Activities requiring a COA include the following:

1. Any changes of materials in the exterior appearance of existing buildings or structures;
2.  Any alterations or additions to the exterior of buildings or structures - i.e.: changes to windows, doors, roofs, siding porches, entranceway, stairs, railings, etc; 
3. Demolition or partial demolition of any building or structure; 
4. Any new construction;
5. The erection of fences or walls and the installation of storage sheds, gazebos, swimming pools, satellite dishes, fountains, arbors, driveways, sidewalks, etc.

You do not need a COA for:

1. Interior changes, as long as they do not affect the outside elements, such as: windows and doors. 
2. Painting, as long as the color of paint used is compatible with the historic district and neighborhood. For masonry, paint if historically painted, but do not paint if historically unpainted. 

There is no application fee. A Certificate of Appropriateness is required prior to commencing work subject to Section 94-82 of the City of Ocala Code of Ordinances. Work performed without an approved Certificate of Appropriateness may be subject to fines and enforcement in accordance with the City of Ocala Code of Ordinances Section 94-3.

Submit a completed COA application and all required supporting documentation through the City of Ocala's eTRAKiT portal. Instructions for creating an account, submitting an application, and uploading supporting documents are available in the eTRAKiT Application Guide. Applications requiring review by the Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board (OHPAB) must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the scheduled meeting.

It is recommended that property owners discuss their projects with staff prior to submitting the COA application packet by emailing historic@ocalafl.org.  

Applications must be submitted 30 days prior to the preferred meeting date. Applications should include:

• Completed and signed COA application
• Manufacturer specifications and detailed drawings for all proposed materials, including windows, doors, siding, roofing, fencing, and other exterior features, as applicable.
• Site plan if applicable
• Copy of property deed or proof of ownership
• Authorization letter for non-property owner representative
• For New Construction: a set of building plans, no larger than 11 x 17, for structural changes or new construction. This includes all four elevations with drawn to scale dimensions.
• A list of any additional attachments

There is no application fee. A Certificate of Appropriateness is required prior to commencing work subject to Section 94-82 of the City of Ocala Code of Ordinances. Work performed without an approved Certificate of Appropriateness may be subject to fines and enforcement in accordance with the City of Ocala Code of Ordinances Section 94-3.

OHPAB meetings are generally held on the first Thursday of each month at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala, FL.

Applicants are encouraged to attend the public hearing or have an authorized representative attend on their behalf to answer questions regarding the proposed work.

The COA is a prerequisite to the issuance of any other permits required by law. A building permit or other municipal permit shall be invalid if it is obtained without a COA. 

As required by Section 94-82(g) of the City of Ocala Code of Ordinances, OHPAB decisions on the COAs will be based on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (SOI Standards) and the Ocala Historic Preservation Code.

OHPAB interprets and applies these resources to make findings on COA applications. The appropriateness of a COA request is determined on a case-by-case basis by historical documentation, if it exists, or what material was known to be on the structure the longest within the last 50 years. The appropriateness of a COA request is based on the specifics of a particular property – age, style, and historic integrity.  It is not relevant to justify a particular alteration or material because other houses in the vicinity may have that same type of material.

The basic premise in the treatment of all historic buildings is identifying, retaining, and preserving the form and detailing of those architectural materials and features of the building that are important in defining its historic character.  In general, exterior alterations shall not diminish the architectural quality or historical character of the building or the building site.  Another important factor in determining the appropriateness of a proposed alteration is - does it radically change historic features which are important in defining the overall historic character of the building so that, as a result, the character is diminished.

Certificate of Appropriateness are valid for six (6) months.  Provided construction is started within the six (6) month period, the owner will have twelve (12) months to complete the work.  An owner may request an extension from staff to either start or complete the work, or both.  If the property is sold before the work authorized by a COA has been started, the new owner would have to submit a new COA application.