What is a Certificate of Appropriateness?
It is the City’s approval that a design fits a local historic district. The City’s Hyde Park design guidelines say a property owner must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Architectural Review Commission before the building permit is issued. The commission is called the ARC.
The guidelines say the rule covers residential and commercial buildings. They also say any new construction in the Hyde Park Historic District requires the certificate. Our glossary defines a certificate of appropriateness in one plain line. Read more about the neighborhood on our Hyde Park page.
Does my lot fall inside the district?
Check the City’s map. Tampa has four local historic districts and 64 local historic landmarks, according to the City’s historic preservation page. A local historic district is an area where the City reviews changes to buildings.
The Hyde Park district grew in 2023. The City says it expanded to the north, effective January 5, 2023, to add 184 buildings. Older maps may not show the new boundary. Use the updated map on the City’s page, then confirm with staff.
You can reach the City’s Architectural Review and Historic Preservation staff at 813-274-3100, option 3.
What happens first?
You contact the ARC staff before you draw construction documents. The guidelines say the ordinance requires new construction applicants to contact the ARC for preliminary review before beginning construction documents. They also say to contact staff early in the planning process.
This order matters for cost and schedule. A design drawn without review can need changes later. Ask your builder to build the review into the plan from the first meeting.
What does the commission look at?
It looks at how the new home fits its block. The guidelines list criteria the ARC considers for new construction, both commercial and residential.
| Criterion | What it means in plain words |
|---|---|
| Scale | Height and width compared with nearby buildings |
| Massing and form | How the building shape relates to its neighbors |
| Setback | Keeping the regular front setback on the street |
| Orientation and site coverage | Where the front faces, and how much of the lot the building covers |
| Alignment, rhythm and spacing | The pattern of buildings along the block |
| Materials | Materials common to the district |
| Trim and detail | A link between old and new without copying |
| Facade and windows | Proportions and window patterns |
| Entrances and porches | Size, shape and proportion |
| Roof forms | Shapes and materials |
| Quality | The level of design and execution seen in early buildings |
The City adds a twelfth item, paint and stain colors. The ARC offers suggestions on color when it reviews plans.
The setback is the required distance between the building and the lot line. In Hyde Park the guidelines ask you to keep the regular setback of the block. Zoning rules also set minimums, so a design must meet both.
Does it force a historic style?
No. The guidelines say they do not dictate style. They focus on whether new construction is compatible with the neighborhood. They encourage new buildings to be unique in design while reflecting the basic scale, materials and quality of the early buildings.
The guidelines also say replicating past styles does not allow creativity and integrity of expression of the present. So the review is not a copy-the-past test. It is a fit-the-context test. The commission reviews each project on its own terms. It does not work from a style list.
Who approves the application?
Staff can approve minor work. Larger work goes to a public hearing. The guidelines say the ARC Administrator may issue the certificate for minor modifications. If the application includes more than minor work, the ARC reviews it at its regular public hearing.
The City says applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness for new construction, additions and exterior repairs can be submitted online.
What else does the commission use besides the guidelines?
It uses a national standard too. The guidelines say the ARC uses them along with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation when it reviews work in the Hyde Park district. The guidelines also say granting a certificate does not mean a project qualifies for the federal tax incentive program. That program has its own review.
How old are the guidelines I am reading?
They are older than the district expansion. The Hyde Park design guidelines file is hosted on the City site and has no date I could find. It gives an old phone number and web address. Treat it as the City’s published criteria and confirm the current process with staff.
How does this fit with flood and permit rules?
It sits on top of them. The certificate comes before the building permit. Flood rules still apply to your lot. Read our guide to building in the Hyde Park historic district for the full picture. For a rebuild of an older house, see our guide to teardown and rebuild in South Tampa.
What is the next step?
Confirm whether your lot is in the district, then call City staff before you design. Halo Homes offers custom home construction in Tampa Bay and the surrounding regions. Call (813) 956-1972 or send a note through the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Certificate of Appropriateness to build in Hyde Park?
Yes, inside the Hyde Park Historic District. The City's design guidelines say any new construction there requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Architectural Review Commission, and an owner must have it before the building permit is issued.
Has the Hyde Park historic district changed?
Yes. The City says the district expanded to the north, effective January 5, 2023, adding 184 buildings. Check the City's updated district map for your address before you assume your lot is in or out.
Does the review require a historic style?
No. The City's guidelines say they do not dictate style. They focus on whether new construction is compatible with the neighborhood. They also say replicating styles from the past should not be confused with compatible design.
Terms on this page
Sources
- City of Tampa: Hyde Park Design Guidelines, when approval is needed
- City of Tampa: Hyde Park Design Guidelines, early contact
- City of Tampa: Hyde Park Design Guidelines, style
- City of Tampa: Hyde Park Historic District Expansion
- City of Tampa: Historic Preservation
Written for Halo Homes and checked against the sources above on October 29, 2026. City, county and code rules change, so check the linked page before you act.
