400 E. Main Street
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
942-3340
Fax 942-1267

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Historic resources are vital to the preservation of Cottage Grove’s community identity and history. The City of Cottage Grove wants to protect and encourage the continued use of our historic resources to ensure the sustainability of our community.

Historic Preservation Overlay District:
To protect historic resources, the City has created a local Historic Preservation Overlay District. This district includes both properties that have been designated as Local Historic Landmarks, and those which have been designated as Historic Landmarks or Historic Districts on the National Register of Historic Places. Owners of locally and/or nationally designated historic resources may be eligible for special tax assessments from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office or Federal Historic Rehabilitation tax incentives. If you think you have a historic home or commercial building and you would like to discuss listing your property as a historic resource, please contact our office. We would be happy to explore options with you. You may also want to refer to our handout on Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Historic Buildings.

Cottage Grove’s Historic Preservation Overlay district establishes regulations and procedures for the alteration or demolition of resources within the Downtown Historic district. These regulations also apply to individually listed buildings located throughout the community. Properties that are designated locally require formal review by the Cottage Grove Historic Landmarks Committee prior to the issuance of any building permit(s) for exterior alterations or renovations to the building or site. This overlay applies to the Cottage Grove Historic Downtown District, which was designated as a Local Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

The Historic Landmarks Commission reviews applications for new construction, additions, extensive remodeling, or demolition within the Historic Preservation Overlay District. This volunteer commission holds public meetings on Historic Alteration Permits. They also advise city staff on historic preservation planning issues and set policy and guidelines for preservation programs as part of Cottage Grove’s Certified Local Government program.

Should you need further information regarding this district, or the special requirements that may apply to your proposed building project, please contact the Community Development Department office. Applications relative to Historic Landmarks are available on the Applications & Fees page.

Designated Historic Properties in Cottage Grove:
The Community Development Department maintains a *list of historic buildings protected by the Historic Preservation Overlay District, as well as a list of Special Assessment Properties. It is recommended that you contact the Community Development Department before you begin any renovation of a structure that you believe may be considered historic, even though it is not on this list.

Local Historic Groups & Activites
There are several community organizations that advocate for historic preservation and local history in Cottage Grove. These include the Prospectors & Golddiggers Association, the Cottage Grove Area Historical Society, the Cottage Grove Genealogical Society, and the Bohemia Mine Owners Association.

Bohemia Mining Days is held annually in July. The event features a prospectors' breakfast, miners' parade, food booths, gold panning, a pow wow, carnival, kiddie parade, street dance, and more.