All buildings surveyed are evaluated for their local architectural significance. The possible rankings for local significance are: significant (S), contributing (C), potentially contributing (PC) and non-contributing (NC). Integrity, that is the degree of original design and historic material remaining in place, is factored into the evaluation. Significant buildings are further evaluated for potential individual listing on the National Register and receive a second designation. Below are the criteria used to determine a rating.

Significant (S)
Age. Must be at least 50 years old.
Architectural Merit. Must possess architectural distinction in one of the following when compared with other buildings of its type: architectural style; work of a master builder or architect; exceptional craftsmanship; architectural or structural innovation.
Integrity. Must have a high degree of integrity; most architectural detailing in place; no historic materials or details covered up; generally no modern siding materials; no additions; minor alterations permitted.

Contributing (C)
Age. Must be at least 50 years old.
Architectural Merit. Does not necessarily possess individual distinction but is a historic structure with design and detail characteristics of its period.
Integrity. May have a fair degree of integrity but is a relatively common design with no particular distinction to set it apart from others of its type.

Potentially Contributing (PC)
Age. Must be at least 50 years old.
Integrity. May have sub-standard integrity that has been substantially altered. Should possess at least one of the following: original siding; original windows; interesting architectural detail; readily recognizable and distinctive historic massing. Even if some features are determined to have been significantly altered, there should be some historic characteristics or features remaining that make the building potentially contributing. Alterations should generally be reversible (for example, siding can be removed, or architectural detail restored based on remaining physical evidence).

Non-Contributing (NC)
Age. Any building less than 50 years old as the date of the survey.
Integrity. Includes older buildings old whose integrity is so poor that all historic materials and details are missing or completely covered up and whose historic massing and/or roofline cannot be discerned; old buildings with unsympathetic alterations that severely compromise their historic character. The building has poor integrity if it is missing all of the following: original siding; original windows, especially if window openings were also changed; and original architectural details.

National Register Ratings

Eligible for Individual Listings (S/NR)
Must meet one of the following criteria: (a) be associated with the events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; (b) be associated with the lives of persons of significance in our past; (c) embody the distinctive characteristics of an architectural style, period, or method of construction, or represent the work of a master, or possess high artistic values, or represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction.

Non-Contributing/Significant (NC/S)
Age. Any building less than 50 years old at the time of the survey.
Architectural merit. If, despite its young age, it possesses architectural distinction in one of the following when compared with other buildings of its type: architectural style; work of a master builder or architect; exceptional craftsmanship; architectural or structural innovation.

Historically Significant (HS)
Noted in the past as architecturally or historically significant by one of the following: Illinois Historic Sites Survey, Illinois Historic Landmarks Survey, the National Register of Historic Places, Illinois Department of Transportation, DuPage County Cultural and Historical Inventory, Hinsdale Historical Society, and/or the Hinsdale Architectural Society. Some were also noted in an 1897 publication entitled Hinsdale the Beautiful.

Please contact the Village Planner at (630) 789-7030 with any questions and for assistance in designating your home as a landmark.

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