Certificates of Appropriateness

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The mission of the Raleigh Historic Development Commission is to identify, preserve, protect, and promote Raleigh’s historic resources.

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Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)

Design Review and Guidelines

Next COA Deadline:
4:00 pm on March 19

Local historic district designation strives to retain the spirit and character of Raleigh, and the RHDC is available to assist in the planning and implementation of appropriate changes to Raleigh landmarks and local historic district properties. In the early planning stages of a project, property stewards are encouraged to call RHDC staff with questions or concerns regarding the design guidelines or review process. Staff is available to provide creative solutions, technical assistance (for example a solution to persistently peeling paint), and on-site consultations if appropriate. In addition, the RHDC has a preservation resource library available for consultation. For assistance, contact RHDC staff.

Next Meeting: Monday, March 5

Next COA application deadline: 4:00 p.m. Monday, March 19 for the Monday, April 2 meeting.

Application: Choose between MS Word and PDF versions

Submission Information: Where and when to submit your application

Application Assistance: Application examples and other guidance

How To

City of Raleigh Resources: Web sites to assist in the stewardship of historic properties

The COA Meeting: Learn what to expect at a meeting

FAQs

When do I need a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)? If your property is located in a designated Raleigh Historic District, or is a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark, any exterior work where there is a change in the design, materials, or general appearance of the structure or grounds requires a COA approval prior to commencing work or obtaining other permits. Applicants should plan their projects so that COA applications are submitted early enough in the project schedule to modify work plans as needed and obtain approval prior to purchasing materials or commencing work. Note that applications that must be reviewed and acted upon by commission members in a public hearing must be filed by the application deadline each month to be placed on the next month's COA agenda.
What do I need to include in my COA application? In addition to completing the application form and enclosing a check payable to the City of Raleigh for the application fee, a clearly written project description should be included with your application. Depending on the type of work involved, plot plans, material samples/descriptions, photographs, and dimensioned drawings may be needed in order for commission members and staff to precisely understand your project and whether or not it meets the Design Guidelines for Raleigh Historic Districts. Please contact staff if you have questions regarding what supplementary materials should be included for your particular project.
When can I begin work on my project? When you receive your blue COA approval placard and post it in public view on the property, you may begin any portions of your project listed on that placard. Applications that the commission has approved with conditions must have the conditions met in order for you to receive the blue placard and commence work. To begin work without your COA approval is a violation of City code. Please note that you are responsible for obtaining any additional permits that City code or any law may require.
Is my project a minor or a major work? RHDC's Bylaws provide a table that indicates whether a project is routine maintenance, a minor work, or a major work.
Can I put a prefabricated accessory building on my property? The Guidelines allow construction of accessory buildings; pages 18 and 19 provide information to help you design an appropriate structure. In addition, the COA Committee's review of two proposed prefabricated accessory buildings clarified some details not delineated in the Guidelines.
The committee stated that compatible materials for new accessory buildings include wood (horizontal lap siding, shingles, board and batten, or 6" horizontal bead-board siding) and smooth Hardieplank lap siding. Committee members agreed that vinyl and plywood are not compatible materials for Raleigh's historic districts. Other important details include roof pitches greater than 4/12 and eave overhangs of 7" to 12". Doors should have simple detailing and should be located on the gable end; single-leaf doors on a sidewall are appropriate only as secondary entries. Accessory buildings must have corner boards and fascia boards; windows, if installed, must be wood with wood trim and sills.

Staff reviews accessory buildings under 144 sq. ft.; larger structures go to the COA Committee. Buildings with a single wall expanse greater than 12' require a building permit. Call 919-516-2495 for permit information.

Raleigh Historic Landmarks (RHLs)

On December 6, Raleigh City Council designated 4 new RHLs: the Cameron-Maynard-Gatling House, the Free Church of the Good Shepherd, the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows (GUOOF) Building, and the Raleigh Bonded Warehouse.
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National Register of Historic Places

In 2011, four RHDC sponsored Historic Districts were listed in the National Register: Longview Gardens, Rochester Heights, Battery Heights, and Hi-Mount.
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Certificates of Appropriateness (COAs)

After a year-long public effort of updating the Design Guidelines, the draft document is in the hands of the City Attorney prior to going to the RHDC and City Council for formal adoption.
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Historic Overlay Districts (HODs)

The possibility of the first new HOD in 20 years is on the horizon with a public information meeting set for January 18 and report to City Council on
February 7.
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