Planning

Historic District

The City of New Bedford is home to fifteen historic districts which are listed on the National Register
of Historic Places and one local historic district, the Bedford-Landing Waterfront District.

Local historic district designation differs from listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
National Register Districts recognize areas which are important to national history, and only provide a
review process for projects using public funding or licensing; otherwise there is no protection against alterations which may diminish or destroy historic resources. In contrast, the exteriors of properties located within a local historic district cannot be altered without the review and approval of the
New Bedford Historical Commission.