The Hooper House on West Main Street in Sylva has received Jackson County’s first designation as a Local Historic Landmark.

The house, which now serves as home for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, was built in 1906. It was listed on the National Historic Registry in 2003, according to County Planner Gerald Green.

“It meets all the criteria” for the local designation, Green said, “because it maintains all of its character.”

A nonprofit group owns the house, and the local designation will allow the group to request a 50 percent property tax break from the county. That would reduce the annual tax bill of $700 to about $350. In return, the group must meet certain regulations intended to protect the historic nature of the structure. To make changes, it must receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission.