1. (a) Application reports. It is important in the case of complex projects to ensure the historical accuracy and/or appropriateness of the project by gathering and assessing important information relating to the property through investigation, research, and documentation. When the scope of a project indicates it is advisable, one or more of the following application reports may be required to be submitted as a part of the permit application. A permit may not be issued before all required application reports have been received. All application reports must be prepared under the supervision of professionally qualified individuals as specified in Section 26.5 of this title (relating to Definitions).

   1. (1) Historic structure report.

      1. (A) Purpose. This report should be utilized to evaluate the existing conditions of the structure, to establish preservation objectives for the property, and to schedule the accomplishment of these preservation objectives. The applicability of the various areas for research and analysis will vary, depending upon the preservation objectives and the physical condition of the historic property.
      2. (B) When required. When a proposed rehabilitation, restoration, or reconstruction project involves fabricating significant missing architectural or landscape features, recapturing the appearance of a property at one particular period of its history, removing later additions or significant changes to the building for rehabilitation, a historic structure report must be completed prior to application for a historic structure Antiquities Permit.

      3. (C) Minimum report requirements. Documentation must include the following:

         1. (i) written explanation and evaluation of existing conditions;
         2. (ii) photographic documentation of the existing conditions (preferably black and white 8 by 10-inch photographs);
         3. (iii) written explanation of preservation objectives and intended modifications to the structure; and
         4. (iv) architectural drawings of the existing condition and a schedule of objectives.

   2. (2) Historical documentation.

      1. (A) Purpose. Historical research and documentation are required in order to understand the changes to a historic property over time and to better support proposed project work. Documentation of cultural resources that will be lost or damaged due to rehabilitation, relocation or demolition will preserve a record of the cultural resource.
      2. (B) When required. When a proposed rehabilitation, restoration, or reconstruction project involves fabricating significant missing architectural or landscape features, or removing later additions to recapture the appearance of a property at one particular period of its history, historical documentation must be done. Historical documentation is required for all relocation or demolition permits.

      3. (C) Minimum report requirements. Historical documentation must include the following:

         1. (i) name of original architect and date of construction;
         2. (ii) history of the use of and known modifications to the structure;
         3. (iii) brief history including information on important historical events or persons associated with the structure; and
         4. (iv) copies of extant historic plans and photographs of the building or structure and site, or documentation of the specific historic features, areas or materials to be affected by proposed restoration or reconstruction work; and
         5. (v) oral history documentation to support proposed restoration or reconstruction work, or to document historic structures and buildings proposed for relocation or demolition.

   3. (3) Architectural documentation.

      1. (A) Purpose. Investigation and documentation of physical evidence regarding architectural design and technology enables the study of the structure in question and its comparison with other structures of the period, type, or region. This information is important to support decisions regarding proposed project work, and in conjunction with historical and archeological documentation for the synthesis and study of all related materials.
      2. (B) When required. Architectural documentation must precede any work that will damage, alter, obscure or remove significant architectural configurations, elements, details, or materials. Documentation that meets the required standards must be submitted for rehabilitation and restoration projects that will significantly alter a structure or other cultural resource, and for all relocation and demolition permits.

      3. (C) Minimum report requirements. Architectural documentation must include the following:

         1. (i) a thorough explanation of the reasons for the proposed work, including the purposes and objectives of the proposed changes;
         2. (ii) photographs of the existing conditions of the overall building or structure and site, including photographs of all areas where work is proposed, with each view clearly labeled and keyed to a plan indicating the location and direction of the view;
         3. (iii) measured drawings of the existing building or structure and site. If the proposed damage, alteration, obscuring or removal of significant materials, features or areas will be relatively small within the overall scope of project work, then with the approval of the commission the measured drawing documentation may be limited to the specific materials, features or areas involved.
      4. (D) Documentation standard required. All documentation of existing conditions must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Architectural and Engineering Documentation (available online at www.thc.state.tx.us), sometimes referred to as Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) standards. The commission will assign the level of documentation required (levels I-IV) based on the project work proposed and the significance of the cultural resource.

   4. (4) Archeological documentation.

      1. (A) Purpose. Almost all standing structures have an archeological component, and archeological remains exist in urban areas as well as rural areas. The information available from archeological investigations in and around a structure is important in conjunction with architectural and historical documentation for the synthesis and study of all related material.
      2. (B) When required. When development or historic preservation treatment of a historic property makes disturbance of the earth unavoidable, the specific areas affected may need to be tested archeologically to determine if the undertaking will disturb or destroy archeological remains, including subsurface features of an aboveground structure. If the exploratory tests indicate the area has archeological value and if the development plans cannot be altered, the archeological data directly affected by the project are to be recovered.

2. (b) Project reports. When the situation indicates it is advisable, one or more of the following project reports may be required to be compiled during the course of a project and submitted along with the completion report. All project reports must be compiled under the supervision of professionally qualified individuals as specified in Section 26.5 of this title (relating to Definitions).

   1. (1) Architectural documentation. When investigation and documentation is not possible prior to commencement of work because of physical obstruction, or when previously obscured conditions are subsequently discovered, architectural documentation may be required during the course of a project (see paragraph (3) of this subsection).
   2. (2) Archeological documentation. When investigation and documentation are not possible prior to commencement of work because of physical obstruction, or when previously obscured evidence is subsequently discovered, archeological documentation may be required during the course of a project. Archeological documentation may be required for relocation or demolition permits (see paragraph (4) of this subsection).

   3. (3) Storage report.

      1. (A) Purpose. Historic features or materials original to the structure or otherwise significant to the structure's evolution are important to the understanding of Texas culture and history.
      2. (B) When required. When historic features or materials original to the structure or otherwise significant to the structure's history are removed during the course of a project, selected samples must be stored at the site or at a site approved by the commission, and a storage report must be filed.

      3. (C) Minimum report requirements. Documentation must include the following:

         1. (i) photo documentation of the structural or architectural elements to be removed in their original position and in storage;
         2. (ii) written documentation of the existing condition of the elements prior to removal; and
         3. (iii) written documentation of the storage (preservation) efforts, including the method and location of storage and any conservation efforts made.

   4. (4) Completion report.

      1. (A) Purpose. When work is done to a historic structure, it is important to record the changes that take place so that the structure's historic evolution might be completely documented for future study.
      2. (B) When required. All historic structures permits, except for new structures permits, will require completion reports.

      3. (C) Minimum report requirements. Written documentation must include the following:

         1. (i) title page, including:

            1. (I) project name;
            2. (II) city, county;
            3. (III) permit number;
            4. (IV) date of report;

         2. (ii) text, including:

            1. (I) property name and location;

            2. (II) primary personnel (names, titles, addresses, and telephone numbers), including:

               (-a-) owner;

               (-b-) lessee;

               (-c-) architect;

               (-d-) engineer;

               (-e-) contractor;

               (-f-) consultant(s);

               (-g-) others;

            3. (III) scope of work (major categories with corresponding costs);
            4. (IV) project dates (beginning and ending);

            5. (V) project narrative, including:

               (-a-) description of work and description of anticipated future work (if any) ;

               (-b-) description of special products, materials, and/or building techniques;

               (-c-) description of intended use of the property; and

            6. (VI) labeled photographs with index: minimum 4 by 6 inch clear color prints; digital prints must be equivalent in quality and clarity to clear prints from 35mm film negatives;

               (-a-) before construction conditions;

               (-b-) during construction;

               (-c-) after construction is complete.

      4. (D) Photographic record. The photographic documentation is a significant part of the record of the project work. Each view, before, during, and after, should be of the same area, to clearly illustrate the project work as it progresses.
      5. (E) Report submittal. Submit one copy of the required completion report with original photographic documentation; photo copies are not acceptable. All completion reports must be submitted unbound. Submit copies to the commission.

Source Note:The provisions of this §26.25 adopted to be effective August 28, 2002, 27 TexReg 7789.