This information will provide homeowners and contractors with a
basic understanding of the guidelines used in evaluating the appropriateness of
proposed projects involving historic buildings as well as new structures in a
historic district. These guidelines are intended to encourage collaboration
between the historic district's property owners, members of the building
industry and County staff in order to preserve the architectural heritage of the
historic district.
In general, the procedures of the Historic Preservation Program
are quite streamlined and an applicant should always keep in mind that although
obtaining one permit may be contingent upon obtaining approval for other
permits, you should always explore the possibility of submitting
several applications at the same time. For instance, although a request for
zoning relief will not be granted prior to approval of a Certificate of
Appropriateness (CA), an applicant could save time and expedite the process by
submitting both the CA and zoning relief application at the same time.
STEP 1: Pre-Application Conference
The applicant should contact the Lee County Planning Division and
request a pre-application conference while a project is still in a conceptual
stage. Because historic homes and vacant lots in a historic district may not
conform to many current county regulations, an owner wishing to rehabilitate a
historic building or to build a new building should take advantage of the
opportunity afforded by the pre-application conference. The pre-application
conference, an informal meeting with county staff, is not required but is highly
recommended.
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STEP 2: Lee County Historic Preservation Ordinance
Properties within the historic district are designated under the
Lee County Historic Preservation Ordinance. In general, improvements to
properties designated as contributing properties will be evaluated for
compliance with the U.S. Secretary of Interior's Standards of Rehabilitation; and
improvements to properties designated as non-contributing will be evaluated for
compliance with the specific historic district's guidelines.
STEP 3: Certificate of Appropriateness
An applicant must obtain a
Certificate of Appropriateness (CA) prior to applying for a
building permit. It is a requirement that an approved CA accompany all building
permit applications for properties designated under the Lee County Historic
Preservation Ordinance.
STEP 4: Administrative Relief
Once the CA is issued, an applicant can apply for administrative
relief (as allowed by county regulations) in order to deal with some specific
problems associated with the proposed project.
STEP 5: Development Order Process
Applicants doing larger projects may be subject to the
Development Order Process.
STEP 6: Building Permit
After obtaining a CA and any other
necessary documentation, the applicant can submit an application for a building
permit.