A Wyncote mailing address is not proof you are in the overlay. Start with the Zoning Map linked from Building, Zoning & Codes, then ask Planning and Zoning whether your window, porch or roof job needs a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) (Building, Zoning & Codes). Our Montgomery County permit-office guide shows how to find the right township counter.
What “in kind” actually means
The 2017 zoning ordinance says a COA is not required for routine repair, maintenance or replacement in kind. “Replacement in kind” means equal construction characteristics: material, size, configuration, profile, appearance, texture, color and method of installation (Article XVIII ordinance PDF). Looking similar from the driveway is not enough.
To get that ruling, file a COA application with specs and detailed photos. The Director of Planning and Zoning decides whether the work is routine/in kind. If it is not, the application goes to the Board of Historical and Architectural Review (BHAR). Get that staff determination before you authorize demolition or order nonreturnable materials (COA application).
Windows: same opening ≠ free pass
Cheltenham’s general permit list exempts window replacements that do not enlarge the rough opening—but it expressly says historic-district properties still need additional permitting, review and inspection (Permits page). A salesperson’s “same-size windows don’t need permits” line does not settle a La Mott or Wyncote job.
Ask for separate repair and replacement quotes that name what stays, what comes out, and the proposed materials and profiles. Ask staff how frame, sash, divided-light pattern or exterior trim changes affect the in-kind call. Submit product sheets before you buy. Our repair-or-replace window guide covers the tradeoffs; Bristol Borough’s HARB exterior-repair guide is the nearby parallel process.
Porches: repair vs redesign
Split retaining and repairing existing porch features from changing columns, railings, steps, trim or the porch roof. Historic overlay rules sit on top of ordinary zoning and building-safety review—a COA is not a structural OK. Write a feature-by-feature scope instead of a one-line “rebuild porch” quote. If the porch looks unstable, keep people off it and get a qualified contractor or licensed structural engineer involved before anyone starts pulling pieces.
Roofs: square footage and material are separate questions
Roofing generally needs a building permit; repairs or replacement under 100 square feet are listed as exempt on the Permits page (Permits page). That building-permit threshold does not answer the historic-review question. Ask a roofer who knows your existing material whether damage is local or widespread, including flashing at edges and penetrations. Cheltenham’s exterior-maintenance guidance treats localized repair differently from substantial deterioration (Exterior maintenance guidelines). If you want a different roofing material, ask Planning and Zoning before ordering it. Nearby Abington’s roof/fence/deck permit list is a useful contrast for Montco towns without a historic overlay.
File historic review before you schedule the crew
Use the Township’s OpenGov portal from the Permits page—applications must be electronic. The COA checklist wants ownership docs, labeled photos and proposed-material info, plus drawings when they apply. Non-in-kind improvements list a $200 fee, and complete applications are due by noon on the first Friday of the month to make that month’s agenda (COA application).
You or a designated representative must attend the BHAR meeting; missing two sessions without staff approval can lead to denial. BHAR recommends; the Building and Zoning Committee of the Board of Commissioners acts on the COA, then you still pull any required building permits from Building and Codes. The ordinance gives the Township 120 calendar days to act once an application is deemed complete (extendable by agreement)—not a promised start date. A COA expires after 24 months unless authorized work has begun or an active building permit is on file.
Township pages and the COA form were checked November 5, 2026. Confirm current fees, the next meeting date and your parcel’s overlay status with Planning and Zoning before you lock a contractor schedule.