Courthouse Preservation Grant Program
In spring of 2005, the Washington State Legislature established the Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant program. Based on findings from a statewide survey undertaken in 2003, 33 of the state’s 39 counties were found to possess courthouses of historic and architectural merit. (With the passage of time, additional courthouses have become historic, increasing the total number of eligible courthouses to 35) Additionally, the study estimated over $90 million in needed capital improvements to these structures. To address this need, the Washington State Legislature has allocated nearly $21 million from the state capital budget since the 2005-07 biennium. Through twelve funding rounds since the program’s establishment, seventy-seven (77) grants have been awarded to twenty-six counties statewide. Grant funds have worked to leverage local funding resulting in nearly $60 million in total rehabilitation work to selected courthouses.
Thirteenth Round of Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant Awards Announced
The Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation along with the Courthouse Grant Program Steering Committee is seeking grant applications for the 2025-2027 biennium. Projects should focus on rehabilitating character-defining features of courthouses while also addressing needs such as energy efficiency, life safety, seismic retrofits and improvements to access. The Courthouse Steering Committee will review all applications received, prioritizing them based on the degree each meets the program criteria. Distribution of grant awards will be contingent on program funds being allocated in the 2025-2027 Capital Budget.
Applications are due: June 30th, 2024.
Grant funding assists county governments in rehabilitating their historic county courthouses. Together with matching funds raised locally, this money will foster economic development in numerous communities while working to preserve public buildings vital to the architectural and cultural heritage of Washington.
To receive funding, all rehabilitation work must meet historic preservation standards known as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. For more information about these preservation standards, visit the following website.
Courthouse Grant Application
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Historic Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant Program Summary/Requirements
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Courthouse Grant Application 2025-27: Due – June 30th, 2024
Please note: for the 2025-27 Courthouse Grant cycle, the application is an online form, accessible from the above link. We strongly encourage applicants to review the entire application, prepare your submission in your own text document and file folder, before finally submitting your answers and attachments in the online form.
For more information on the program, consultation on completing the application, and general inquiries, please contact Moira Nadal, Preservation Progam Director with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, at (206) 426-2999 or via email at grants@preservewa.org.
Studies/Reports/Brochures
Washington State Courthouses
Adams County, 2013-15 grant | Asotin County | |
Benton County, 2013-15, 2019-21 grant | Chelan County | |
Clallam County, 2009-11, 2011-13, 2013-15 grant | Clark County, 2011-13, 2013-15 grant | |
Columbia County, 2005-07, 2011-13, 2019-21 grant | Cowlitz County, 2005-07 grant | |
Douglas County, 2005-07, 2009-11, 2013-15, 2023-25 Grant | Ferry County, 2005-07, 2007-09, 2013-15 grant | |
Franklin County, 2005-07, 2013-15 grant | Garfield County, 2009-11 grant | |
Grant County, 2015-17, 2017-19, 2023-25 Grant | Grays Harbor County, 2023-25 Grant | |
Island County | Jefferson County, 2005-07, 2009-11, 2013-15, 2019-21 grant | |
King County, 2007-09, 2013-15 grant | Kitsap County | |
Kittitas County | Klickitat County, 2007-09, 2011-13, 2019-21, 2023-25 Grant | |
Lewis County, 2005-07, 2009-11, 2013-15, 2017-19, 2019-21, 2021-23, 2023-25 Grant | Lincoln County | |
Mason County, 2007-209, 2011-13 grant | Okanogan County, 2013-15, 2021-23, 2023-25 Grant | |
Pacific County, 2005-07, 2007-09, 201517, 2017-19 grant | Pend Oreille County, 2005-07, 2011-13 grant | |
Pierce County | San Juan County, 2005-07, 2007-09 grant | |
Skagit County, 2007-09 grant | Skamania County | |
Snohomish County, 2005-07, 2007-09 grant | Spokane County, 2007-09, 2009-11, 2011-13, 2013-15, 2015-17, 2019-21 grant | |
Stevens County, 2005-07, 2007-09, 2011-13, 2023-25 Grant | Thurston County | |
Wahkiakum County, 2007-09 grant | Walla Walla County, 2009-11, 2021-23 grant | |
Whatcom County | Whitman County | |
Yakima County, 2023-25 Grant |