For the 2026 round, we are introducing a new application process. All submissions (including the Declaration of Intent and application materials) will now be made through an online program portal (https://preservation-trust.azurewebsites.net/home). A virtual training session for prospective applicants on how to use the portal will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
On January 22, 2025, the County Commissioners approved the following changes to the Morris County Historic Preservation Program Rules:
(Delete 5.6.4 “Eligible Properties”)
4. Any property that is currently used for religious purposes or functions is ineligible for Historic Preservation grant funding.
(Amend 5.8 “Eligible Activities” by adding new section 8)
8. Religious institutions – eligible activities include Historic Structure Reports, Preservation Plans, and Assessment Reports; and the preparation of construction documents and completion of construction activities for the exterior building elements, and the building’s structural and MEP systems (mechanical, electrical and plumbing)
In 2018, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled it was a violation of the New Jersey Constitution for Morris County to issue taxpayer-funded grants to religious institutions. In November 2024, a federal court judge issued a preliminary ruling that the exclusion of religious institutions violates the United States Constitution. This lawsuit was completed successfully, and religious institutions may continue to apply for historic preservation grants in the 2026 funding round.
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Eligible applicants to the HP program are municipalities, the county, and Charitable Conservancy. To qualify as an eligible applicant for the HP program, religious institutions must meet the definition of a Charitable Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) entity whose purposes include the historic preservation of historic properties (Morris County Preservation Trust Fund Rules, Section 2 Definitions – Charitable Conservancy). Charitable conservancies whose purposes do not currently include historic preservation can qualify by amending their IRS mission statement / purpose / bylaws to include historic preservation of their historic properties.
If you have Preservation Plans and/or drawings/specs which have not been reviewed previously by the County Consultant, please submit them digitally to this office (E-mail address below) and our consultant by March 27, 2026 (Contact Program Coordinator for the consultant's E-mail address).
Applicants are required to provide a 10-minute video as part of your application if one has not been provided before. The County will provide a link where the video can be submitted. Please note if your application was approved for funding, the County may include your video in the HP Program StoryMap.
The time you submit the application through the portal will be considered the official time of submission of your application.