Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB).

  • The ADRB Policies and Guidelines provide guidance on a wide variety of common projects from routine building maintenance and repairs to demolitions, replacing historic windows, adding vinyl siding, and removing box gutters. Please review the Policies and Guidelines before starting any project on a building in a historic district or designated historic property.

    [ADRB Policies & Guidelines]

  • The Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB) meets the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 4:00 pm in City Council Chambers (345 High Street, Hamilton, OH 45011).

    [ADRB Meetings & Deadlines Calendar]

  • It is the responsibility of the ADRB to review the plans, monitor the work, and administer the Architectural Conservation/Historic District section (Section 2600 of the Hamilton City Zoning Ordinance).

Certificate of Appropriateness.

Any exterior work to any structures located within one of the City of Hamilton's Historic Areas or properties individually listed by Ordinance requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB).

Like-for-like work (such as painting a house the same color it currently is) and many minor changes (such as replacing a roof with a similar roof color) is an administrative COA that is no cost and can usually be completed within two business days. More substantial exterior work requires a hearing before the Architectural Design Review Board. Applications and plans are submitted to the Planning Department.

Review the application deadlines calendar here.

Upcoming ADRB Meeting

Agenda & Minutes

Previous Agendas are located on the Agenda & Minutes page.

The ADRB Policies and Guidelines provide guidance on a wide variety of common projects and discourage certain types of exterior alterations. Applications for projects such as demolition, replacing historic windows, adding vinyl siding, and removing box gutters are considered projects that could detract from the historic and/or architectural character of a building and will require documented evidence and reasoning for the proposal. Please review the Policies and Guidelines before starting any project on a building in a historic district or designated historic property.

The Planning Department is available and happy to answer any questions you have about applying for a COA and can be reached at 513-785-7350 or hamiltonhistoric@hamilton-oh.gov.

Quick Links

Properties that Require ADRB Approval

  • Hamilton has three nationally registered Historic Districts. If your property is located within one of Hamilton’s Historic Districts, any exterior work performed on the structure must be approved by the ADRB and requires a Certificate of Appropriateness.

    [Dayton-Campbell Historic District (PDF)]

    [German Village Historic District (PDF)]

    [Rossville-Main Street Historic District (PDF)]

  • The identification and evaluation of an area’s archaeological, architectural and historical resources are basic to the preservation of its cultural heritage. In Ohio, the survey program has been underway since the creation of the Ohio Historic Inventory in 1973. Since that time, more than 100,000 architectural properties have been documented and added to the state inventory, most often through the completion of history/architecture surveys.

    Any exterior work performed on structures listed on the Ohio Historical Inventory require ADRB approval, and require a Certificate of Appropriateness.

    [Ohio Historical Inventory]

  • Hamilton’s Central Business District contains buildings with distinctive architectural and historical significance. Due to the unique characteristics and sensitive nature of the buildings in this area, the City established a Central Area Building Inventory for preservation of the structures along the High Street Corridor and within the Downtown Area.

    [Central Area Building Inventory]