If you own a home in a designated Coral Gables historic district, any visible roofing change goes through the Architectural Board of Review (BAR). This is the eight-week piece of your project timeline that most homeowners don't plan for. Here's what the process actually involves.
What BAR reviews
For roofing specifically, BAR cares about three things: the visible profile (barrel tile, mission tile, standing seam, tile-look metal), the color (and how it relates to your façade), and the ridge/hip detail. They'll also review skylights, solar panels, and any roof-mounted equipment that's visible from the street.
The submittal package
A complete BAR submittal for a roof project typically includes: a site plan showing the property and surrounding context, elevations of the affected façades, profile samples (actual tile pieces or metal panel samples), color chips, photographs of the existing roof and adjacent properties, and a written narrative explaining the design choices. We prepare and submit this package on your behalf.
Timeline
Submittal to staff review takes two weeks. Staff comments and any required revisions take another one to two weeks. Then the package goes to the next BAR meeting (held monthly). If BAR approves at the first meeting, you have a determination in five to six weeks total. If BAR requests changes, you may go to a second meeting, pushing the timeline to eight weeks. Building permits run separately after BAR approval, usually one to three weeks.
How to read staff comments
Coral Gables BAR staff comments are usually specific and actionable. “Profile not consistent with district character” means you need a different tile shape. “Color too saturated for streetscape” means pull the chip lighter or warmer. “Ridge detail visible from street” means redesign the ridge cap to match the surrounding properties. We'll walk through staff comments with you and propose responses before the next submittal.
When to push back
Most staff comments are reasonable design judgments. Occasionally, a comment is based on outdated information or applies to a different district's standards. When that's the case, we'll respond with documentation (district-specific design guidelines, examples of approved similar projects) rather than just resubmitting. Picking the right comments to push back on is part of how we keep your timeline as short as possible.