When Needed | Review | References

News  
On June 14, 2010 the City Council approved a new administrative review process for certain projects, allowing a Certificate of Appropriateness to be reviewed at the staff level instead of by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). This process may only be used for certain projects; please refer to the administrative review information sheet for more information. 

Certificate of Appropriateness links   
    Certificate of Appropriateness information packet & application 
         Appendix: Administrative review process information  
    Design Guidelines for Historic Residential Districts and Properties  
    Design Guidelines for Historic Commercial Districts and Properties     
    Sign permits     

In order to preserve the integrity and character of the City’s historic resources, the Historic Preservation Ordinance establishes a review process for work done on properties with Historic Overlay Zoning (historic landmarks and properties in historic districts).  The types of changes that require this additional review, the design criteria and review process are given in the Code of Ordinances Section 46-99.

If you are unsure whether a property has Historic overlay zoning, you can use the CityView interactive map on Round Rock's GeoPortal. Open CityView, check "Zoning Overlays" in the right hand Map Layers column, and zoom in to the area in question. Areas with Historic overlay zoning are cross-hatched in black.

Failure to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness or completion of work that is not consistent with the specifications in the Certificate is considered a zoning violation and is subject to similar penalties.

When do I need a Certificate of Appropriateness?      
The owner must obtain the approval of the Historic Preservation Commission before beginning any work on a structure or site with Historic Overlay Zoning (a historic landmark or property in a historic district).  This approval, in the form of a Certificate of Appropriateness, verifies that the historic character or a property or district is maintained.  There is no application fee for a Certificate of Appropriateness. Signs do not require a Certificate of Appropriateness but go through standard sign permit review under the standards for Special Areas. 

A Certificate of Appropriateness is required for any exterior alteration, construction, removal or demolition of all or part of a structure or site, but does not apply to building interiors.  Full applicability is given in Code of Ordinances Section 46-99.  Simple repairs do not require a Certificate, provided that the materials, design and application are the same.  For example, replacing siding with the same material, installation pattern and paint color would not require a Certificate, but painting it a different color would.  If you are unsure whether the work you have planned requires a certificate, contact Joelle Jordan at 512-218-5422. 

How are Certificate of Appropriateness applications reviewed? 
Proposed projects are reviewed for consistency with the standards given in the City's Design Guidelines for Historic Commercial and Residential Districts, and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.  Please consult these standards and guidelines when planning your project.  The Preservation Office and Historic Preservation Commission can also be a valuable resource for advice regarding historically appropriate design.

Certificate applications for changes to structures and sites are reviewed and issued by the Historic Preservation Commission.  Applications should be submitted at least two weeks before the scheduled HPC meeting (please refer to the HPC meeting schedule for meeting and submittal dates). 

For certain types of projects, a Certificate of Appropriateness may be issued by staff without HPC review. Staff will determine which review process applies when the application is received. For a list of the projects that may be approved at the staff level, please refer to the administrative review information sheet.