Welcome to Historic Seton Hill. Here is information if you are plan on exterior or major interior changes to your property.
Seton Hill is a historic neighborhood protected by Baltimore City’s Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP). To preserve the historic character and architectural details of the neighborhood the Seton Hill Historic District was established in 1968 and was recognized by the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Owners of historic homes in Seton Hill must abide by exterior preservation standards to maintain the character of the neighborhood. All exterior work or new construction in Seton Hill requires review and permits before commencing.
Seton Hill’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC) acts as the neighborhood advisory group in support of the City’s Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP). It is recommended that property owners contact the committee at architecture@setonhill.org early in the process to discuss planned scope of work before contractors or architects are hired.
All exterior work to any structure within the Seton Hill historic district–including changes to windows, doors, lighting, painting, additions, fencing, hardscaping, and major landscaping–is subject to review by the ARC and approval by CHAP.
With project approval, CHAP issues an Authorization to Proceed certificate, which must be obtained prior to receiving a building permit for exterior work. Subject to zoning code constraints, interior work related to demolition or alterations involving electrical, plumbing, or heating/cooling on any building in Baltimore City must have building permits, but interior work does not require CHAP approval.
Additional information about CHAP approval for exterior work is on the CHAP website, including Design Guidelines that must be followed. Since most of Seton Hill is an historic district, your renovation or rehabilitation project may qualify for tax credits through the Baltimore City’s Historic Tax Credit Program or the Maryland Historic Revitalization Tax Credit Program, which must be approved before any work on the house commences.
Planning an exterior project? Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do:
- Go to the CHAP website and download an Authorization to Proceed application. Click on “Applications” and then on “Authorization to Proceed Application”.
- Fill out the application completely. A fully completed application and good photos of current conditions make the application approval process easier and faster.
- Once your application is finished, email it to the ARC chairperson at architecture@setonhill.org.
- Provided that the ARC recommends–and CHAP affirms–approval, CHAP will issue an Authorization to Proceed certificate directly to the property owner, who may then obtain a City building permit and undertake the planned work.
- Post your Authorization to Proceed certificate and your City building permit in a prominent place on the front of the building for the entire duration of the construction work.
Permit Process for Interior Property Changes
A property owner in Baltimore City must obtain a building permit before undertaking any substantive interior or exterior changes to a property, which are also subject to City inspection after the work is complete. Permits ensure that work on buildings is performed according to code requirements and are safely habitable. Building permits must be posted to a visible place on the front of the building for the entire duration of the construction work.
Expectations of Contractors
Any homeowner knows that contractors are needed from time-to-time to repair a problem, upgrade home systems, or perform major remodeling work. BHCA recommends informing adjacent neighbors of any work expected to be noisy or to cause another inconvenience. In addition to obtaining building permits, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure a contractor abides by basic courtesies to other neighbors such as:
- Noisy work should be performed at reasonable hours of the day. Baltimore City laws says that contractors cannot start work until after 7 a.m., but no one wants to be awakened by hammering or a power saw at 7 a.m.! Be a good neighbor: tell your contractor to keep the noise to a minimum until later.
- Construction vehicles can’t be parked in alleys and block the movement of other vehicles. Double-parking on the street is acceptable while loading and unloading but should only take place for short durations of time.
- Debris must be removed safely with heavy-duty contractor trash bags or a chute to a dumpster; it should never be thrown from open windows or rooftops or thrown into a heap in the backyard.
- Do not leave construction debris in front or back of the property without removed it in a timely fashion.
Seton Hill Association
606 N. Paca St,
Baltimore, MD, 21201