What is a Certificate of Appropriateness?

A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is the approval granted to a property owner who has gone through the review process for exterior work on a structure or site located within a Local Historic District. The City Engineer's Office will not approve building or demolition permits for properties located within Local Historic Districts without a COA on file.

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1. What is the Lafayette Historic Preservation Commission?
2. Is there a difference between a National Register Historic District and a Local Historic District?
3. What is a Conservation District?
4. What is a Certificate of Appropriateness?
5. If I want to make a change to my property, what is the procedure?
6. Are there any districts already in Lafayette?
7. Does the Historic Preservation Commission deny many COAs?
8. What about repair and maintenance - Do I have to apply to the Commission for every fix?
9. Can the Lafayette Historic Preservation Commission tell me what color I have to paint my house?
10. Does the Lafayette Historic Preservation Commission have the authority to tell me what landscaping I can install?
11. Does designation as a Local Historic District prevent me from constructing an addition to my house?
12. Does designation as a Local Historic District prevent me from demolishing a building?
13. Does designation as a Local Historic District prevent me from building on a vacant lot?
14. Does designation as a Local Historic District prevent me from installing new windows or doors?
15. What are the benefits of designating my property as part of a Local Historic District?
16. Does designation as a Local Historic District affect my property values?
17. Are there resources for those properties listed within a Local Historic District?
18. If I have questions, who can I contact?