Appropriateness

A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is required before any exterior work proceeds on a structure located in a Local Historic District.

Application Process

An application should be submitted to the Preservation Planner, who is the secretary of the Architectural Review Board (ARB) at the Department of Planning and Community Development. The ARB meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Applications must be filed and complete 14 calendar days prior to the meeting in order to be reviewed by the staff and placed on the ARB’s next agenda.

Relevant information to support the request should be submitted with the application. Please see the Application Guidance on the second page of the application for assistance. It is also helpful for the prospective applicant to contact the Preservation Planner prior to submittal to ensure that the application is complete enough for review.

Applicants

ARB members will receive a copy of the agenda approximately one week before each meeting, and the agenda will also be posted on this website. The applicant or their representative should be present at the ARB meeting in order to present their application and answer any questions the board might have. If no one is present to answer additional questions, the application may be denied or deferred until the next meeting.

ARB Decisions

If the application is approved, a COA will be issued within three business days after the meeting. If the application is denied, a letter outlining the board’s decision will be sent to the applicant within three business days.