(A) Generally.
(1) After the designation of a historic landmark or a historic district, no exterior portion of any building or other structure (including masonry walls, fences, light fixtures, steps and pavement, or other appurtenant features) nor above-ground utility structure nor any type of outdoor advertising sign shall be erected, altered, restored, moved or demolished on the designated landmark or district until after an application for a certificate of appropriateness has been submitted to and approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission shall have no jurisdiction over the interior arrangement, except as provided in subsection (B) below, and shall take no action except to prevent the construction, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, moving or demolition of buildings, structures, appurtenant fixtures, outdoor advertising signs or other significant features which would be incongruous with the special character of the historic landmark or historic district.
(2) The certificate of appropriateness shall be issued prior to the issuance of a building or other permit, and shall be required whether or not a building or other permit is required.
(3) The discontinuance of work or the lack of progress toward achieving compliance with a certificate of appropriateness for a period of six months shall render the certificate null and void, and application shall be made for a new certificate before work can recommence.
(4) The issuance of a certificate of appropriateness does not run with the land and cannot be conveyed in the sale of property.
(B) Interiors. The Commission may have jurisdiction over the interior, but shall be limited to specific interior features of architectural, artistic or historical significance in publicly owned historic landmarks, and in privately owned historic landmarks for which consent for interior review has been given by the owner. The consent of an owner for interior review shall bind future owners and/or successors in title, provided such consent has been filed in the office of the Register of Deeds of the county and indexed according to the name of the owner of the landmark in the grantee and grantor indexes. The ordinance designating such interior shall specify the interior features to be covered and the nature of the Commission’s jurisdiction over the interior.
(C) Public utilities. The city and all public utility companies shall be required to obtain a certificate of appropriateness prior to initiating work in a historic district for any changes in the character of street paving, sidewalks, trees, utility installations, lighting, walls, fences, structures and buildings on property, easements or streets owned or franchised by the city or public utility companies.
(1971 Code, § 9-10-17) (Ord. No. 1925, § 1, passed 12-8-1988; Ord. No. 2186, § 9, passed 5-10-1990)