Which authorizations are needed to change windows in historic buildings

Which authorizations are needed to change the windows in historic buildings is the first thing to check before starting to change the windows in buildings subjected to the Fine Arts.

This allows you to know in advance what expenses you will have to incur, what will be the waiting times to obtain the necessary permits and what are the real possibilities of renewal by complying with the limits requested by the environmental restrictions.

This means that you must have a clear idea of what you can and cannot do, what authorizations you need and when they are needed.

Let’s assume that permits are not always needed, even when the intervention takes place on a historic building. However, when they are foreseen, you must absolutely respect them.

To the authorizations that are strictly related to the fixtures, others are sometimes added that are strictly related to masonry, that is, small or large changes made to the facades, also connected with the change of doors and windows.

CILA or SCIA are the acronyms of the practices necessary for building interventions in Italy including changing the windows and doors in historic and non-historic buildings. Knowing when and if they must be presented is essential to avoid penalties or stop-work.

Emphasizing that authorizations are not always required, you must keep in mind that even in these circumstances you may be interested in producing the necessary documentation to reduce your expenses by up to 50% thanks to tax bonuses.

The professional architect who follows the project must know national and local legislation and is responsible for the works carried out and in progress.

To simplify the procedures, we will provide you with some more precise information about municipal and/or resident approval.

Which legislation to refer to

First of all, it is necessary to know which legislation to refer to for changing windows in historic buildings.

Generally the architect or designer is responsible for studying the regulations, producing the required documentation, evaluating the possibilities and authorizations needed for changing windows and doors in historic buildings.

In order to assist the expert and make its collaboration easier with companies that, like Capoferri, deal with the design, construction and installation of doors and windows, we have decided to devote our attention to the relevant legislation.

Therefore we will now talk about Presidential Decree 31/2017, the simplified legislation relating to the authorization of the Superintendency. In this authorization we will find all the cases about changing windows in areas under the restrictions of Fine Arts.

If you have ever done some facade renewal before this legislation, you will realize how much simpler and faster the procedure is today.

By analyzing the various cases, you will notice that permits are not always compulsory, but it is equally important to request them when necessary, faithfully respecting the requirements, under penalty of large fines or stop work.

In addition to Presidential Decree 31/2017, do not forget to check whether the replacement of your window and door fixtures can fall within the category provided for by art. 119, paragraph 1 of the Law Decree of May 19, 2020, 34 (the so-called Relaunch Decree) according to which it is possible to have a 110% deduction also for the expenses incurred for the replacement of the fixtures.

What are the main constraints for changing windows

Do you know what the main constraints for changing windows are?

When in an apartment, office or commercial space located in a historic building you have to replace the fixtures with others different from the originals, you must therefore carry out an extraordinary maintenance work which is subject to the constraints of the Superintendency. The institution has the right to approve or refuse the intervention, in the event that it modifies or spoils the aesthetics of the building.

Not only large works need to be authorized, but also small interventions that alter the aesthetics of the facade. Among these we only take into account the constraints concerning for changing windows:

• new external openings;
• modification of the existing openings in the facade;
• opening roof windows;
• creation or modification of parapets, blinds, grates;
• color variation.

In these cases it is essential to request the permits imposed by current legislation and to comply with the deadlines established for obtaining them. Compliance with the law in these cases is essential to ensure the smooth running of the works without the risk of incurring unexpected expenses.

The most recent legislation is much more flexible than the previous one, allowing:

• speed;
• telematic procedure;
• economic advantage.

With Presidential Decree 31/2017 the times for the procedures are faster than those of the previous law. The telematic procedure also contributes to speed up procedures and reduce costs.

When the law provides for it, such as for building interventions for opening new doors or windows or changing their size, further certifications such as SCIA or CILA may be necessary, which obviously involve a careful study of the case and a greater financial commitment.

When no authorization is needed

When the works do not change the aesthetics of the facade, no authorization is needed. That is, when the color, the size and shape of the windows remain unchanged and the historic building keeps its original aesthetics despite the restoration, the works can proceed without authorization.

Let’s explain this point better and analyze the various cases in which an authorization is not required to change the windows even if they belong to a historic building.

This category of interventions includes:

• replacement of windows that have the same shape, size and color as the previous ones;
• new parapets, fixtures, frames, skylights identical to the previous ones;
• renewal of windows identical to the previous ones.

There are, however, some cases in which, even if an authorization is not needed, it is convenient to produce documentation and apply for authorization to change the windows in a historic building and also in a common building.

This happens when replacement and renovation involve improvements in terms of consumption and energy efficiency. In this case, it is possible to pay for the windows even half of the purchase price thanks to the transfer of Ecobonus credits.