Living in Mitchelltown
Overview
Thank you for helping preserve and support Kinston’s local historic district.
Property owners in these districts are required to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) before making exterior changes visible from a public street. The COA, issued by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), ensures that proposed work complies with the City’s adopted Historic District Design Guidelines and helps protect the architectural and cultural character of the community.
Certificates of Appropriateness
When is a COA Required?
- New construction, additions, or demolitions
- Exterior alterations such as changes to windows, doors, siding, roofing, or porches
- Installation of fences, walls, driveways, or other site features
- Exterior paint color changes (if specified in the City’s guidelines)
- Signage or other exterior fixtures visible from the public right-of-way
When is a COA Not Required?
- Interior changes (not visible from the outside)
- Routine maintenance, such as repainting in the same color, repairing with the same materials, or replacing broken glass. More information regarding maintenance and repair can be found in Kinston's UDO under Section 18.3.
Applying for a COA
- Contact the Planning Department - Staff can confirm if your work requires a COA.
- Submit an Application - Complete a COA application and submit supporting materials (such as drawings, photos, or product details).
- Participate in Review - Your application will be reviewed either by staff (for minor work) or by the HPC at a public meeting (for major work).
- Proceed with Work - Once approved, you may proceed with the work as outlined in the COA.
Local Historic District Boundaries
Minor Work vs. Major Work
When applying for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA), proposed changes fall into one of two categories: Minor Work or Major Work.
- Minor Work – Routine or small-scale changes that can be reviewed and approved by staff without going to the Historic Preservation Commission.
- Major Work – Significant changes that must be reviewed at a public meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and approved by the Commission before work can begin.
The criteria for determining whether a project is classified as minor or major are outlined in the City’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Section 18.8.
COA Schedule
The Historic Preservation Commission meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. No meetings are held in July or December.
COA applications are due 20 business days prior to the scheduled meeting. A full list of the 2026 meeting dates and corresponding submission deadlines is provided in the table below.
| Meeting Date | COA Submission Deadline |
| January 20st | December 23rd |
| February 17th | January 20th |
| March 17th | February 17th |
| April 21st | March 24th |
| May 19th | April 21st |
| June 16th | May 19th |
| August 18th | July 21st |
| September 15th | August 18th |
| October 20th | September 22nd |
| November 1yth | October 20th |