Zoning Review is required for any project that includes exterior alteration or conversions to habitable space. A Building Permit is required for all additions or conversion to habitable space. For projects involving less than three units, separate Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) applications are not required, but a full description of any MEP work to be performed must be included in the same application.
EXEMPTIONS FROM DESIGN REVIEW
Additions to existing structures or conversion of non-habitable space to habitable space within residential buildings, commercial, institutional or industrial structures that meet the following criteria are exempt from Design Review:
Alterations:
- Minor repairs or replacing pars of a building so they look the same as they did before. Examples include replacing windows and exterior doors as long as the replacements look the same as the old ones and no changes are made to the original window or door frame openings.
- Exterior changes that visually match the existing or historic design: Any new work on the outside of the building matches how the building already looks, or how it looked in the past.
- The project does not impact character-defining elements of the structure. The project won't change the important features that make the building special or historic.
Small Additions:
- Except in zones listed below*, additions that visually match existing design, do not create new housing units, and equal 10% or less of the total floor area or footprint on site (Additions of up to 250 sq. ft. may qualify as DRX if the existing floor area or building footprint is less than 2,500 sq. ft.)
* In the D-DT-JLI, D-CO-5, D-CO-6, CIX-1A, CIX-1B, CIX-1C and CIX-1D Zones, additions to Non-Residential buildings can equal up to 50% of the total floor area or footprint on site or 5,000 sq. ft., whichever is less