Application for certificates of approval; landmarks and historic districts.
Springfield, Ill., City Code § 101.20
in effect§ 101.20. - Application for certificates of approval; landmarks and historic districts.
(a) An application for a certificate of approval shall be filed with the secretary of the commission by the property owner. The commission may prescribe forms and require additional information needed to consider the application including plans, photographs, drawings, elevations, and specifications. Procedures and requirements established by this chapter and the commission shall be in addition to other requirements for a building permit, fence permit, demolition permit, or sign permit under the city code.
(b) A preliminary review of the application for the permits listed in 20(a) above, except for demolition permits, shall be made by a committee of commission members. The committee shall grant a certification of approval within 15 days if it finds that the proposed work is clearly appropriate and in accordance with the applicable criteria described in section 101.21 and the purposes of this chapter.
(c) For permits, except for demolition permits, if the committee does not find the proposed work to be appropriate, and for all demolition permits for landmarks, the secretary of the commission shall schedule the application for consideration of the commission at its next meeting. The applicant and all owners of property within the subject designation shall be given notice of the meeting, and may appear at the meeting, and shall be afforded an opportunity to explain their views regarding the application. The commission may accept comments from other interested persons. Should the commission fail to determine the appropriateness of the work proposed in the permit application, the permit will be considered approved.
(d) At that same meeting the commission shall review all applications for building permits, fence permits, wrecking permits or sign permits presented to it, and shall grant a certificate of approval for the permit(s) if it finds that the proposed work is appropriate and in accordance with the applicable criteria described in section 101.21 and the purposes of this chapter. If the commission does not find the proposed work to be appropriate and in accordance with the criteria described in section 101.21 and with the purposes of this chapter, it shall deny the application and provide to the applicant a written statement within 15 days indicating the reasons for the denial.
(e) Following a denial, the application shall not be resubmitted within the next 12 months except on the written request of an applicant indicating the incorporation of changes in plans and specifications as may have been recommended by the commission or indicating drastic change in the circumstances surrounding the original application.
(f) After the issuance of a certificate of approval, no substantial change may be made in the proposed work without resubmittal of an application.
(g) The secretary shall notify in writing the appropriate city office of each certificate of approval for a building permit, fence permit, wrecking permit or sign permit granted by the commission.
(h) In case a certificate of approval is denied for either a landmark or an improvement or an area within an historic district, the applicant, within 15 days following the issuance of notification of decision, may file an appeal of the commission's decision with the city clerk, who shall place the appeal in its agenda.
(i) The city council shall consider the appeal no later than the second regularly scheduled meeting after the appeal was filed. The city council may affirm, modify or reject the decision, after due consideration of the facts contained in the record submitted to the city council by the commission.
(j) If the council decides that a certificate of approval should be issued, the secretary shall notify the applicant and the appropriate city office, and then issue the certificate of approval within five working days. If the council concurs with the commission's decision not to issue a certificate of approval, the secretary shall notify the applicant and the appropriate city office within five working days.
(Ord. No. 262-07-16, § 1(Exh. A), 7-5-16)
Source: City of Springfield, Illinois, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/il/springfield/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIXGERE_CH101HISI_S101.20APCEAPLAHIDIFetched: 11/8/2026