Borough or Township first
Bristol Borough and Bristol Township are separate municipalities with separate offices, and HARB review applies only to the Borough's historic districts. If you aren't sure which one you're in, start with our guide to finding the right Bristol permit office. The Borough's design guidelines include a historic districts map and describe the districts as an overlay on top of regular zoning, but the map is a first check, not a ruling. Ask the Borough office to confirm your parcel before you plan around it.
What the guidelines say about common repairs
Calling a job a repair doesn't exempt it. The guidelines' preservation rules cover major maintenance, repairs and restoration, and they favor repairing original features over replacing them. A few specifics are worth knowing before you call:
- Repainting existing wood or metal, with no other changes: HARB does not review the color.
- Painting brick or stone that's never been painted: generally discouraged, and already-painted masonry should generally stay painted.
- New roofing shingles, metal gutters, prefinished metal or brick: HARB reviews the color as part of the application, because the finish comes from the factory.
- Sloped roof replacement: HARB weighs how visible the roof is from the street. A flat roof replacement doesn't need a Certificate of Appropriateness to get a building permit.
- Front versus rear: HARB treats the front and highly visible sides as primary facades and the rear and barely visible sides as secondary. Rear work is reviewed differently, not skipped, so ask about it.
If your exact job isn't clearly covered, put it in writing: "Does this scope need a Certificate of Appropriateness, and if not, which rule exempts it?" Keep the answer with your contractor's contract.
What to submit
The current HARB application, revised February 22, 2024, asks for one complete application plus nine copies of the attachments. The checklist covers plot plans, elevation drawings, photographs, brochures, material samples and color samples, whichever apply, and the form says an application missing needed attachments won't be accepted. The guidelines add photos of the whole facade and the neighboring buildings, and the manufacturer's literature for any product you're installing.
Describe the work the way the form's own examples do ("replace existing front door with wood four-panel door"), not with a brand name. Split repair from replacement: repairing trim is a different request than replacing it with a new profile or material.
Deadlines and the meeting
The application form says to file at least 10 business days before the monthly meeting, which is held the last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 250 Pond Street, when there are agenda items and it isn't a holiday. The design guidelines give a shorter 7-day lead time, so go by the form and confirm the actual date with the office.
You or your representative must attend. The form says a no-show postpones the application to the next regular meeting, and it strongly suggests the homeowner come. HARB can recommend approval, approve with conditions, deny, or continue an incomplete application. After Council votes, the Zoning Officer mails you the decision. If HARB denies the application or attaches conditions, you can appeal to Council.
Building permits are a separate step
A Certificate of Appropriateness isn't a building permit. Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits are picked up on the second floor of the Borough office, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The forms on the website are reference copies only; the Borough accepts only the originals. It says permits are usually issued in two to three business days, depending on scope, unless zoning or code issues come up, and that having your contractor registered avoids delays. Once issued, the green permit card goes in a street-facing window, and every permitted job needs inspections so the permit can be closed. For how other Bucks towns compare, see why permit rules differ from one Bucks County township to the next.
Who to bring in
For window, porch, roof or trim work on an older house, a contractor who has worked in historic districts can say what's repairable and prepare the drawings and samples HARB expects. If a porch or wall seems to be moving, have a structural engineer look before anything is torn out. If peeling trim is the reason for the project, our guide on why exterior trim paint blisters can help you sort out the cause first.