How to Apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness

Applications and Checklists

Within Local Historic Districts and Conservation Districts, a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is required for a variety of exterior changes to both contributing and non-contributing buildings when visible from the public right-of-way. Each district has unique regulations and requirements as well as its own COA application and checklists.

Apply for a COA using the application for your local historic district. See Local Historic Districts, Conservation Districts, and Historic Properties to determine in which district you are located.

The applications and checklists can be downloaded from the Applications, Instructions, and Forms section of our website, or hard copies can be obtained in the lobby of the MPC office at 110 East State Street. Submit your completed application, required supplemental information, and filing fee check (when required) to the MPC Office.

NOTICE: Per OCGA §8-2-26, detailed checklists of items are required to be submitted with each Development Application. Additionally, there is an affidavit at the end of the application and each checklist that must be signed and submitted as part of the application process. The completion of this affidavit certifies that ALL required items, including payment have been provided to the MPC at the time of application.

ALL COMPLETED APPLICATIONS SHALL BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING CENTRALIZED EMAIL ADDRESS: Historic@thempc.org. Please do not send your applications directly to staff members or their email addresses as this may cause processing delays. It is permissible to provide a copy to staff concurrently with submission of the application to Historic@thempc.org.

This process was adopted to aid in the review process for all types of development reviews in the state - for both the applicant and the reviewing body.

The following videos provide detailed instructions on how to apply for both Staff level and Board level COAs. If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to staff at preservationquestions@thempc.org