West Chester Borough · downtown historic district

Gutters in West Chester's Historic District: What the Borough Expects

Inside the Borough's downtown historic district, gutters are part of what the street sees. Changing their style or material can need approval before work starts. Routine repair usually doesn't.

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Do I need approval to replace gutters in West Chester's historic district?

Often, yes. Borough zoning says no exterior architectural change in the historic district may proceed until the design review board reviews it and Borough Council approves a certificate of appropriateness. Routine maintenance and in-kind repair are not blocked. Changing gutter style, profile or material is a visible change, so ask the Borough first.

The rules are in Chapter 112 of the Borough code, sections 112-504.4.E (review and approval), 112-504.4.K (routine maintenance and repair) and 112-504.5 (work visible from a public street or way). Read them in the Borough's Chapter 112 text or on eCode360.

Row of 19th-century brick townhouses — Illustrative stock photo.

What gutters does the West Chester HARB recommend?

The Borough's design guidelines favor half-round gutters with smooth round downspouts on historic buildings. Copper, terne-coated stainless and lead-coated copper can weather naturally, while aluminum or galvanized steel should be painted to blend in. Vinyl is called not appropriate, and built-in or pole gutters should be kept and replaced in kind.

Source: West Chester Historical and Architectural Review Board Design Guidelines, gutter and downspout section (5.5). The guidelines date from 2002; the Borough may apply them case by case, so treat them as a starting point.

Copper half-round gutter with a round downspout on a historic brick wall — Illustrative stock photo.

What "in kind" has meant on real projects

Approvals often come with conditions. In one 2021 approval, Borough Council's agenda recorded a condition that gutters and downspouts be replaced in kind relative to form and material, with dimension allowed to increase (Council agenda, Sept. 14, 2021). In April 2024, the board recommended approval of another project on condition that an existing box gutter be rebuilt in kind with wood and matching detailing (board minutes, April 2024).

In practice: if your house has half-round copper, expect to stay with half-round. If it has a wood box gutter built into the cornice, expect to rebuild it rather than hang aluminum K-style over it.

Architectural drawing of an eave and gutter detail — Illustrative stock photo.

How the approval path usually runs

Check the mapConfirm the property is inside the local historic district. Two other National Register districts in the Borough carry no local design review.
Gather the detailsPhotos of the existing gutters, the proposed profile, material, color and downspout locations. We can put these together for you.
ApplyThe Borough's application form has a gutters checkbox and lists the board's meeting and filing schedule. Check the current dates with the Borough before you plan around them.
Board recommends, Council approvesThe board reviews and recommends; Borough Council issues the certificate of appropriateness.
Permit and workAny required building permit follows, then the work.

Archival drawing sheet for a gutter and downspout replacement — Illustrative stock photo.

What gutter material is best for older Borough homes?

For pre-1940 Borough homes, half-round copper or painted half-round aluminum usually suits the architecture best, and copper is expected where it already exists. Outside the historic district you have more freedom: seamless K-style aluminum is the most economical choice. Match downspout shape to gutter shape so the system looks deliberate.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-29.

Rules change. Confirm with your township or the Borough code office before you rely on any permit or zoning detail here.

Historic district questions

Is my house in the historic district if it's on the National Register?

Not necessarily. Local design review covers the downtown historic district defined in Borough zoning. The Borough also contains National Register districts that carry no local design review. Check the property against the zoning map or ask the Borough before assuming either way.

Can I put aluminum gutters on a historic Borough house?

Sometimes. The guidelines accept aluminum if it is painted to blend in, but they favor half-round profiles, and existing copper or built-in gutters are expected to be kept or replaced in kind. Vinyl is called not appropriate. The board decides each case, so bring photos and the proposed profile to the application.

Tell us about the house and the street it's on

Tell us where the house is and what the gutters are doing. If you have photos, say so in the message and we'll ask for them by email. We reply during office hours to set up a visit to measure. Just outside our area? Send the form and ask.

We read form requests Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. There's no phone line: everything stays in writing.