Design Review The Historic Resources Commission (HRC) reviews projects within local historic districts and local landmarks to ensure that the proposed work is consistent with the applicable design review guidelines. Once a project has been approved, a Certificate of Appropriateness (CA) is issued to the property owner or applicant, which should be posted on site with any other required permits. Please note that a CA is for design review approval only, and does not include approval for building, zoning or other permit types that may be required. If you are considering a project and are unsure of what permit types you will need to obtain, you should contact the Development Services Department: 828-259-5846. Design Review Applications Minor Work Minor Work applications are reviewed by Planning/Historic Resources staff. Staff will refer Minor Work applications to the HRC if, in staff’s opinion, the project involves changes that are substantial, do not meet the design guidelines, or are of precedent-setting nature. Minor Work applications typically include projects in which the visual character of the structure and/or site is not substantially altered, such as but not limited to signage, fences in rear yards, tree removal, mechanical equipment, roof replacement and minor building repairs. Typically, a CA for Minor Work can be issued within 10 business days, depending on the project type and completeness of the application. Major Work Major Work applications are reviewed by the HRC at their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. In general, Major Work applications typically include projects that involve a change in the appearance of a structure and/or site that is more substantial than routine maintenance or Minor Work projects, such as but not limited to new construction, expansion of a building footprint, or significant changes to a landscape feature. Applicants for Major Work construction projects are strongly encouraged to consult with Planning/Historic Resources staff at the earliest possible stage of the design process. A pre-application meeting with staff is required prior to submittal of a Major Work application. Submittal of a Major Work application without the required pre-application meeting could result in a delay of review by the HRC. Contact Planning/Historic Resources staff to schedule a pre-application meeting: 828-259-5638 NEW: Submit your Minor or Major Work Application online via the Development Portal! Digital Submittal Instructions & Requirements Required Application Form/Checklist Applications may also be submitted in person or by mail to the permit center at the Development Services Department located at 161 South Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 28801. Additional Forms & Documents: New Construction Worksheet (Required for Major Work New Construction projects ONLY) 2019-2020 Planning & Urban Design Fee Schedule 2020 HRC Meeting Schedule & Application Deadlines 2021 HRC Meeting Schedule & Application Deadlines Notice: The next Historic Resources Commission meeting is scheduled for December 9, 2020. Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute § 166A-19.24(f) this will be a remote meeting which the public can access by any of the following means: Watch live at https://www.publicinput.com/L602 or www.YouTube.com/CityofAsheville Live telephone comments for agenda by calling 855-925-2801 Enter Code 9384 To learn more regarding this process or for additional information please contact our office at 828-259-5638 Agendas and Documents Agenda Documents December 9 2020 Agenda December 9, 2020 Documents November 11, 2020 Agenda November 11, 2020 Documents October 14, 2020 Agenda October 14, 2020 Documents September 9, 2020 Agenda September 9, 2020 Documents August 12, 2020 Agenda August 12, 2020 Documents July 8, 2020 Agenda July 8, 2020 Documents March 11, 2020 Agenda March 11, 2020 Documents February 12, 2020 Agenda February 12, 2020 Documents January 8, 2020 Documents January 8, 2020 Documents December 11, 2019 Agenda December 11, 2019 Documents November 13, 2019 Agenda November 13 , 2019 Documents October 9, 2019 Agenda October 9, 2019 Documents September 11, 2019 Agenda September 11, 2019 Documents August 14, 2019 Agenda August 14, 2019 Documents July 10, 2019 Agenda July 10, 2019 Documents Contact Information Alex Cole – 828-259-5638 Updated 11/12/2020 Related Services Learn about large-scale development Keep up to date on current projects and applications. Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov. Schedule a mandatory Technical Review Committee pre-application meeting Schedule your required pre-application meeting for Level II, Level III, Conditional Zoning and Major Subdivision reviews. Apply for a homestay permit Apply for a new homestay permit or apply to renew your existing permit. Look up information about a permit Use online tools to look up information about permits Check whether your address is within city limits Search to see if it is within the City of Asheville's permitting jurisdiction. Find what permits and licenses you need for your business Use Asheville's Open for Business wizard to find out what permits and licenses you will need and an estimate of permit fees. Find location and zoning information Find the zoning information for your project. More Related Services Design Review News Asheville City Council adopts Haywood-Page properties Master Concept Plan Posted on October 27, 2020 by Polly McDaniel After more than three years of community engagement around the future use of City-owned properties on Haywood Street and Page Avenue downtown, a master concept plan for the properties went before Asheville City Council Oct. 27. The plan by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects incorporates a mix of uses, including: A central plaza for community gatherings and [...] Concept plan for Haywood Street and Page Avenue properties headed to Asheville City Council Posted on October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 by Ashley Traynum-Carson For a narrated video of the Haywood Street and Page Avenue Master Concept Plan, visit this link. Following a series of community input and engagement activities this spring, the City of Asheville Department of Planning and Urban Design is pleased to release the Haywood Street and Page Avenue Master Concept Plan. The plan [...] City of Asheville Council to consider extending hotel moratorium Posted on September 4, 2020September 8, 2020 by Ashley Traynum-Carson In September 2019, the Asheville City Council approved a temporary moratorium on the approval of new hotels, which meant that no hotel development applications would be approved for a year. Since then, staff and consultants have worked diligently to understand the issues surrounding hotel development and assess the impacts. In late [...] More Design Review News
Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov.
Schedule a mandatory Technical Review Committee pre-application meeting Schedule your required pre-application meeting for Level II, Level III, Conditional Zoning and Major Subdivision reviews.
Check whether your address is within city limits Search to see if it is within the City of Asheville's permitting jurisdiction.
Find what permits and licenses you need for your business Use Asheville's Open for Business wizard to find out what permits and licenses you will need and an estimate of permit fees.
Asheville City Council adopts Haywood-Page properties Master Concept Plan Posted on October 27, 2020 by Polly McDaniel After more than three years of community engagement around the future use of City-owned properties on Haywood Street and Page Avenue downtown, a master concept plan for the properties went before Asheville City Council Oct. 27. The plan by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects incorporates a mix of uses, including: A central plaza for community gatherings and [...]
Concept plan for Haywood Street and Page Avenue properties headed to Asheville City Council Posted on October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 by Ashley Traynum-Carson For a narrated video of the Haywood Street and Page Avenue Master Concept Plan, visit this link. Following a series of community input and engagement activities this spring, the City of Asheville Department of Planning and Urban Design is pleased to release the Haywood Street and Page Avenue Master Concept Plan. The plan [...]
City of Asheville Council to consider extending hotel moratorium Posted on September 4, 2020September 8, 2020 by Ashley Traynum-Carson In September 2019, the Asheville City Council approved a temporary moratorium on the approval of new hotels, which meant that no hotel development applications would be approved for a year. Since then, staff and consultants have worked diligently to understand the issues surrounding hotel development and assess the impacts. In late [...]