The Historic District Design Standards were developed to guide the Historic District Commission in reviewing applications for:

• Changes to existing buildings or the historic district setting
• New construction and additions
• Relocation
• Demolition

The standards also provide information on exempt and minor works and other architectural and historic resources.

The Historic District Commission also uses the matrices below to guide its decisions on applications.

• Compatibility Matrix
• Historic District Signage Matrix

The application packets below provide guidance on the information sought for a completed Certificate of Appropriateness application.

The examples are not all-inclusive. Each application may have its own requirements based on the diversity and intensity of proposed changes. 

Planning staff encourage applicants to ask questions before submitting an application.

• Commercial renovation application example
• Fence application example
• Freestanding sign application example
• Porch renovation application example
• Residential addition application example
• Residential new construction application example
• Residential renovation application example
• Shed application example
• Wall and hanging sign application example 

Completed applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness must be submitted by noon Wednesday three weeks before a Historic District Commission meeting. For meeting information, see:

• Town Calendar
• Historic District Commission page 

Process for Review

Applicants are encouraged to submit complete application packages as early as possible. The Historic District Commission allows a maximum of four major certificate applications on each agenda.

• Applications that are incomplete or received after the first four packages deemed complete by staff will be placed on the next agenda that has available space.

• Complete applications for work deemed to be minor but requiring commission review will be added to an agenda as space becomes available.