GUIDANCE FOR OWNING AND CARING FOR HISTORIC HOMES IN SALEM
Owning a historic home comes with both responsibilities and rewards.
The resources below provide guidance for maintaining historic buildings, planning renovation work, and navigating local preservation regulations.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR HISTORIC HOME
The Salem Handbook: A Renovation Guide for Homeowners (1977)
HSI’s classic guide introduces common building features, appropriate repair approaches, and preservation principles for Salem’s historic houses.
Guide to Salem’s Architectural Styles
Learn to identify the architectural style of your home and the features that define it. Understanding your building’s design can help guide maintenance, preservation, and renovation decisions.
Is Your Home Located in a Local Historic District?
Use these maps to determine whether your home is located within a Salem Local Historic District. Exterior changes to properties in these districts may require review by the Salem Historical Commission.
Researching the History of Your House
Many homeowners are interested in learning more about the history of their property. Salem offers a rich set of historical records—including deeds, maps, photographs, and archival materials—that can help trace a building’s past.
PLANNING REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS
Questions to Ask a Contractor
Before beginning work on a historic building, it is important to select contractors who understand traditional materials and construction methods.
Preservation Massachusetts Consultants Directory
A statewide directory of preservation professionals including architects, contractors, and specialists experienced in working with historic buildings.
SALEM HISTORIC DISTRICT GUIDANCE
Salem Historic District Design Guidelines
Guidelines outlining appropriate treatments for building features such as windows, siding, roofing, and additions within Salem’s local historic districts.
Salem Historic District Review Process
Information from the City of Salem about Salem’s Local Historic Districts, the review process, and requirements for work within designated historic districts.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings
Historic buildings can be improved for comfort and energy performance without compromising their architectural character. These resources offer guidance on weatherization, insulation, and other efficiency strategies compatible with historic materials and construction.
Flood Adaptation Guidelines for Historic Buildingso Salem’s Architectural Styles
Historic properties in coastal communities like Salem may face increased flood risk. These resources help homeowners understand local flood zones and explore preservation-sensitive strategies for adapting historic buildings.
City of Salem Flood Maps
Efficiency of Restored Wood Windows
Research consistently shows that properly restored historic wood windows can perform as well as or better than many replacement windows while preserving the architectural character of historic homes.
