Section 925IAC2-4-1. Certificate of appropriateness required; exceptions

   A certificate of appropriateness from the commission is required prior to the construction, reconstruction, alteration, or demolition of any structure or feature on any Meridian Street property, except that no certificate shall be required for the following:

(1) Normal repair and maintenance work consonant with proper upkeep of the property and which does not alter original materials, patterns, dimensions, location, style, size, and type.

(2) Interior decoration, interior remodeling, and interior renovation not involving a change in the use of the property.

(3) Removal of chain-link fences.

(4) Installation or removal (except for healthy trees) of plant materials, provided they were not required in a previously issued certificate of appropriateness.

(5) Installation of low borders on planting beds.

(6) Installation of ground lighting in back yards.

(7) Facade illumination that illuminates only the subject property.

(8) Security lights mounted on buildings or installed by Indianapolis Power and Light on existing utility poles at the rear of properties that are deflected light sources and not visible from the street.

(9) Incandescent wall or ceiling mounted light fixtures at the rear entrances of a building.

(10) Fixtures in the public right-of-way placed there by governmental agencies, such as mail collection boxes and traffic regulation devices.

(11) Temporary accessory items in rear yards, including garden furniture, children's play equipment, and small doghouses.

(12) Reroofing of any roof surface, provided that any new materials match those of the previous in composition, size, shape, color, and texture.

(13) Alteration of any flat roof when no change is visible from the ground.

(14) Repointing of mortar joints with mortar matching in composition, color, and texture to the original.

(15) Replacement of deteriorated wood siding or trim if less than five percent (5%) of any facade and if replacement wood matches the original exactly.

(16) Removal of siding made of aluminum, vinyl, particle board, asphalt, asbestos, plywood, hardboard, or synthetic masonry.

(17) Installation of interior storm windows and interior stained glass.

(18) Replacement of missing or broken glass with new glass to match the previous.

(19) Installation of visually unobtrusive exterior storm windows and doors provided no alterations are made to the opening and they are not attached to, or cover, any exterior trim.

(20) Repainting with appropriate colors for the historic architectural styles represented in the area.

(21) Window air conditioning units requiring no alteration to the window or opening and on a nonprimary facade.

(22) Air conditioning equipment and meter boxes on the rear of a house and not visible from the street.

(23) HVAC and utility equipment on roofs if not visible from the front of the property at street level.

(24) Burial of electric, telephone, and television cable requiring no new utility poles.

(25) Aboveground installation of utility cables at the rear of the structure when underground service is not available.

(26) Exterior surface-mounted vents, such as those for dryers, heaters, bathrooms, and kitchens, if no larger than one (1) square foot and not visible from the street.

(27) Replacement of any utility pole with one (1) of matching materials and of equal or lesser height and for the same use.

(Meridian Street Preservation Commission; 925 IAC 2-4-1; filed Mar 4, 2002, 3:00 p.m.: 25 IR 2250; readopted filed Jun 17, 2008, 9:31 a.m.: 20080625-IR-925080296RFA; readopted filed Oct 3, 2014, 3:26 p.m.: 20141029-IR-925140250RFA)