SALT LAKE CITY HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION

The Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) reviews all applications for landmark sites, demolition and new construction within locally-designated historic districts. They do not review interior work or exterior paint color, only exterior alterations. The majority of the projects presented to the HLC are either approved as submitted or with modifications.

Roofs

Download design standards for roofs (as Adobe Acrobat PDF file).

Policy: The character of a historical roof should be preserved, including its form and materials whenever feasible. A variety of roof forms were used historically on buildings in Salt Lake City, depending on the architectural style of the building. The historic roof form should be preserved as part of any project. Alterations to the roof orientation, pitch, and eave depth should be minimized, especially as seen from the street.

Appropriate materials for most buildings in the Salt Lake City districts include sawn wood shingles and asphalt shingles. Slate, terra cotta, concrete tiles and metal were not often used historically for roofing on buildings in the city, but the city encourages these materials on specific buildings where their use can be verified by existing material or photo documentation. When selecting an asphalt replacement shingle, avoid architectural grade shingles with heavy shadow lines and wide color variation. Use neutral and earth tone colors. Preserve any existing historic architectural details such as metal ridge cresting or decorative finials and incorporate them into a replacement roof. Use gutters and drain spouts to protect the building from water damage, but install them so that they do not obscure important architectural details. Most roofing projects are approved through administrative review. Consult the Design Guidelines and Section 21A.34.020.G of the Salt Lake City Zoning Ordinance for the standards the Historic Landmark Commission uses in evaluating roof projects, or contact the Planning staff for further information.