Frederick County Rural Historic Preservation Grants — FY2027
Frederick County, Maryland is accepting competitive FY2027 Rural Historic Preservation Grant applications to stabilize, rehabilitate, restore, or preserve the exterior historic features of eligible properties in unincorporated Frederick County. Historic churches, schools, barns, farm structures, and other eligible properties may qualify when they meet the County’s historic-designation requirements. This is applicant financial assistance for preservation projects, not a government procurement opportunity.
Individual Awards and Matching Funds
An applicant may request up to $50,000. The County determines actual awards through a competitive review and County approval; the program does not guarantee a particular amount. The FY2027 countywide funding pool is not stated in the controlling applicant materials. A cash or in-kind match is encouraged but not required; documented labor, materials, or cash contributions can strengthen the application’s evaluation score.
Successful grantees sign a grant agreement. The County may initially disburse 25%–50% at agreement signing, an additional 25% after 50% completion and presentation of paid invoices, and the balance at completion after financial receipts, photographs and inspection. Grant-funded work must be completed within two years of agreement execution unless an extension is approved.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include individual historic-property owners, agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations, including qualifying nonprofit owners of historic churches, schools, and other protected resources. The property must be in unincorporated Frederick County and listed on the County Register, be a contributing resource in a County historic district, have a County historic-eligibility determination, or qualify under an applicable local conservation district. A property requiring a County determination of eligibility must obtain it before submitting the grant application.
Applicants must have no outstanding applicable County permitting, zoning, or historic-preservation violations. Prior grantees with unexpended funds are ineligible. Applicants awarded funding for an eligible-but-not-yet-designated property must complete County designation as required by the grant agreement.
Eligible Work and Restrictions
Funding supports preservation of character-defining exterior features, including appropriate stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration, and preservation. Work must follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and contractors must be appropriately licensed and experienced. Previously completed or already-started work, new construction, routine maintenance, most landscaping, application-preparation studies or architectural planning costs, and County permit fees are not eligible. Projects must demonstrate historic significance, need, preservation value, readiness, and a credible budget.
Deadlines and Application Steps
Initial applications are due November 30, 2026. For submission by email, the County’s application and instruction manual specify 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 30, 2026. The application form says mailed paper submissions must be postmarked by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 30; applicants using mail should comply with that stricter stated time. A revised application by December 31, 2026 is permitted only for applicants whose initial application was received by the November 30 deadline and who are notified of omissions; it is not a new application window.
Download and complete the County’s official eight-page FY2027 application and read the complete 11-page application instructions. Include the proposed historic property and applicant/owner information, detailed work description, historic significance and urgency, preservation approach, readiness and management, itemized grant and match budget, contractor estimates, up to 20 labeled digital JPEG photographs, historic-determination evidence where needed, and tax-exempt verification for nonprofit applicants. Sign or certify the applicable submission form. Send the complete application and attachments to RuralHPGrant@frederickcountymd.gov or use the mailing address specified in the official instructions. Optional preservation plans and reference materials may support the proposal.
Controlling Official Sources
Frederick County program and current application links · FY2027 application form (8 pages) · FY2027 application instructions (11 pages). Verify any later County amendment before submitting. Research verified October 24, 2026.