Certificate of Appropriateness Application

Congratulations, you are embarking on a project to continue to preserve and enhance your historic property, and a community treasure. Below is information designed to help you through the process of obtaining approval from the Canton Historic District Commission for your project.

If you are about to modify any aspect of the exterior of a property listed as a local historic site you must first:

• Apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness Application (PDF) and submit the completed form to the Clerk's Office to be scheduled for the next Historic District Commission meeting.
• Provide supporting materials/plans and make builder/architect available at the Historic District Commission meeting to answer questions and provide ample review by the Historic District Commission.
• The Canton Historic District Commission adheres to The Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.

Any work on the interior that might modify the exterior will require a Certificate of Appropriateness Application; otherwise, interior projects are not subject to the Certificate of Appropriateness Application.

Application Form

Access the Certificate of Appropriateness Application (PDF) or visit the Community Services Division at Canton Township Hall for an application form. This form will ask you several questions concerning your project, so please fill this out as completely as you can. This information is important for the commissioners to evaluate your proposal.

Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation

You must also get a copy of the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. This will give you guidance on the approved methods of maintaining your historic property. The Canton Historic District Commission uses the Secretary of Interior Standards as our guide when evaluating your project for a Certificate of Appropriateness. You will also be given a copy of the Canton Historic District Ordinance, which applies to all designated properties in Canton.

Request for Pre-Meeting Conference

You may request a pre-meeting conference with several members of the commission to give you guidance on your proposal, and its appropriateness to your property. This is not a pre-approval, but rather an opportunity for the commission and you to discuss the project.

Work Requiring a Certificate of Appropriateness

Generally speaking, work requiring the application is anything that affects the exterior appearance of your historic property. Examples of work that require a Certificate of Appropriateness include: