Baldwin County Architectural Preservation Review Board

The Baldwin County Commission was authorized to create the Architectural Preservation Review Board (ARB) by Section 45-2-221 of the Code of Alabama 1975 (Act No. 80-497 as amended by Act No. 89-960.) The Board oversees the County's four Historic Districts: Point Clear/Battles Wharf; Magnolia Springs; Malbis; and Montrose. The Board's five members are appointed by the County Commission for five-year terms and their responsibilities include reviewing plans within the historic district boundaries for structures being erected, renovated or demolished. The board's authority pertains to the structure's exterior only - not the interior construction, renovation or style.

Baldwin County Historic District Maps
Point Clear/Battles Wharf
Magnolia Springs
Malbis
Montrose

The Architectural Review Board holds a meeting as necessary on the second Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the Fairhope Satellite Courthouse.

Architectural Preservation Review Board Members
Mac Walcott, Chairman
Ken Niemeyer, Vice-Chairman
Harvey E. "Skip" Jones, Jr.
Debbie W. Quinn
Dorothy Gambill

2026 ARB Meeting and Deadline Calendar

Architectural Review Board Standards
Checklist for Certificate of Appropriateness

For more information concerning the Architectural Review Board, please contact Planning Technician Calla McKenzie at calla.mckenzie@baldwincountyal.gov or 251-580-1655.

Is Your Community Historic?

To be considered for Historic District designation, the applicant has to obtain a petition containing the signatures of at least sixty percent (60%) of the area's property owners, which must also include at least sixty percent (60%) of the area's property. In addition, applicants must meet one or more of the following requirements.

• The buildings or district is on the state and/or national register.
• The district contains buildings or sites of historic importance.
• The district contains buildings or sites with distinctive stylistic aesthetic or locational character that will likely be considered historical in the future.
• The district contains buildings or sites with skilled examples of craftsmanship and design that are or will likely be considered historical in nature.
• The district has recommendations for historic designation by any federal, state or other recognized survey of historical sites or structures.

View Section 45-2-221.03 Requirements for historic district designation

Should Your Community be Preserved?

To be considered for Preservation District designation, the applicant has to obtain a petition containing the signatures of at least sixty percent (60%) of the area's property owners, which must also include at least sixty percent (60%) of the area's property. In addition, applicants must meet one or more of the following requirements.

• The district is a geographically definable urban or rural area that contains structures or sites with special character, aesthetic interest or value, and represent one or more period(s) of styles of architecture typical of one or more era(s) of the history of the area constituting a visibly perceptible section of the county or municipality.
• The district has recommendations for historic designation by any federal, state or other recognized survey of historical sites or structures.

View Section 45-2-221.04 Requirements for preservation district designation

View the Baldwin County Historic Development Commission

History Links