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Do You Need Approval to Renovate a Home in Downtown Winter Garden’s Historic District? (2026)

Written by Jared Jones
Updated November 2026
Winter Garden & Horizon West Real Estate Hub
Brick clock tower pavilion with a Winter Garden sign beside downtown storefronts in Winter Garden, Florida
The Winter Garden clock tower pavilion and storefronts downtown. Exterior work on properties in the Historic Downtown District can require a Certificate of Approval.

Quick answer

Usually, yes. Under Ordinance 10-05, adopted January 11, 2010, exterior alterations, demolition and new construction in Winter Garden’s roughly 116-acre Historic Downtown District need a Certificate of Approval. Some routine repairs get staff approval, interior changes need no design approval, and demolitions go to the city’s review board.

116 acresHistoric Downtown District
270Residential and commercial properties
15 business daysStaff review of a complete application
60 daysBoard deadline to act
At a glance (as of November 2026)
Fact Figure
Rule Ordinance 10-05, adopted January 11, 2010 (City Code Chapter 98, Article VII)
Review board Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board, created in 2009
District size About 116 acres and 270 residential and commercial properties
Approval needed Certificate of Approval
Staff review Within 15 business days of a complete application
Board decision deadline 60 days after a complete application, unless both sides agree in writing to waive it
How long an approval lasts 1 year from the Board’s action, or the approved site plan time frame
Appeal of a Board decision To the City Commission, filed within 15 days
Interior changes No design approval; a regular permit if one is needed

Sources: City of Winter Garden Historic District page; Ordinance 10-05 (Code Sections 98-190, 98-193 and 98-194); Historic Downtown Overlay District Information Sheet, January 2010 (all checked Nov 12, 2026).

In this July 2, 2026 video, Jared tours Winter Garden from north to south. In the chapter on historic downtown and Plant Street, starting at 7:05, he describes century-old buildings mixed with newer shops, a weekend farmers market and far more nightlife than a decade ago. The video does not walk through the approval process, so this page explains it from the city’s ordinance.

What work needs a Certificate of Approval in downtown Winter Garden?

Most exterior work does. City code section 98-190 says that, unless the work is exempt, an alteration, demolition or new construction in the Historic Downtown District needs a Certificate of Approval first. The Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board, or staff acting for it, issues the certificate.

The district was set up by Ordinance 10-05, adopted January 11, 2010. The city says it covers about 116 acres and 270 residential and commercial properties in the historic downtown. The ordinance says new homes, and homes being renovated or expanded, must use a residential style compatible with the district. The adopted Design Standards and Guidelines Manual supplies the detailed criteria.

What can city staff approve without a board hearing?

Routine alterations that meet the design guidelines. Section 98-193 lets the city’s architectural staff issue a Certificate of Approval for items on the Board’s routine list. That list initially includes replacing a roof with the same material, size and color; windows and doors substantially similar in size and style to the originals; repairing wood siding to match; painting surfaces other than unpainted masonry in a period-appropriate color; fencing behind the street facade; mechanical equipment and gutters; exterior lighting without spotlights; and one accessory structure under 100 square feet in the rear yard.

Ordinary maintenance that exactly reproduces the existing design does not need Board review, and general or occasional maintenance does not need a certificate at all. The city’s 2010 information sheet adds that interior changes need no design approval, other than a regular building permit when one is required.

Do additions and demolitions in the historic district go to the board?

Additions are reviewed for consistency with the standards, and demolitions go to the Board. The 2010 information sheet says building additions are checked against the historic standards and guidelines. A residential request that meets the standards can move on to a building permit; one that does not can be revised or sent to the Board.

For demolition, Section 98-194 says no structure in the district may be demolished or removed, in whole or in part, until the Board approves a Certificate of Approval for demolition. The Board weighs criteria such as whether the building contributes to the district’s historic character, whether it could be reproduced only with great difficulty, and whether there are definite reuse plans. The city publishes a list of contributing structures.

How long does historic approval take, and can you appeal?

Under Section 98-190, staff reviews a complete application within 15 business days and prepares a report before the Board meeting. The Board must act within 60 days of a complete application unless the applicant and the Board agree in writing to extend it. It can approve, approve with conditions or deny, and for demolition or moving of a significant building it can issue a certificate with a deferred effective date of up to six months.

An approval is effective for one year from the Board’s action, or for the time frame approved with the project’s site plan. Any substantially affected party may appeal a Board decision to the City Commission by filing within 15 days, with the appeal fee.

How is this different from Orlando’s historic district rules?

It is a different city, board and ordinance. Winter Garden uses a Certificate of Approval from its Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board, while the City of Orlando uses a Certificate of Appropriateness under its own code, which we cover separately. Do not assume an Orlando rule, fee or timeline applies in Winter Garden.

Florida’s 2026 permit exemption for some single-family work under $7,500 is also covered in its own guide. It addresses building permits; ask Winter Garden Planning and Zoning how it applies to historic design review before you rely on it for exterior work in the district.

How do you check a downtown Winter Garden home before you buy?

First, check whether the address is inside the Historic Downtown District using the city’s district map, and whether the building is on the contributing structure list. Then ask the seller for any past Certificates of Approval and permits for exterior work.

If you plan to expand or rebuild, use the pre-application conference the ordinance encourages. Section 98-190 says statements made before a formal application are not binding on the Board or staff, so treat early feedback as guidance and budget time for review. The city’s Planning and Zoning Division can be reached through City Hall at 407-656-4111.

Have questions about buying or selling here? Call or text 407-706-5000 or visit jaredjones.com.

Jared Jones Team, Brokered by eXp Realty.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need approval to paint my house in downtown Winter Garden?

Painting is on the Board’s initial list of routine alterations that city staff can approve without a Board hearing, as long as the color is appropriate to the building’s architectural style or period. The exception is unpainted masonry, stone, brick, terracotta and concrete, which are not on the routine list. Check the Design Standards and Guidelines Manual for the color guidance before you start.

Can I replace my roof without going to the historic board?

A roof replaced with the same material, size and color is on the routine alterations list in Section 98-193, so staff can approve it and the Building Division can issue the permit without Board review. A change in roofing material or style is not on that list, so it would need a fuller review against the design standards before work begins.

Does the historic district require me to restore my home?

No. The city’s January 2010 information sheet says the ordinance does not require changes or restoration to existing properties, and existing improvements can remain. Only replacements and new improvements are affected. The standards apply when you alter, add to, demolish or build in the district, not simply because you own a property inside it.

Can I demolish an old house in the Winter Garden historic district?

Only after the Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board approves a Certificate of Approval for demolition, under Section 98-194. The Board considers whether the building contributes to the district, how hard it would be to reproduce and whether there are definite, funded reuse plans. The 2010 information sheet notes that sheds are the exception to Board review.

How long is a Winter Garden Certificate of Approval good for?

Under Section 98-190, a Certificate of Approval is effective for one year from the Board’s action, or for the time frame approved with the project’s site plan. If your project could slip past that window, confirm with Planning and Zoning whether you will need to renew the approval before construction begins or continues.

Who decides historic approvals in Winter Garden?

The Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board, which the City Commission created in 2009, reviews applications that are not routine. City architectural staff can approve routine alterations on the Board’s list. A substantially affected party can appeal a Board decision to the City Commission within 15 days, and the Commission may affirm, modify or reverse it.

Sources

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