The Historic Lancaster District was designated as the City's first design review district.  This district contains the largest concentration of historic and architecturally significant properties in the City and include such notable buildings as the Sherman House, the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, Fairfield County Courthouse, Lancaster, City Hall and the Georgian as well as numerous private homes, businesses and churches.

To protect the Heritage District as well as other buildings on the National Registry of Historic Buildings, a Certificate of Appropriateness must be obtained from the Historic Lancaster Commission prior to any exterior changes.  This would include exterior construction, alteration, demolition or removal of a building, structure site or object.