The Town’s Historic District is one of the largest in the State of Colorado and is a defining element of Breckenridge’s identity. Breckenridge was originally a mining town that provided services for the very productive Mining District that surrounded it. While most of the historically significant buildings are from the Victorian Age, Breckenridge never had the detailed ornamentation usually associated with the architecture typical of that period. To find out more about our history, see the Breckenridge History website. To find out more about the Historic District and how we regulate construction within its boundaries, follow the links in the narrative below.

Here's an informative article on historic home remodeling from the Denver Post.

The Historic District contains the greatest concentration of historic buildings in the community ranging from the early settlement phase to the late Victorian phase of the town’s history. The goal of the Historic District program is to protect our historic character through the careful preservation of our historic structures and the sensitive design of new buildings in their context. New construction and changes to existing buildings in the Historic and Conservation District are subject to review under the “Handbook of Design Standards for the Historic and Conservation Districts”.

Short History:
Breckenridge’s National Register Historic District was formed in 1980. In 1992, the Town adopted the “Handbook of Design Standards for the Historic and Conservation Districts” to establish design standards for all new construction and renovation of existing structures. At the same time, the “Handbook of Design Standards for the Transition Character Areas of the Conservation District” were written, but not adopted until March 27, 2012. These standards are intended to protect the character of those areas immediately surrounding, but outside of, the Historic District.

In order to protect the historic character of the Town, we have adopted a limit of 9 units per acre (UPA) of above-ground density in much of the Historic District. We have also been designated a Certified Local Government (CLG) by the State of Colorado.

Additional Information:
Land Use Guidelines
Title 9, Chapter 1 of the Breckenridge Town Code
Historic & Conservation District Map
Historic Character Areas Map

Handbook of Design Standards for the Historic and Conservation Districts
Historic Character Area 1
Historic Character Area 2
Historic Character Area 3
Historic Character Area 4
Historic Character Area 5
Historic Character Area 6
Historic Character Area 7

Contact Us:
For more information on the Historic District or for permits to construct, remodel or alter any building within the Historic or Conservation District, please call (970) 453-3160 to speak with a planner. For information on historic walking tours, historic museums and other historic sites open to the public, please contact Breckenridge History at (970) 453-9767.

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