“Actual cost of rehabilitation” means costs incurred within 24 months prior to the date of application and directly resulting from one or more of the following: (A) improvements to an existing building located on or within the perimeters of the original structure; or (B) improvements outside of but directly attached to the original structure which are necessary to make the building fully useable but shall not include rentable/habitable floor space attributable to new construction; or (C) architectural and engineering services attributable to the design of the improvements; or (D) all costs defined as “qualified rehabilitation expenditures” for purposes of the federal historic preservation investment tax credit.

“Adaptive use” is a use that is normally prohibited by the zoning in the area in which the historic property is located, but is allowed for the historic property. An adaptive use permit is a conditional use permit for the historic property. The permit may include requirements which must be met as conditions of approval.

“Building” is a structure constructed by human beings. This includes both residential and nonresidential buildings, main and accessory buildings.

“Certificate of alteration” means the document indicating that the commission has reviewed the proposed changes to a local register property or within a local register historic district and certified the changes as not adversely affecting the historic characteristics of the property which contribute to its designation.

“Certificate of demolition” means the document indicating that the commission has reviewed the proposed whole or partial demolition of a property listed on the local register or located in a local register historic district and failing to find alternatives to demolition has issued a certificate authorizing the building or zoning official to issue a permit for demolition.

“Certified local government” or “CLG” means the designation reflecting that the local government has been jointly certified by the State Historic Preservation Officer and the National Park Service as having established its own historic preservation commission and a program meeting federal and state standards.

“Class of historic property eligible to apply for special valuation in the city” means all properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, certified as contributing to a National Register Historic District, listed in the city of Bellingham’s register of historic places, or certified as contributing to a local historic district, which have been substantially rehabilitated at a cost and within a time period which meets the requirements set forth in Chapter 84.26 RCW.

“Contributing property” means a property in a historic district which dates to the historic period and retains sufficient physical integrity so as to convey its historic character.

“Cost” means the actual cost of rehabilitation, which cost shall be at least 25 percent of the assessed valuation of the historic property, exclusive of the assessed value attributable to the land, prior to rehabilitation.

“District” is a geographically definable area, urban or rural, small or large, possessing a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, and/or objects united by past events or aesthetically by plan or physical development.

“Emergency repair” means work required for public safety due to an unsafe or dangerous condition as certified by the city building official or fire marshal.

“Historic feature” means any architectural detail or other distinctive feature of a historic property that is identified by the commission as contributing to the property’s designation as a historic property.

“Historic inventory” or “inventory” means the comprehensive inventory of historic resources within the boundaries of the city of Bellingham.

“Historic preservation commission” or “commission” means the commission created by BMC 2.54.010.

“Historic property” means real property together with improvements thereon, except property listed in a register primarily for objects buried below ground, which is listed in a local register of a certified local government or the National Register of Historic Places.

“Incentives” are such rights or privileges or combination thereof which the city council, or other local, state, or federal public body or agency, by virtue of applicable present or future legislation, may be authorized to grant or obtain for the owner(s) of register properties. Examples of economic incentives include but are not limited to tax relief, conditional use permits, rezoning, street vacation, planned unit development, transfer of development rights, facade easements, gifts, preferential leasing policies, beneficial placement of public improvements or amenities, or the like.

“Integrity” is the measure of the authenticity of a property’s historic identity evidenced by comparing its present state to its state during the period(s) of significance. This shall include whether the property has maintained its character by retaining such qualities as location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.

“Local review board” or “board” used in Chapter 84.26 RCW and Chapter 254-20 WAC for the special valuation of historic properties means the historic preservation commission created in BMC 2.54.010.

“National Register of Historic Places” means the national listing of properties significant to the nation’s cultural history because of their documented importance to the nation’s history, architectural history, engineering, or cultural heritage.

“Object” is a thing of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historical, or scientific value that may be, by nature or design, movable yet related to a special setting or environment.

“Ordinary repair and maintenance” means work for which a permit issued by the city of Bellingham is not required by law, and where the purpose and effect of such work is to correct any deterioration or decay of or damage to the real property or structure appurtenance therein and to restore the same, as nearly as may be practicable, to the condition prior to the occurrence of such deterioration, decay, or damage. Painting of previously unpainted surfaces is not considered “ordinary repair and maintenance.”

“Owner” of property is the fee simple owner of record as exists on the Whatcom County assessor’s records.

“Register of historic places,” “local register,” or “register” means the listing of locally designated properties provided for in BMC 17.90.050.

“Register property” means real property together with improvements thereon, which is individually listed on the city of Bellingham’s register of historic places or listed on the register as a contributing property to a historic district.

“Significance” or “significant” used in the context of historic significance means the following: a property with local, state, or national significance is one which helps in the understanding of the history of the local area, state, or nation (whichever is applicable) by illuminating the local, statewide, or nationwide impact of the events or persons associated with the property, or its architectural type or style in information potential. The local area can include city of Bellingham, Whatcom County, or Northwest Washington, or a modest geographic or cultural area, such as a neighborhood. Local significance may apply to a property that illustrates a theme that is important to one or more localities; state significance to a theme important to the history of the state; and national significance to property or exceptional value representing or illustrating an important theme in the history of the nation.

“Site” is a place where a significant event or pattern of events occurred. It may be the location of historic occupation or activities that may be marked by physical remains; or it may be the symbolic focus of a significant event or pattern of events that may not have been actively occupied. A site may be the location of ruined or now nonextant building or structure if the location itself possesses historic, cultural, or archaeological significance.

“Special valuation for historic properties” or “special valuation” means the local option program which when implemented makes available to property owners a special tax valuation for rehabilitation of historic properties under which the assessed value of an eligible historic property is determined at a rate that excludes, for up to 10 years, the actual cost of the rehabilitation (Chapter 84.26 RCW).

“State Register of Historic Places” means the state listing of properties significant to the community, state, or nation but which may or may not meet the criteria of the National Register.

“Structure” is a work made up of interdependent and interrelated parts in a definite pattern of organization. Generally constructed by persons, it is often an engineering project.

“Washington State Advisory Council’s Standards for the Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Historic Properties” or “State Advisory Council’s Standards” means the rehabilitation and maintenance standards used by the city of Bellingham’s historic preservation commission as minimum requirements for determining whether or not a historic property is eligible for special valuation and whether or not the property continues to be eligible for special valuation once it has been so classified. [Ord. 2015-12-053 § 1; Ord. 2005-12-094].