(A) Certificates of appropriateness (COA) required. A certificate of appropriateness must be issued by the Commission before a permit is issued for, or work is begun on, any of the following:
(1) Historic districts.
(a) The demolition of any building or structure;
(b) The moving of any building or structure;
(c) A conspicuous change in the exterior appearance of any historic building (P, N or C structures) or any part of or appurtenance to such a building, including walls, fences, light fixtures, steps, paving and signs, by additions, reconstruction or alteration (excluding routine maintenance);
(d) Any new construction of a principal building or accessory building or structure subject to view from a public way;
(e) A change in walls and fences, or the construction of walls and fences along public ways; or
(f) A conspicuous change in the exterior appearance on non-historic buildings (NC structures) subject to view from a public way by additions, reconstruction and/or alteration (excluding routine maintenance).
(2) Conservation districts.
(a) The moving of any building;
(b) The demolition of any building; or
(c) Any new construction of a principal building or accessory building or structure subject to view from a public way.
(B) Application for certificates of appropriateness. An application for a certificate of appropriateness shall be made in the office of the Commission or its designee on forms provided by that office. All applications shall be subject to the rules and requirements established by the Commission.
(C) Approval or denial of certificates of appropriateness. The Commission or its designee shall approve or deny applications for certificates of appropriateness. If an application for a certificate of appropriateness is approved, or is not acted on within 30 days after it is filed, a certificate of appropriateness shall be issued. The Commission may grant an extension of the 30-day limit with prior written approval of the applicant. The Commission must report its findings and the reasons for its decision in written form, and supply the applicant with a copy of its report. A copy of the certificate of appropriateness must be submitted with the application for a building or demolition permit; no building or demolition permit shall be issued unless a copy of the certificate of appropriateness is provided by the applicant with the application. If a building or demolition permit is not obtained within one year after a certificate of appropriateness is approved, said certificate of appropriateness shall expire and the applicant must reapply before obtaining a building or demolition permit.
(D) Re-applications. If an application for a certificate of appropriateness is denied by the Commission, the applicant must wait at least one year before submitting a new application for the same work.
(E) Criteria for considering effect of actions on historic buildings. The Commission, in considering the appropriateness of any reconstruction, alteration, maintenance or moving of an historic building, structure, site or any part of or appurtenance to such building, structure or site, including walls, fences, light fixtures, steps, paving and signs, shall require that such work be done in a manner that will preserve the historical and architectural character of the building, structure or appurtenance. In considering historic and architectural character, the Commission shall consider, among other things, the following:
(1) The purposes of this chapter;
(2) The historical and architectural value and significance of the building, structure, site or appurtenance;
(3) The compatibility and significance of additions, alterations, details, materials or other non- original elements which may be of a different style and construction date than the original;
(4) The texture, material, style and detailing of the building, structure, site or appurtenance;
(5) The continued preservation and protection of original or otherwise significant structure, material and ornamentation;
(6) The relationship of buildings, structures, appurtenances or architectural features similar to one within the same historic district, including for primary areas, visual compatibility as defined in § 163.057(B); and
(7) The position of the building or structure in relation to the street, public right-of-way and to other buildings and structures.
(Prior Code, § 158.06)