(A) Maintenance and Repair.
Ordinary maintenance and repair of any of the existing exterior features of a structure that do not involve a change in any of the following: design, type of material, color, size or outward appearance shall be exempt from the review and approval.
(B) Temporary Signage.
A COA is not required for temporary signs: (e.g. going out of business signs), standard auxiliary signs (e.g. "open," "welcome," hours of operation, credit card decal signs), and components of portable signs, which change regularly (e.g. menu boards on easels). Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the construction, reconstruction, alteration or demolition of any elements of a structure that authorized municipal officers certify as required for public safety.
(C) Maintenance and Replacement of Streetscape Elements and Vegetation.
COA is not required for maintenance and replacement of vegetation. Change of materials or visual appearance, such as pruning require a COA.
(D) ADA Handicapped Ramps.
A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is not required for ADA handicapped ramps provided that the handicap ramp does not change the facade or structure of the building and does not destroy defining characteristics.
(E) Hazardous Trees Emergency Abatement.
No tree(s) within a residential or commercial historic district may be removed, in whole or in part until after an application for a "Certificate of Appropriateness" (COA) has been submitted to the Board of Architectural Review and approved with the exception of historic trees that have been determined emergency hazardous by the City of Dillon Certified Arborist due to the forces of nature (i.e. struck by lightning, high winds, etc.) and pose an immediate emergency threat to human life or safety of the public. The dangerous hazardous trees shall be removed by the owner in accordance with the advice of the City of Dillon Certified Arborist. Within three (3) days after the emergency incident, the Code Enforcement Director shall submit a "Certificate of Appropriateness" (COA) to the Board of Architectural Review along with a photograph of the yard showing which tree(s) are to be removed for the purpose of information and describing the necessary requirements ordering the repairs and/or abatement of the emergency unsafe hazard conditions.
(F) Unsafe Structure or Building Emergency Abatement.
No structure or building within a residential or commercial historic district may be demolished, removed, in whole or in part, nor may the exterior architectural character of the structure be altered until after an application for a "Certificate of Appropriateness" (COA) has been submitted to the Board of Architectural Review and approved with the exception of the following (emergencies); any building, structure or portion thereof that has been determined an immediate emergency hazard and threat to the public safety as determined by the City of Dillon Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Director due to the forces of nature (i.e. struck by lightning, high winds, fire hazard, or otherwise poses an immediate emergency threat and danger to human life). The building shall be ordered repaired immediately by the owner in accordance with the latest edition of the International Building and Residential Codes, National Electrical Codes and all related mandatory codes as amended and approved by the South Carolina Building Codes Council in order to abate the emergency unsafe condition. Within three (3) days after the emergency incident. The Code Enforcement Director shall submit a "Certificate of Appropriateness" (COA) to the Board of Architectural Review along with a photograph of the building or structure in question for the purpose of information describing the necessary requirements ordering the repairs and/or abatement of the emergency unsafe hazard conditions.
(Am. Ord. 10-10, passed 9-13-2010)