Staff or Commission
| Work (examples from the City) | Who decides | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior repairs, landscaping, fences, backyard decks | City staff, if the work meets the Historic District Standards ("minor work") | Staff make the final call on the category |
| New construction, additions, major alterations | Historic Preservation Commission ("major work") | Apply three weeks before the meeting; attend to present and answer questions |
| Recent Commission agenda items (January 2026) | Commission | Replacing a front door and a historic side door, a 6-foot board fence, demolition of a fire-damaged house, a new house, tree removal |
Sources: the City's Historic District Program page and Steps for Obtaining a COA (25 September 2025). The Commission "may deny a COA application if the work would be incongruous with the special character of the historic districts." An approved COA arrives by email and must be posted where the public can see it while work goes on.
The January 2026 agenda shows two things a homeowner should expect: a door replacement and a fence can end up in front of the Commission, and a case can be continued; one was continued twice and then withdrawn. Hearings are quasi-judicial, with sworn testimony and no written comments accepted (meeting notice).
What it means when you hire
- Check the address in five minutes. Use the City's historic district property lookup (linked from the program page) before you ask for bids.
- Agree who files. The contract should name who prepares the COA application and drawings, who attends the hearing, and that work waits for the posted COA.
- Add weeks for major work. A three-week filing deadline and a monthly meeting mean an addition or new house in Fisher Park or College Hill waits at least three weeks for its hearing, and about seven if the application just misses a deadline, before any continuance.
- North Carolina license. Jobs at or above the state threshold need a licensed general contractor; see Greensboro contractor license lookup.
What Greensboro permits show
| Measure | Remodel & repair | Addition | Deck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 1,509 | 393 | 226 |
| Firms | 405 | 167 | 112 |
| Usual filed value | $35,000 | $66,975 | $16,046 |
| Middle half of firms' usual value | $25,000 to $64,373 | $44,000 to $110,000 | $11,000 to $25,000 |
| Passed final (a year or more old) | 85.4% | 89.4% | 84.9% |
| Usual days from issue to final | 126 | 179 | 41 |
| Busiest month | May | October | July |
Additions here usually reach final in 179 days and 89.4% do; in a district, the COA time comes before the building permit is even issued. Deck filing peaks in July, so a staff-level deck COA filed in spring keeps the job in season. Prices by firm: Greensboro remodel cost, addition cost and deck cost; counts by year: Greensboro permit statistics.
Compare Greensboro addition contractors →
Related
The building permit itself: Greensboro remodel permit; older records on a house: Greensboro building permit search; prices: Greensboro home improvement costs. Compare firms: remodelers, deck builders.
What this does not tell you
Our Greensboro permits do not flag district properties and do not include COAs, which the City lists separately. The City's pages give no COA fee or processing time; ask the Historic District Program. Filed values are the applicant's estimate.
How we know this
The districts, the COA requirement and the staff/Commission split are from the City of Greensboro's Historic District Program page; the deadline, denial standard and posting rule from the City's "Steps for Obtaining a COA" page (25 September 2025); hearing rules and agenda items from the Commission's 28 January 2026 meeting notice; all read 23 October 2026. Permit counts are City of Greensboro building permits on homes by type, October 2023 to September 2026; final share uses permits a year or more old.
Numbers come from City of Greensboro building and trade permits, data through October 18, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- What are the historic districts in Greensboro?
The City's local historic districts are College Hill, Dunleath and Fisher Park. The City's property lookup and interactive map show whether an address is inside one.
- Do I need a Certificate of Appropriateness in Greensboro?
Yes, for exterior work in a local historic district. The City says a COA 'must be obtained before beginning work to the exterior of buildings or property'. Staff can confirm whether a specific project needs one: 336-373-2144 or HDProgram@greensboro-nc.gov.
- Can Greensboro staff approve a COA without a hearing?
For minor work, yes. City staff can usually approve exterior repairs, landscaping, fences and backyard decks that meet the Historic District Standards. New construction, additions and major alterations go to the Historic Preservation Commission.
- How far ahead do I apply for a Greensboro Historic Preservation Commission hearing?
Applications are due three weeks before the scheduled meeting. The Commission meets monthly; in 2026 meetings were held on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in the Melvin Municipal Office Building.
- Can neighbors object to my COA in Greensboro?
In person only. The Commission is quasi-judicial, holds evidentiary hearings with sworn speakers, and its January 2026 notice says no written or emailed comments will be considered.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Home improvement costs in Greensboro, NC (2026): what 8 kinds of jobs were filed at
- Arlington, VA building permit search: Permit Arlington lookups and FOIA requests
- Home improvement costs in Arlington, VA (2026): what 9 kinds of jobs were filed at
- How to check a contractor's license in Virginia
- Do I need a remodel permit in Greensboro? Structural work always, and anything over $15,000
- Do I need a permit for a home addition in Honolulu? Plans, stamped drawings, the Table 18-A fee and other agency reviews
For one city
- Greensboro Historic District Program — City of Greensboro Planning (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Steps for Obtaining a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) — City of Greensboro (2025-09-25, accessed 2026-10-23)
- Historic Preservation Commission meeting notice, 28 January 2026 — City of Greensboro (accessed 2026-10-23)