Cape Cod historic districts outside the Old King's Highway
Outside the six Old King's Highway towns, paint color review depends on the town. Chatham, Falmouth and Harwich review color inside their local districts, Provincetown's bylaw excludes paint color, and Bourne, Truro and Wellfleet are not on the Cape Cod Commission list of local historic districts.
Sources: Chatham HBDC Design Guidelines and Procedures (approved 2015-10-07) · Falmouth Historic Districts Design Review Guidelines (amended May 2018)
If you are comparing house painters on Cape Cod, ask each one which historic commission covers your street; the answer changes by town.
Chatham
- The Historic Business District covers the GB-1, GB-2, GB-3, LB-1 and RB zones in effect on September 9, 1985. Source: Chatham HBDC Design Guidelines and Procedures (approved 2015-10-07), p. 23
- Paint color is an exterior feature; repainting the same color is exempt, but an application is still required. Source: Chatham HBDC Design Guidelines and Procedures (approved 2015-10-07), p. 2-3
Falmouth
- Seven local historic districts: Davisville, Falmouth Village, North Falmouth, Quissett, Waquoit, West Falmouth and Woods Hole. Source: Falmouth Historic Districts Design Review Guidelines (amended May 2018), p. 1
- The Historical Commission reviews painting of wooden features of historic and non-historic buildings inside the districts. Source: Falmouth Historic Districts Design Review Guidelines (amended May 2018), p. 26
Harwich
- Paint colors need a Certificate of Appropriateness in the historic district. Source: Harwich Historic District Commission Guidelines Notebook (eff. 2003-06-27), p. 3
- White, gray, charcoal gray, antique or barn red and forest or camp green get expedited review without a public hearing. Source: Harwich Historic District Commission Guidelines Notebook (eff. 2003-06-27), p. 23
Provincetown
- The bylaw lists the color of paint as a categorical exclusion; the commission reviews materials, windows, doors, roofs and demolition. Source: Provincetown General Bylaws ch.15 Local Historic District (amendments through 2009), p. 6, 8
Mashpee
- Mashpee has a local historic district with a Historic District Commission that issues Certificates of Appropriateness, Hardship and Non-Applicability. Source: Mashpee Historic District Commission
Bourne, Truro and Wellfleet
- None of the three is on the Cape Cod Commission list of local historic districts, and none is an Old King's Highway town. Source: Cape Cod Commission, Historic Preservation Tools
- Wellfleet has a National Register district; National Register status is primarily honorary and provides only limited protections. Source: Falmouth Historic Districts Design Review Guidelines (amended May 2018), p. 9-10
The National Seashore
- Parts of Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown are in the Seashore District; 36 CFR 27.3 covers use and setbacks, not color. Source: 36 CFR 27.3 Cape Cod National Seashore, Seashore District
Town by town
Towns served by Hyannis Painting.
Questions homeowners ask
Which Cape towns review paint color outside the Old King's Highway?
Chatham inside its Historic Business District, Falmouth inside its seven local districts and Harwich inside its historic district. Provincetown's bylaw excludes paint color.
Does the National Seashore control paint color?
No. The Seashore District rule, 36 CFR 27.3, covers use and setbacks, not color.
Source: 36 CFR 27.3 Cape Cod National Seashore, Seashore District
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