Altering or Improving Historic Properties (COA Requirements)
The City of Naperville has four locally designated Landmark buildings and approximately 320 properties within a locally designated Historic District that includes part of the North Central College campus and approximately 250 residential homes. Visit the Historic District webpage to learn more about existing Landmark and Historic District structures.
For those who wish to modify or make improvements to a property that has been designated a Landmark or is located within a Historic District, in most cases, a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) will be issued authorizing plans for exterior alteration, construction, demolition or material change of a property.
Consult the COA Requirements Table that lists the summary of requirements for a COA and its associated review process. There are three categories in which COAs are given and reviewed:
ExemptIn some instances, improvements to a historical property will be exempt from the COA requirements, meaning that a COA is not required and, therefore, improvements to the property do not need to go through an administrative review or a Historic Preservation Commission review.
Administrative ReviewCertain property improvements may meet requirements allowing it to receive expedited staff review and approval through the City's Fast Track Approval Process. Access the Fast Track COA Application Packet and follow the steps outlined.
Historic Preservation ReviewMore complex improvements that are not exempt or don't meet guidelines for the Fast Track Approval Process will need to be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission at a public meeting. Access the Historic Preservation Commission COA Application Packet and follow the steps outlined.
Any request for demolition in whole or any partial demolition impacting the primary façade which meets the criteria provided in Section 6-11-8:2 of the Historic Preservation Chapter of the Zoning Title of the Naperville Municipal Code must submit a COA Application – Request for Demolition. This application is applicable to any Landmarked Properties or properties within the Historic District.
