Historic Preservation Law

Historic preservation law sits at the intersection of property, land use, environmental, constitutional, tax, and administrative law, yet it remains one of the most specialized and frequently misunderstood areas of legal practice. Historic Preservation Law provides practitioners, scholars, and students with a comprehensive introduction to the legal frameworks that protect the nation’s historic and cultural resources. From the evolution of preservation policy to the practical application of federal, state, and local regulations, this volume explains the laws, terminology, and principles that shape preservation efforts across the United States.

Written by leading scholars and practitioners, the book examines the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, local historic preservation ordinances, constitutional limitations on government regulation, archaeological and cultural resource protection, preservation easements, tax incentives, and emerging challenges facing the field. By exploring both regulatory tools and economic incentives designed to safeguard irreplaceable historic places, Historic Preservation Law serves as an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand or navigate this evolving and increasingly important area of law.