Preservation of historical buildings while accommodating modern housing is a difficult challenge in urban development. The successful integration of contemporary architectural design within the context of historic districts requires careful consideration of various factors. In this article, we present a comprehensive classification scheme for modern housing in historic buildings based on a careful analysis of practical experience and architectural principles. The classification scheme covers eight key features that serve as the main parameters for evaluating and classifying modern housing in a historical context. These features include project quality classes, floor plan, functionality, volume-spatial structure, construction method, furnishing materials, color scheme and approach to harmonization with the historical context. Classification signs are divided into different categories, sometimes into subcategories and cover the relatively maximum load of world experience in the design of modern housing in a historical context. The project quality classes are divided into mass housing and housing of increased comfort. Flooring is defined by three categories: low-rise, medium-rise and multi-story. Different forms of spatial and volumetric structure, which flow from different sections of the design and structure of quarters in the historical districts of the cities, are defined. Furnishing materials are divided into traditional, modern, and combined options. On the basis of historical architecture, coloristic categories are defined, which either repeat the historical colors of the city, or contrast against their background. Also, residential buildings are defined according to functionality, while multi-functional residential buildings are divided into several categories according to various variants of architectural and planning solutions of complexes. The last feature is the main feature in the case of determining the harmonization of modern housing with the historical context and is divided into 5 categories, starting from pseudo-historical design and ending with the contrasting formation of modern architecture.