Most of Seton Hill has been a locally designated historic district since 1968, and on the National Register since 1975. That protection is why the block still looks like this, and it comes with one real obligation: exterior work needs a review before it starts.
What needs review
Any exterior work or new construction requires CHAP review and a permit from the Department of Housing and Community Development before work begins, not after. “Exterior” covers more than most people expect: windows, doors, lighting, paint colors, additions, fences, hardscaping, and major landscaping all count.
The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) is a group of volunteer neighbors who walk residents through the CHAP process. Email architecture@setonhill.org before you hire a contractor or architect, not after, so any issue with the plan gets caught while it’s still just a plan.
The approval process
- Download the Authorization to Proceed application from the CHAP website (Applications → Authorization to Proceed Application).
- Fill it out completely, with clear photos of the current condition. The better the photos, the faster the review.
- Email the completed application to the ARC at architecture@setonhill.org.
- Once approved, CHAP issues an Authorization to Proceed certificate. Take that to the city and get a building permit before starting work.
- Post both the certificate and the building permit somewhere visible on the front of the building for the entire project.
Interior-only changes
Major work that’s entirely inside the house doesn’t go through CHAP or the ARC at all, it just needs a standard city building permit, the same as anywhere else in Baltimore. That permit still has to be posted visibly on the front of the building, and the city will inspect the finished work.
Tax credits and financial help
Two different tax credits apply to work here, and they’re not the same program:
- Baltimore City Historic Tax Credit. A 10-year credit on the increase in your property’s assessed value that comes from the rehab work, calculated once and applied for the full 10 years. It covers both owner-occupied and rental or commercial properties. The city has put more than $1.3 billion into this program since 1997 across 4,300-plus projects. See the program details.
- Maryland Historic Trust credit. A 20% state income tax credit on eligible rehab expenses, capped at $50,000 in any 24-month period. This one is limited to owner-occupied, single-family certified historic homes, so it won’t apply to a rental. See the program details.
Beyond tax credits, Healthy Neighborhoods offers Home Improvement and Refinance & Rehab loans at about 1% below market rate, and Jubilee Baltimore can help you navigate whichever of these programs actually fits your project.
While the work is happening
Let your immediate neighbors know before anything disruptive starts. A few rules apply regardless:
- Noise. Baltimore City’s ordinance allows construction noise 7am to 9pm on weekdays, and 10am to 10pm on weekends and holidays. Staying well inside that window, rather than right up against it, goes a long way with neighbors.
- Vehicles. Contractor vehicles can’t be parked in alleys or block traffic. Brief double-parking to load or unload is fine; leaving a vehicle there all day isn’t.
- Debris. Use heavy-duty contractor bags or a dumpster chute, never toss debris from a window or roof, and don’t let it pile up in the yard. Clear the front and rear of the property promptly, not at the end of the project.