Gainesville, GA · Hall County
Certificate of Appropriateness Application
This application requests historic preservation review for proposed work on a locally designated historic property or property in a local historic district, and is filed with Gainesville’s Community Development Department.
- licensed online notary
- ~15 min average
- Notarized PDF emailed
What you’ll need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Webcam-enabled device (laptop or phone)
- This form, ready to upload as a PDF
What this form is
Use this application to request a Certificate of Appropriateness before obtaining a building permit for exterior changes to a structure in a local historic district or on a locally designated historic site. The packet asks for project details, property information, supporting plans and materials, and owner authorization. The property owner’s authorization includes a sworn statement and notary certification; each property owner must complete a separate authorization page.
Who needs it
Property owners or applicants proposing exterior changes to a locally designated historic property or a property in a local historic district need to submit this application.
Why it needs a notary
The Property Owner Authorization carries a Notary Public Certification for the owner’s sworn signature; the property owner personally appears and signs before the notary.
How to get this notarized
- 1
Download The Application
Get the Certificate of Appropriateness application packet and review its checklist and owner authorization page.
- 2
Complete The Form
Fill in the project and property details, gather required supporting materials, and complete the owner authorization.
- 3
Book An Online Notary
Arrange an online notarization for the property owner’s sworn signature on the authorization page.
- 4
Sign On Video
Appear before the commissioned online notary and sign the owner authorization as directed.
- 5
Submit To The City
Submit the completed application and required supporting documents to Gainesville’s Community Development Department.
Preview the form
The blank PDF straight from Gainesville. Look it over, then upload your filled copy to start the notary session.
You’ll need ID and a webcam.
A licensed online notary will join you on video, verify your government-issued ID, witness your signature, and apply their seal. You’ll receive the notarized PDF by email when the session ends.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I complete the notarized owner authorization?
- Complete the property and applicant details, then sign the owner authorization in front of a commissioned online notary. Each property owner must complete a separate authorization page.
- Do I need to notarize the entire application?
- The form’s Notary Public Certification appears on the Property Owner Authorization page for the property owner’s sworn signature. The form does not identify other sections as requiring notarization.
- Can I use a commissioned online notary for this form?
- Georgia has no remote online notarization statute of its own, and Georgia law recognizes acknowledgments taken by notaries of other states. Because this form requires a sworn owner statement, confirm with the city if unsure whether it accepts remote notarization.
- What supporting materials may the application require?
- Depending on the proposed work, the checklist may require project descriptions, a survey, photographs, plans, materials information, or reports. Review the packet’s checklist for the documents that apply to your project.
Other forms in Gainesville
Homeowner Building (Owner-Builder) Affidavit
Gainesville
Power (Electrical Service Connection) Affidavit
Gainesville
Variance Application Property Owner Notary Certification
Gainesville
Change of Contractor Letter
Gainesville
Individual Landmark Designation Application
Gainesville
Perpetual Easement for Private Water Service Line
Gainesville
Certificate of Appropriateness Application in other Georgia cities
Each city publishes its own version of this form. Pick the city where you’re filing.