Dahlonega Historic District Design Guidelines

The Dahlonega Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic District is Dahlonega’s foremost tourist attraction and major economic driver. Preservation of the district and each property within its boundary provides for the protection of Dahlonega’s unique historic character and quality environment. The HPC is charged with maintaining and protecting the integrity of our Historic District.

The original Dahlonega Historic District Design Guidelines were prepared by a team of students from the Master of Historic Preservation program within the University of Georgia’s School of Environmental Design. The revised guidelines were finalized in December 2013 with assistance from Joe Rothwell, Preservation Planner from the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. Images contained within the new guidelines were provided by Paul Dunlap’s UNG Art 4810 students. The Dahlonega Historic District Design Guidelines were last revised in February 2003.

The Objectives of the HPC and Design Guidelines are to:

• Protect the historic character of the Historic District.
• Provide guidance to design professionals, property owners, and contractors undertaking construction within the district.
• Identify important review concerns, recommend appropriate design approaches, and identify inappropriate changes.
• Provide an objective basis for review to ensure consistency and fairness.
• Increase public awareness of the district and its significant characteristics.

The revised guidelines will provide the HPC with clear and uniform design standards to reference in their review process and to offer property owners guidance in designing and planning rehabilitation and / or new constructions projects. The revisions will facilitate ease of use by both the applicant and the commission. The Historic Preservation Commissioners are committed to working with property owners to ensure ongoing compliance with the Secretary of Interior Standards, to preserving Dahlonega’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and to protecting the economic impact on Dahlonega.