Painting a house in the Old King's Highway Historic District

Which towns and which side of town?

• Member towns: Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster and Orleans. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 4, 7
• The district runs from the Cape Cod Bay shore to the center line of Route 6, from the Bourne and Sandwich line to the Eastham rotary: the bay side of each town only. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 5-6

What needs approval?

• Only exterior features are reviewed: the Act covers portions of the exterior “subject to view from a way or public place,” and the committee “shall not consider detailed designs, interior arrangement, and other building features not subject to public view.” Interior painting needs no approval. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 6, 12
• Any building may be painted white without committee approval. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 24
• Ordinary maintenance includes replacing shingles and clapboards with the same material, but not changes from wood to vinyl, aluminum or fiber, nor painting that changes the color. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 24
• There are no pre-approved colors other than white; submit color chips. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 30
• Vinyl and synthetic siding are not recommended; if allowed, rotted clapboards are removed first and original wood trim is preserved. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 31
• A roof exemption is possible for architectural asphalt in black, gray or weatherwood, or natural cedar, with a maximum 5 inch exposure. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 25

How long does it take, and what if you skip it?

• The committee has 45 days; with no decision, the application is deemed approved. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 11
• Certificates expire after one year, or with the building permit, whichever is later. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 9
• Fines run from $100 to $500, and each day is a separate violation. Source: OKH Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (2022-03-01): Act ch.470/1973, 972 CMR, Guidelines, p. 28

Town by town: where to file

• Yarmouth: repainting the same color, painting white or changing a color to white needs no approval; other colors on siding, trim, shutters or doors need a Certificate of Appropriateness at a hearing, with a $25 fee. Source: Yarmouth, OKH Historic District PAINTING Criteria
• Orleans posts the Certificate of Appropriateness, the Certificate of Exemption and a checklist on its Old King's Highway page. Source: Orleans, Old King's Highway Regional Historic District Committee
• Sandwich: the committee reviews all exterior changes; forms and a fee schedule are on the town site, Planning and Development (508) 833-8001. Source: Sandwich, Historic District Committee
• Dennis: the town posts the Old King's Highway practice, procedure and resources document. Source: Dennis, OKH Practice, Procedure & Resources (PDF)

Town by town

Questions homeowners ask