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How to build an addition to a historic house?
Any vertical or horizontal addition to any building, regardless of historic status, must conform to the Residential Design Guidelines in San Francisco. Additions to known historic resources must also meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties and any applicable requirements outlined in Article 10 of the Planning Code.
What is a Certificate of Appropriateness and when do you need one?
To ensure compatible alterations, demolitions, and new construction, owners of San Francisco Article 10 Landmark buildings and all buildings located within an Article 10 Historic District will need to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness (C of A). C of A's are only required for Article 10 historic resources and are not required for buildings listed in the California or National Registers. C of A's are reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission to ensure that Article 10 resources are preserved and that alterations, demolitions, and new construction are compatible with existing historic resources.
C of A's is not required for ordinary maintenance and repairs – i.e., work done solely to correct deterioration, decay, or damage – if the replacement materials and details are in-kind.
What is the California Historical Building Code (CHBC)?
CHBC provides an alternative building code for the preservation or rehabilitation of buildings designated as "historic."
These regulations are intended to facilitate repair or accommodate a change of occupancy to preserve a historic resource's original or restored architectural features. Issues addressed by the CHBC include use and occupancy; means of egress; archaic materials and methods of construction; fire protection; alternative accessibility provisions; mechanical, plumbing, and electrical requirements; and alternative structural regulations.
Where can I find information on preservation techniques to repair historic buildings?
The National Parks Services has produced over 40 technical Preservation Briefs related to the appropriate repair and maintenance of old buildings. Topics include the cleaning and waterproofing of masonry buildings, the preservation of glazed Terra-Cotta, the repair of historic wood windows, conserving energy in historic buildings, repair and maintenance of stained and leaded glass windows, removing graffiti from historic masonry, and the seismic retrofit of historic buildings.
Can I add a new floor or expand into the rear yard a historical resource building?
Enlarging buildings by raising them and adding a new first floor was common at one time. Many cottages throughout San Francisco were originally one to 1.5 stories in height. These modest cottages were set on wood pilings instead of solid foundations. Buildings that must be raised for seismic retrofitting or to install a foundation will be approved.
However, despite historic precedents, raising buildings designated as historic resources may not be considered appropriate and all proposals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Generally, if an addition does not alter, change, obscure, damage, or destroy any character-defining features of a historic resource or building located within a historic district then it will be deemed in conformance. The Planning Department strongly urges project applicants to engage with a Historic Preservation Technical Specialist or get your CityStructure Analysis early in the design process, in order to identify potential limitations.
Are there any restrictions on remodeling the interior of a historic house?
No. Article 10 does not specifically designate the historic interiors of residential homes in landmark districts, nor does the California or National Registers.
However, the Planning Department strongly encourages the retention of historic interior features as they may contribute to the significance of a property. Moreover, there are substantial tax savings to be gained by remodeling interiors of National Register properties according to the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.
Can I add a garage to my historical resource building?
Inserting a new garage opening can have a major impact on a historic resource and its surrounding neighborhood. Due to this potential impact, the Planning Department reviews proposals for new garages on a case-by-case basis.
In some instances, garages are not approved to be added for the historic resources buildings, particularly if the addition would negatively impact the building's character-defining features such as front yard set-back, bay windows, front porches, or historic fences.
The analysis reveals a property's history and addition potential before purchase.
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