Ordinary Maintenance Exemption

Appendix G §6: nothing in the preservation ordinance prevents ordinary maintenance or repair of exterior features.

The definition (all elements required)#

Work that does not change:

• design
• material
• color
• outward appearance

…including in-kind replacement or repair. Same profile wood siding replacing rotten boards, same-color repaint, patching the existing roof with matching shingles, re-glazing a window sash — exempt.

Who decides#

The Director of Community Development is the designated referee of what counts as "ordinary maintenance." Get ambiguous calls in writing (an email reply is fine) before starting — enforcement is complaint-driven and a neighbor's report becomes your problem if nothing is documented (Penalties and Enforcement).

The trap#

"While we're at it" scope creep: in-kind repair that becomes upgrade (new material, new profile, new color) silently crosses into CA territory mid-project. If any element changes, stop and check Minor Exterior Alterations (Staff-Level) → Certificate of Appropriateness Process.

Sources: Source Index §Municode App-G §6.