Landmark Property Requirements

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Minnesota State Statute, Chapter 471.193, authorizes cities to establish and carry out heritage preservation programs. Section 60.200.040C of the Unified Development Code (UDC) governs the Rochester program, including the designation & alteration of historic landmark properties & districts. The UDC went into effect on January 1, 2023 and replaced earlier versions in Chapters 4-7 and 19B of City Code.

Guidelines have been adopted to help property owners determine best practices and requirements for altering historic properties.

Certificate of Appropriateness

A certificate of appropriateness is required for some projects, when:

The proposed alteration requires building or demolition permits or
The proposed development requires a land use application, and
The proposed project will alter the appearance of the property when viewed from off site

Exceptions

Exceptions to this requirement are when:

Interior remodeling/alterations are done that do not impact the exterior appearance of the property.
Repainting, re-plastering or similar exterior refinishing of existing surfaces. This includes changes of color to the exterior. (Cover existing exterior surfaces with new material, such as siding over wood or stucco over brick is not exempt).
Routine repair or maintenance, such as caulking, replacement of fasteners and re-glazing windows.

Major Alterations

Minor Alterations

Interested in regulatory information? Visit the Heritage Preservation Commission page.