When to use this process

Use this process to request a Certificate of Appropriateness for proposed exterior changes to a property that is located within one of the City’s historic overlay districts (PDF). The request will be reviewed to determine whether it meets the City’s Historic Design Guidelines (PDF). 

Staff will determine whether the request can be reviewed at a staff level or whether it must go to the Board of Historic Review (BHR) for consideration. The process for this determination is set forth in the Historic Design Guidelines.

If you would like to do work that is different from the standards of the Historic Design Guidelines, you may request a hardship exemption; the process for that is set forth in the guidelines

If reviewed by staff

Staff will determine whether the standards have been met to grant the request within a few business days. However, any person can appeal any decision of staff to the Board of Historic Review within 20 days after staff’s decision has been made, so any work performed during this timeframe is at your own risk.

If reviewed by Board of Historic Review

If the request is of a type that is required to be heard by the Board of Historic Review (BHR), staff will place the item on the next eligible agenda of the Board, which usually will take place about 30 to 45 days after the application is submitted.

 Upcoming Public Hearings

Get ready

Required documents

1. Letter from the property owner consenting to the application if you do not own the property 
2. Other exhibits showing what you would like to do, such as building plans, a site plan, photographic examples, or renderings

Required licenses

1. Business licenses are required for all design professionals, contractors and subcontractors before a building permit can be issued.
   •  Business license webpage
2. The contractor must hold the appropriate State of South Carolina license for the specified scope of work.
   • Contractor Licenses webpage

Apply

1. Apply Online using the button above.
   • Click on “New Applications"
   • Type "Certificate" in the search box
   • Select "Certificate of Appropriateness" and follow the prompts from there
2. City staff will review your request and send comments back to the designated contact person on the application within approximately 5 business days.
   • If the request must be revised, use the Plan Resubmittal Instructions (PDF).
3. After the above has been completed, we will send you an email with either staff's decision about the request or explaining the process to take the request to the Board of Historic Review.
4. At this time, we will email you an invoice for the application fee, which will be paid through our online portal. Beware of scammers trying to obtain false payment through wire transfer or other mechanisms.

Next steps

If reviewed by staff

If staff is able to approve the request, you may proceed with related permitting requests such as for a building permit. These require separate processes and fees.

If staff is not able to approve the request, you may appeal to the Board of Historic Review within 30 days of the decision using the process set forth on the Zoning Board of Appeals application webpage.

If reviewed by Board of Historic Review

We will schedule the request to go to the Board of Historic Review, which usually meets monthly. You must attend this meeting to explain your request and answer questions. 

• Calendar

Staff will provide the BHR with a written report about the request before the meeting, which will be posted on the BHR's Agenda and Minutes webpage.

The BHR will hold a public hearing when people for and against the request may comment on it. The BHR typically will make a decision during the same meeting as the public hearing. The BHR may approve the request, deny the request, or approve it with conditions.

We are required to advertise the public hearing in accordance with state law. At least 15 calendar days in advance of the hearing, we will:

1. Post a sign(s) on the property giving the public notice about the request
2. Mail a postcard to all property owners and tenants within 300 feet of the property
3. Place a legal advertisement regarding the request in The Herald newspaper.

We will email you the written decision of the Board. 

• If the request is approved, you may still need to obtain other types of permits, such as a building permit, before you may use the property as requested. These require separate processes and fees.
• If the request is not approved, and you would like to do work that is different from the standards of the Historic Design Guidelines, you may request a hardship exemption; the process for that is set forth in the guidelines. Otherwise, you must wait one year before reapplying for the same Certificate of Appropriateness request unless you can show the Board that a substantial change in circumstances exists, you have new or additional information to share, your request is materially different from the one you made to the Board, or the Board made a mistake of fact.