City of Janesville - Permit Center | Certificate of Appropriateness

Certificate of Appropriateness

Description A certificate of historic appropriateness is issued when the proposed changes or improvements to a building, site, or structure within a historic district are consistent with the historic character and preservation guidelines of the area.

Decisionmaker The Historic Commission makes the final decision.

Appeals The Commission's decision can be appealed to _____ for final determination.

Application Fee

$ _______

Upcoming Meetings

Historic Commission - Second Meeting in December

Date Reviewed:

2024-12-18T00:30:00Z

Filing Deadline:

2024-12-03T22:00:00Z

Show more dates

Calendar Notes
1. In order for an application to be heard on a given meeting date, the application (including forms, fees, plans, reports, etc.) must be submitted AND deemed complete by City staff on or before the corresponding submittal date. Because of that, you may want to submit your application before the submittal date. That way, we may be able to let you know if anything is missing and you'll have some time to perhaps get it done before the deadline.
2. Meeting dates and their corresponding submittal dates are subject to change.

Application Materials

Certificate of Appropriateness

You may also need:

Historic Commission brochure

Frequently Asked Questions

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My property is in the historic district, but is classified as a "non-contributing" building. Do the district rules still apply to my property?

Architectural review is a process that applies to all properties inside the boundaries of the historic district. Non-contributing buildings are regulated to avoid adverse alterations that could negatively affect the neighborhood in general and more particularly nearby properties. The standards of architectural review for non-historic properties are based on avoiding those kinds of adverse impacts.

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My property is located in a historic district. What does that mean?

The City established (an historic district or various historic districts) to protect the overall architectural integrity and significance of the district. New buildings, alterations to existing buildings, and building demolitions must be reviewed by the City's Historic Commission. Additional information is available in §___ of the zoning code.

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What are the benefits of living in a historic district?

A historic district encourages neighborhood pride by confirming that the vintage homes in the district are valuable assets within the district and beyond. The regulations help to protect the value of each owner’s investment by ensuring that all development will meet certain architectural quality standards.

The preservation and restoration of historic homes tend to attract homeowners who appreciate the craftsmanship and design in older homes. Because historic restoration is encouraged, the physical attractiveness and desirability of the neighborhood can be enhanced. Finally, real estate studies in various cities across the country have shown that property values in protected historic districts tend to be higher than comparable neighborhoods that have no architectural controls.

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What's a certificate of appropriateness?

The City's Historic Commission reviews new buildings, alterations to existing buildings, and building demolitions in the historic district and issues a certificate of appropriateness to document approvals.

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What's the difference between a "contributing" and "non-contributing" building?

When a historic district is first proposed, an architectural survey is completed by qualified individuals who assess the architectural significance of the buildings in the proposed district. Buildings are evaluated and are categorized as "contributing" and "noncontributing." Contributing buildings are architecturally significant to the historic value of the neighborhood. In contrast, a non-contributing building has little or no architectural value to the district.

View all Frequently Asked Questions

Primary Staff Contact

Brian Schweigl, Senior Planner

608-755-3188

[email protected]

About Reviewers

The following are involved in the review of this type of application.

The Historic Commission was created in 1981 by the City Council as part of the revision of the zoning ordinance. Members are residents of Janesville who represent a cross-section of the City's population and demonstrate an interest in historic preservation. The commission reviews National Register nominations and promotes historic preservation awareness.

The Development Assistance Group (DAG) is a staff-level committee that meets with developers, architects, engineers, and other interested parties who want early feedback on a potential development proposal. Staff represent the Planning Division, Building Division, Engineering Division, and the fire department.

Planning staff provides technical support to the City Council, Plan Commission, Historic Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, developers, neighbors, and other interested parties to facilitate the development review process.

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Everyone involved in reviewing development projects help ensure they align with City regulations and long-term planning goals to foster positive growth and development.

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City of Janesville (Proposed) Zoning Code | Permit Center | Certificate of Appropriateness