Certified Local Government Program

View of Baltimore Street in Cumberland, with historic buildings, people, and a distant church spire.

About the Certified Local Government Program

Local governments play a key role in protecting Maryland’s historic places. Under Title 8 of the Land Use Article, counties and municipalities can establish historic preservation commissions to plan for and review changes to historic properties in their jurisdictions.

The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program, administered by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) in partnership with the National Park Service, recognizes local governments that have met a high standard for local preservation planning and applied for certification.

Is my community a CLG?

There are currently 24 CLGs throughout Maryland, listed below.

Cities	Annapolis	Chestertown	Hagerstown	Sykesville
	Baltimore	Cumberland	Rockville
	Bel Air	Frederick	Havre de Grace
	Cambridge	Gaithersburg	Salisbury
Counties	Baltimore	Frederick	Prince George's	Washington
	Calvert	Harford	St. Mary's	Wicomico
	Charles	Montgomery	Talbot

Program requirements

To become a CLG, a local government must:

Enact a preservation ordinance that meets state and federal standards
Appoint a qualified historic preservation commission
Maintain a system for identifying and protecting historic properties
Complete a certification process, beginning with an application that outlines all CLG standards

To maintain certification, a CLG must:

Complete training and a short report annually
Participate in an evaluation every four years to maintain certification

To learn more, read the CLG Procedures Manual - PDF 545.79 KB and review the CLG application - DOCX 32.13 KB.

Benefits of certification

CLG Program participants receive access to:

Technical support
Training
Annual funding opportunities

CLG grant funding

Each year, MHT awards 10% of its federal Historic Preservation Fund allocation to support CLGs by funding things like:

Education and training for preservation commission members and local government staff
Surveys, planning documents and design guidelines that strengthen local preservation programs
Public outreach or interpretation projects that connect residents to local history

Grant applications are typically due in February. Learn more by visiting the CLG grants page.

Other support for local governments

Even if your community isn’t yet certified, MHT offers planning and technical assistance to help strengthen local preservation programs.

MHT can assist with:

Guidance on creating preservation ordinances or historic district commissions
Review and comment on local comprehensive plans and amendments affecting historic resources
Access to research and survey tools for documenting historic properties

MHT also sponsors periodic training sessions. Event details will be shared on our Upcoming Events page.

Stay connected through MHT’s newsletter or follow our social media to receive event updates, registration announcements and last-minute changes.

How to apply or get started

Check your CLG status. See whether your jurisdiction is already certified. If not, MHT can help you begin the process.
Develop your program. Adopt a preservation ordinance, designate a qualified commission, and set up review procedures. Read the CLG Procedures Manual - PDF 545.79 KB and review the CLG application - DOCX 32.13 KB to see what is required.
Plan ahead for grants. Watch MHT’s website each February for the CLG grant round.
Contact MHT early. Staff can discuss draft applications and help align local goals with grant priorities.