- Home
- Government
- Departments H to Z
- Planning Department
- Land Development
- Certificate of Appropriateness
Certificate of Appropriateness
Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
A (COA) is required for exterior modifications, visible from the paved public street within the Chesapeake Historic and Cultural Preservation District, including the South Norfolk Local Historic District. *No building, structure (including signs, or landmark, or portion thereof, that is or will be visible from a paved public street shall be constructed, erected, extended, enlarged, altered, repaired, renovated, dismantled, demolished or moved unless and until a certificate of appropriateness has been issued by the [Historic and Architectural] review board.* § 12-708. A (COA) may be needed for work performed on, but not limited to;
- Roofs, Chimneys, Siding, Trim, Windows, Doors
- Light fixtures, Awnings, Antennae, Satellite Dishes, Solar Panels,
- Porches, New Construction, Additions, Demolition
- Fences, Driveways, Sheds, Garages, and other elements
Preparation for Online Application Submittal
- Street Address of the Property or (Tax) Parcel Number
- Year the structure was built Real Estate Information Page
- Acceptable Filing Fee payment method readily available (credit cards or eCheck/linked bank account)
- Photographs that show the element requiring replacement/repair, proposed replacement material and style in digital format, ready for upload
- Proposed Color(s) selected from the Benjamin Moore approved color palette
- Preliminary Drawings and Material Specifications, drawn to scale, ready to upload as a PDF
- Additional applicant responsibilities depend on the type of construction (new construction, major alteration/addition to existing structure, minor alteration/repair, relocation, demolition)
Submit Now
If a (COA) is submitted and approved prior to any work or modifications being made to the property, the application is free to submit. However, if work is performed without an approved Certificate of Appropriateness, that application is considered to be after-the-fact and the applicant will be required to pay a $250 processing fee.
If you choose to submit your application in person, bring the required items from the previous list to the 2nd floor of City Hall and someone will assist you.
- What is a Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness?
-
The Certificate of Appropriateness is to provide for the review of all significant exterior modifications visible from a paved public street within the Chesapeake Historic and Cultural Preservation District. Certificates of Appropriateness may be needed for work on additions, roofs, chimneys, doors, windows, siding, fences, walls, and color changes, and must be approved by the Review Board as being architecturally compatible with the historic area, landmark, building, or structure itself.
Application Deadline is by 5 p.m. 10 days prior to the first Thursday of the month. When the 10-day submittal deadline falls on a week where there is also a City holiday, the submittal deadline will be 17 days before the first Thursday of the month. View the Historic and Architectural Review Board Meeting Schedule.