Siding on rear of house in Cap Hill historic district?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know for sure if I can have siding installed on the rear of my row house? We are in the Capitol Hill historic district. I’m happy to do whatever type (wood?) required, but have gotten mixed messages. Happy to call DCRA, but taking the easy DCUM way first

If it matters, the rear of our house is clearly visible to a number of other homes - I think there are some guidelines that involve sight lines, but maybe that’s just upward additions.

I’m guessing it would also involve neighbor permission since my neighbor has a stairwell and fence attached to the side of my house….hmm, not sure how it would work with their stairs and landing. I have never made a fuss about this as he is a good neighbor and long-term resident of the neighborhood (probably going on 50 years). To clarify, the back of our house is not flat: has our dogleg on one side and the neighbor’s dogleg exposed the other side of the house.

Goal is to improve insulation of the back part of the house.

[Anonymous]

I’m a big alley walker on the Hill and, judging by the looks of the backs of 98 percent of historic district houses, you can do whatever you want back there! Half of them look like 19th century tenements.

[Anonymous]

The HPRB is going to be involved since it involves the exterior in a historic district. Are you sure you don't just want to move instead?

[Anonymous]

Call the HPRB and ask rather than DCUM.