordon Street
46. Michael House - 325 Franklin Street
47. Proctor House - 54 E. Gordon Street
48. Louis Getz House - 418 S. Main Street
49. Bosley House - 510 S. Main Street
50. Thompson House - 430 E. Broadway

Historic Site Designation
Historic Site designation is a simple process that must be initiated by the property owner. Buildings must meet general criteria for consideration for historic designation at the local level. The structure must be at least 50 years of age and be of historic, archeological or architectural significance.

The steps in the designation process are:

1. Letter from property owner to Bel Air Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) requesting consideration of a building or site for historic designation.
2. HPC responds to application in writing, advising that a public hearing has been scheduled to review the property and inviting the owner to attend.
3. A zoning notice sign is posted on the property, giving public notice of the date and time of the hearing. An advertisement with the same information is placed in the local newspaper.
4. HPC conducts a public hearing to review the historic significance of the property, then makes a recommendation to the Board of Town Commissioners.
5. Board of Town Commissioners passes a resolution designating the property as a local historic site.

Historic Designation Application

National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is a list of properties acknowledged by the Federal Government as worthy of recognition and preservation for their significance in America’s history and culture. Five of Bel Air’s historic properties are listed on this register. In addition to the prestige of national designation, these properties are also eligible for federal and state tax credit and grant programs.

Historic Walking & Driving Tour
A historic walking and driving tour brochure “Appreciate the Future by Viewing the Past” outlines the history of the Town and provides a glimpse of the history and architecture. Copies of the brochure are available in the publication section of this site.

A new brochure "To Maintain and Restore Your Old House" gives information on the repair or replacement of siding, doors, windows, roofs, shutters, porches and gutters and downspouts.  There is also a section regarding new construction, as well as information on tax credit eligibility for designated historic properties. If you own or are considering purchasing a historic home in Bel Air, this information is valuable.