Is the house in a district?
Raleigh has two overlay types, General (HOD-G) and Streetside (HOD-S), plus individually designated Raleigh Historic Landmarks. Look the address up in iMAPS. In HOD-G every exterior change is reviewed; in HOD-S only the regulated zones are; on a landmark, the property as designated. Districts named in the City's COA case lists include Oakwood, Boylan Heights, Prince Hall, Moore Square and Glenwood-Brooklyn. Interior work needs no COA, except designated interior features of a landmark.
Minor work or major work
| Work (UDO Sec. 10.2.15 list) | Minor work if… | Otherwise |
|---|---|---|
| Deck | It aligns with the main floor | Major work |
| Fence or wall | 6 feet tall or less | Major work |
| Windows, sash, trim | Not character-defining | Major work |
| Roof covering | Alteration of the covering | — |
| Solar panels | Not on a front-facing slope and not over historic roofing | Major work |
| Addition | Rear only, 50 sq ft or less | Major work (most additions) |
| Exterior surfaces | Not character-defining | Major work |
| New house, large addition, demolition | — | COA Committee hearing |
Signs, skylights, awnings and swimming pools are also on the minor work list. Staff can turn any minor work application into major work if it is substantial, not clearly in keeping with the Design Guidelines, or "potentially precedent-setting".
Timing, and what it means for your contractor
| Step | Timing (City of Raleigh) |
|---|---|
| Minor work, staff review | "generally take 10 business days", once the fee is paid |
| Major work, COA Committee | Monthly hearing, usually the fourth Thursday at 5 p.m.; November and December combined in early December |
| Decision deadline | Within 180 days of filing, unless both sides agree to extend |
| COA expires | 12 months after the decision unless work has substantially started |
| Demolition | Effective date may be delayed up to 365 days from approval |
The minor work page lists what to send: scaled site drawings for decks, porches, fences, walls or landscape work; a paint schedule when exterior paint is changing colour; and manufacturer specifications for new doors, windows and railings. After approval you get a placard that "must be submitted with your materials to obtain any other required permits" and must be posted on site in public view while the work goes on.
For hiring, that means three things. Put the COA in the contract as the owner's or the contractor's job, by name. Do not let a crew start on the exterior before the placard is posted. And for major work, plan around the hearing calendar: a deck that misses a filing deadline waits a month for the next meeting. The fee is in the City's Development Fee Guide and is due at submittal.
What Raleigh permits show
Our Raleigh file does not flag which permits are in historic overlays, so these are citywide numbers for the work most often reviewed.
| Measure | Decks | ADUs | New homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 1,101 | 139 | 1,703 |
| Firms | 459 | 102 | 206 |
| Usual filed value | $29,000 | $112,256 | $456,960 |
| Busiest month | August | April | May |
Deck permits peak in August. In a historic district, filing the COA in late winter puts the decision ahead of the builders' busiest months. The middle half of deck builders with three or more permits usually filed between $24,000 and $53,481 (71 firms); compare them on Raleigh deck cost. ADU rules, including the overlay requirement, are in Raleigh ADU rules.
Compare Raleigh deck builders by permits →
Check it in five minutes
- Enter the address in iMAPS and turn on the historic overlay layer.
- Find your job on the UDO Sec. 10.2.15 list of work.
- Look up past COA decisions on your street in the City's COA case lists to see what was approved.
- Ask questions at historicpreservation@raleighnc.gov or 919-996-4478.
What this does not tell you
We cannot tell which permits in our file needed a COA, or how long COA review added. The UDO section we read does not set penalties for work without a COA; enforcement is in UDO Article 10.4. Fees change each fiscal year, so check the Development Fee Guide rather than any figure quoted by a contractor.
How we know this
Rules and timings are quoted from the City of Raleigh's COA page, Minor Work COA page and COA case lists, and UDO Sec. 10.2.15, read 23 October 2026. Permit counts are City of Raleigh permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026, citywide; our file does not mark historic overlays.
Numbers come from City of Raleigh building permits, data through October 12, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a COA to replace windows in a Raleigh historic district?
Yes, for any exterior change in a General Historic Overlay District (HOD-G). UDO Sec. 10.2.15 lists alteration or removal of windows, sash and trim as minor work only when they are not character-defining; replacing character-defining windows goes to the COA Committee as major work.
- How long does a Raleigh minor work COA take?
The City says minor work applications 'generally take 10 business days to process', longer if the application is incomplete. Review does not start until the fee is paid, and incomplete applications are voided after six months.
- When does the Raleigh COA Committee meet?
The City says the Commission typically meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. at 222 West Hargett Street, Council Chamber (Room 201), with November and December combined into one early-December meeting. Filing deadlines are on the City's meeting schedule PDF.
- Can I tear down a house in a Raleigh historic district?
Only with a COA from the COA Committee, which may delay the effective date of a demolition for up to 365 days from approval (UDO Sec. 10.2.15). The delay can be shortened for extreme hardship or waived if the building has no special significance.
- Does a COA replace the building permit in Raleigh?
No. The UDO says a certificate does not relieve the applicant of other required permits, and the City says the COA placard must be submitted with your materials to obtain them. Your contractor still pulls the building or trade permit.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Do I need a deck permit in Raleigh? New decks, board-only replacements, the $40,000 line and what to submit
- Do I need a permit to build a deck? The rule in 14 cities, and how many get filed
- What can a homeowner do without a permit? Exempt work in 7 cities, and when you can pull your own
- Deck construction cost in 2026: what deck permits were filed at in 21 cities
For one city
- Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) — City of Raleigh (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Minor Work Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) — City of Raleigh (updated 2026-02-27, accessed 2026-10-23)
- UDO Sec. 10.2.15 Certificate of Appropriateness — City of Raleigh (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Cases — City of Raleigh (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Design Guidelines for Raleigh Historic Districts and Landmarks — RHDC (accessed 2026-10-23)