[MassHistPres] Question about notification of new homeowners in historic districts

[Judy Neiswander]

In Dedham, when houses in our historic districts change hands, the new
owners sometimes do things they shouldn't - put up metal fences, add metal
entry porches, etc. When confronted they say they had "no idea" that they
had purchased a house in an historic district & didn't know the
restrictions. They are not told by their realtors or notified by the town.
I've heard that in other towns new homeowners are notified by the local
government that they have purchased a house in an HD & told what the regs
are, or directed to review them on the town website. Does any town have
such a system? If so, how does it work? We would prefer to be proactive
rather than punish new residents who are, of course, out of pocket for what
they believed were improvements.

Many thanks,

Judy Neiswander
Historic District Commission/Historical Commission
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