Thousands of Brooklyn houses sit inside historic districts, including large parts of Crown Heights North, Park Slope, Prospect Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant. Landmark status does not stop you from selling, and it does not need a special approval for the sale itself. But it does shape what buyers ask, what they can change later and how you should prepare.
What Landmark Status Means
In a historic district, most exterior work, such as windows, doors, stoops, cornices, rooftop and rear additions, needs a permit from the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). Depending on the work, LPC issues a Certificate of No Effect, a Permit for Minor Work or a Certificate of Appropriateness. Interior work that does not affect the outside usually needs only the normal Department of Buildings permits, though LPC may still review it in some cases.
Some Brooklyn Historic Districts
| Historic district | Designated |
|---|---|
| Stuyvesant Heights (Bedford-Stuyvesant) | 1971 |
| Park Slope | 1973, extended 2012 and 2016 |
| Fort Greene | 1978 |
| Clinton Hill | 1981 |
| Crown Heights North | 2007 |
| Crown Heights North II | 2011 |
| Crown Heights North III | 2015 |
| Prospect Heights | 2009 |
District boundaries can split a neighborhood, so check your exact address on the LPC website before you list.
What Buyers Will Ask
- Was past exterior work approved? New windows, a rear extension or a roof deck done without LPC approval can turn into a violation the buyer inherits. Their attorney will look.
- What can I change? Buyers planning a renovation want to know what is likely to be allowed. You do not need to answer for LPC, but knowing what was approved on your block helps.
- Are there open violations? See our guide to selling with open permits or violations.
How to Prepare
- Confirm whether your house is in a district and which one.
- Gather any LPC permits and Department of Buildings sign-offs for past work.
- Check for open LPC or Department of Buildings violations and talk with your attorney about clearing them.
- Collect old photos of the facade if you have them; they help show what is original.
Does Landmark Status Affect Price?
Many buyers value the protected streetscape, and well kept historic blocks are among the most sought after in Brooklyn. Other buyers worry about renovation limits. The effect on any one house depends on its condition and the block, which is why we price from recorded comparable sales. For neighborhood detail see Crown Heights, Park Slope and our Crown Heights brownstone selling guide.
Photos in this article are illustrative images from the 555 Properties LLC library unless a caption names a specific property.
Talk With Valerie
Valerie Sebbag, Licensed Real Estate Broker at 555 Properties LLC, has more than 30 years of client-facing experience and more than 12 years in real estate. If you are thinking about selling, request a private, no-cost valuation or read about our seller services. You can also see our closed sales.
