District of Columbia Administrative Code

201 CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION IN THE D.C. INVENTORY 201.1 Historic and prehistoric buildings, building interiors, structures, monuments, works of art or other similar objects, areas, places, sites, neighborhoods, and cultural landscapes are eligible for designation as historic lan…

202 CRITERIA FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER 202.1 Properties meeting the criteria for designation in the D.C. Inventory are also considered to meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places unless the National Register officially determines otherw…

203 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS 203.1 Application for designation of a property as a historic landmark or historic district shall be made only by the owner of the property, the Board, a public agency, governmental unit or department, Advisory Neighborhood Commission, or a historic preser…

204 APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION 204.1 A proposed designation for historic landmark or historic district status shall be initiated by the submission of an application to the Board in the format prescribed by the staff. 204.2 The application shall contain a signed official applicat…

205 FILING FEES 205.1 The application filing fee to designate a historic landmark is as follows: (a) Up to five buildings $ 100 (b) More than five buildings $ $200 205.2 The application filing fee to designate a historic district is as follows: (a) Fewer than 100 buildings $ 250 …

206 MULTIPLE PROPERTY DESIGNATIONS 206.1 The Board may consider multiple or discontiguous properties for designation as historic landmarks or historic districts. Multiple property designations shall be for properties that are historically, physically, thematically, or otherwise r…

207 DESIGNATION INITIATED BY THE BOARD 207.1 The Board may initiate a historic landmark or historic district designation by directing the staff to prepare an application, or by adopting an existing National Register nomination, National Historic Landmark nomination, or designatio…

208 OFFICIAL FILING OF AN APPLICATION 208.1 Within ten (10) days of receipt of an application, the staff shall determine whether it is complete. If the application is complete, and the applicant has paid the applicable filing fee, the staff shall assign a case number, date stamp,…

209 NOTICE AND SCHEDULING OF A FILED APPLICATION 209.1 Immediately after an application is officially filed, the staff shall provide written notification to the Permit Processing Division of DCRA. 209.2 Within ten (10) days of an official filing, the staff shall mail notice of th…

210 AMENDMENT OR WITHDRAWAL OF A FILED APPLICATION 210.1 An applicant may submit a written amendment of a filed application at any time before notice of the public hearing. 210.2 An applicant may submit a written request to withdraw a filed application at any time. The filing fee…

211 NOTICE OF HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION HEARING 211.1 At least forty-five (45) but not more than seventy-five (75) days before a designation hearing, the Board shall send notice via first class mail to the owner of the property, the applicant for designation, and the affected…

212 NOTICE OF HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION HEARING 212.1 For a proposed designation of a historic district where there are 50 or fewer property owners, the Board shall provide the same notice as for a historic landmark designation hearing. The Board shall obtain the list of owne…

213 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD 213.1 During the time between public notice and the designation hearing, the Board shall accept written comments from affected property owners and any other interested persons concurring in or objecting to the designation and National Register nomination…

214 PRE-HEARING SUBMISSIONS 214.1 Each applicant for designation shall file with the Board, at least ten (10) days before the hearing, a list of persons who will speak on the applicant's behalf. 214.2 Each owner of property proposed for historic landmark designation (if not the a…

215 REQUESTS FOR POSTPONEMENT 215.1 The applicant for a proposed historic landmark or historic district designation may request postponement of the hearing by submitting a written request to the Board at least 48 hours before a scheduled hearing. The owner of a proposed historic …

216 STAFF REPORT ON DESIGNATION APPLICATION 216.1 Before the designation hearing, the staff shall prepare a written report and recommendation on the designation application. 216.2 The report shall include the staff's determination with respect to the criteria for designation in t…

217 DESIGNATION HEARING 217.1 The Board shall hold a public hearing to receive information and public comments on each application for historic landmark or historic district designation. 217.2 At the designation hearing, the Board shall consider the eligibility of the property fo…

218 CLOSURE OF THE HEARING RECORD AND DELIBERATIONS 218.1 The record shall be closed at the end of the public hearing except when directed by the Chairperson to stay open for a specified period of time for the receipt of additional information or public comment. If the hearing is…

219 POST-HEARING PROCEDURES 219.1 The Board shall issue a written decision with respect to the proposed historic landmark or historic district designation. Each designation decision shall identify the property, describe its general characteristics and significance, specify its bo…

220 EFFECTIVE DATE OF DESIGNATION 220.1 The Board's determination whether to list a property as a historic landmark, as provided in D.C. Official Code § 6-1102(6)(B), is made when the Board votes to designate or deny designation of the property. This date is the official designat…

221 AMENDMENT OR REVOCATION OF DESIGNATION 221.1 Listings in the D.C. Inventory may be amended or revoked. 221.2 Any applicant eligible to file a designation application may apply to amend or revoke a designation. 221.3 An application to amend a designation shall include the same…

2000 GENERAL PROVISIONS 2000.1 The Board shall establish standards and guidelines to assist it and the staff in making determinations whether proposed work is compatible with the character of historic properties. The standards and guidelines shall enunciate the Board's policy wit…

2001 PURPOSE AND USE 2001.1 The Board's design and construction standards are intended to promote the clear understanding and use of responsible historic preservation methods and practices. They are not intended as rigid and unyielding rules for all situations, but rather as a ge…

2002 COMPATIBILITY AND CONSISTENCY WITH THE PURPOSES OF THE HISTORIC PROTECTION ACT 2002.1 The Board shall review an application for demolition, alteration, or subdivision to advise the Mayor's Agent whether the work is compatible with the purposes of the Historic Protection Act.…

2003 SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR'S STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION 2003.1 The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation are the most commonly accepted national standards of good preservation practice. They are used by all federal agencies and SHPOs, and have been adopte…

2004 HISTORIC PRESERVATION GUIDELINES 2004.1 To promote the clarity and understanding of design and construction standards, the Board and HPO may prepare design guidelines for use in conjunction with the standards. The Board's design guidelines shall augment the standards and pro…

2300 GENERAL PROVISIONS 2300.1 Windows are an important and integral part of the design of most buildings. They typically comprise thirty to forty percent of the surface area of the building's principal facade. In making a determination on proposed changes to windows, the Board a…

2301 WINDOW TYPES 2301.1 An "existing window" means a windows existing at the time of designation, if supported by documentary evidence, or a window that has been changed subsequent to designation pursuant to a valid permit reviewed by the Board. 2301.2 A "historic window" means:…

2302 WINDOW COMPONENTS AND ATTRIBUTES 2302.1 "Configuration" means the number, shape, organization and relationship of panes or lights of glass, as defined by sash, frame, muntins, or tracery 2302.2 "Dimensions" means the size and measurements of both stationary and moveable port…

2303 WINDOW MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR 2303.1 Proper maintenance and repair of historic windows is the most appropriate historic preservation approach, since it promotes the long-term preservation of the physical fabric, historic integrity, and appearance of historic buildings and di…

2304 STORM WINDOWS 2304.1 The use of secondary windows or storm windows, either exterior or interior, is encouraged as a means of preserving historic windows. Under the D.C. Construction Code (12 DCMR § 111), a permit is required for the installation of storm windows in historic …

2305 WINDOW REPLACEMENT: GENERAL PROVISIONS 2305.1 Replacement of historic windows should be considered only if the preferred option of preserving historic windows is not feasible, given the facts and circumstances of each particular case. 2305.2 Under the D.C. Construction Code …

2306 WINDOW REPLACEMENT: HISTORIC LANDMARKS 2306.1 Principal Facades (a) If historic windows cannot reasonably be restored, replacement windows shall be approved if they match the historic windows in all respects—configuration, method of operation, profile, dimensions, material, …

2307 WINDOW REPLACEMENT: CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS (MAJOR BUILDINGS) 2307.1 For the purposes of these standards, a "major building" in a historic district is a contributing building that is individually distinguished by characteristics like symbolic value, visu…

2308 WINDOW REPLACEMENT: CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS (SMALL BUILDINGS) 2308.1 For the purposes of these standards, a "small building" in a historic district shall be defined as a building of four stories or less, unless the building has a street frontage of one h…

2309 WINDOW REPLACEMENT: CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS (LARGE BUILDINGS) 2309.1 For the purposes of these standards, a "large building" in a historic district shall be defined as a building of five (5) or more stories in height, or a building of less than five (5) …

2310 WINDOW REPLACEMENT: NON-CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS 2310.1 For replacement windows in a non-contributing building within an historic district, a permit shall be issued if the windows are appropriate for the building and compatible with the historic district.…

2311 WINDOWS IN NEW ADDITIONS TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS 2311.1 Windows in additions to historic buildings should be appropriate for the new addition and in most cases consistent in overall character with the windows found on the historic building. This is generally most important for…

2312 WINDOWS IN NEW CONSTRUCTION IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS 2312.1 Windows in new construction within an historic district should be appropriate for the building and in most cases generally consistent in character with the windows found in the historic district. 2312.2 Windows should …

2313 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR WINDOW PERMIT APPLICATIONS 2313.1 Permit applications for window work shall include close-up photographs of existing windows in the building or other materials adequate to document the condition of existing windows. 2313.2 For applications to rep…

GENERAL PROVISIONS This chapter addresses historic preservation requirements for signage and related building features, including awnings, canopies, and marquees, which typically serve as locations for signage. Signs, awnings, canopies, and marquees on historic property shall com…

PERMIT REQUIREMENTS 2501.1 Notwithstanding the limitations and exemptions stated in the D.C. Building Code, a permit is required for the erection, painting, repainting, placement, replacement, hanging, rehanging, alteration, repair, or change of a sign larger than one square foot…

PERMIT APPLICATION PROCEDURES An applicant shall submit permit application materials to the Permit Processing Division of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) for transmittal to the Mayor’s Agent pursuant to the Act as further described in Chapter 3. Upon rece…

GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR SIGNAGE Signs are a prominent visual element of many historic properties, serving an important role in identifying or advertising businesses, institutions, building occupants, or other entities. The location and design of signage also influences the percept…

GENERAL STANDARDS FOR SIGNAGE Signage shall be appropriate to the building, site, or historic district it will affect. Signage shall relate to, take advantage of, and be compatible with the building’s particular composition, scale, design features, and architectural character. It…

APPROPRIATE SIGN TYPES Signage shall be of a type appropriate to the affected historic building, site, or district. The specific characteristics of the historic building, site, or district shall determine what sign types are appropriate in each instance. The following sign types,…

PROHIBITED SIGN TYPES Billboards and special signs as defined in § 2599 are not permitted on historic property. Roof signs and revolving signs are not permitted on historic property, except for vintage, historic, or replica signs as provided in § 2513. Televisions and video monit…

DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS OF APPROPRIATE SIGNS In reviewing an application for signage, the HPO and Board shall evaluate the architecture and design of the building and site, and determine whether the proposed sign is compatible with respect to type, placement, size, material, copy,…

SIGNS FOR HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES Signs are not typically a prominent visual element on historic residential buildings. In order to preserve the character and setting of historic residential buildings, signage on these buildings and in historic residential areas shall not…

SIGNS FOR HISTORIC INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES Historic civic, institutional, religious, and educational properties generally have a very different character from historic commercial properties. Government offices, courts, churches, synagogues, schools, colleges, libraries, and othe…