A. Staff
The staff shall be authorized to issue permits in the following circumstances:

1. On all buildings not of national importance for painting and minor repairs where the paint samples provided meet the standards of the Commission and such repairs are in the nature of maintenance or replacement of that which is existing.
   
2. On yellow, brown and orange rated buildings, for openings and other details of the structure which may be modified and approved by the staff provided that
   1. a.the modification is minimal and does not significantly change the appearance of the structure;
      
   2. b.the modification is determined by the Director in consultation with the staff to be more in keeping with the style and aesthetic appearance of the structure.
      
3. On green, pink, yellow, orange and brown rated structures, millwork, restorations and replacement of slate roofs as per Vieux Carré Commission policy.
   
4. On all buildings not of national importance where a policy has been established by the Commission granting specific authority to the staff ( e.g. awnings, light fixtures, roofing, etc.)
   
5. On all buildings for sign applications that meet the requirements of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and Section 65 of the City Code.
   
6. Where emergency conditions exist to authorize demolition to the extent necessary - where a building is in imminent danger of collapse and constitutes a menace to public safety (Article 305, Building Code)
   
7. Approval of interior planting alterations and standard paving materials.
   
8. Approval of landscaping and standard sidewalk paving proposals that are not unusual nor change the character of the street scene.
   
9. Demolition of small deteriorated sheds which cannot be repaired under Section 65, 14.

B. The Architectural Committee
The Architectural Committee is a professional sub-committee of the Vieux Carré Commission authorized by the Commission to approve permits under the following circumstances:

1. On pink and green rated structures, architectural modifications that do not significantly modify the visual, historic or architectural integrity of a structure.
2. For modifications to yellow, orange and brown rated structures other than modifications which are unusual or change the character of the street scene.
3. For applications at variance with adopted Vieux Carré Commission policies on brown, orange, yellow, pink, and green rated buildings as long as a unique situation exists that would not establish a common precedent for other buildings.
4. On appeals of denial from the staff for issuance of permits.
5. For approval of final working drawings for any significant changes to brown, yellow, orange, pink, and green rated buildings unless specified otherwise by the Vieux Carré Commission.
6. On all interior and normal exterior tenant modifications in the French Market.
7. For approval of millwork details and mechanical equipment in the Upper and Lower Pontalba Buildings.
8. For approval of skylights which comply with all policy requirements.

The Architectural Committee shall also:

1. Make recommendations to the Vieux Carré Commission on major architectural modifications to yellow, orange and brown rated structures, significant modifications on green and pink rated structures, and any but the most minor modifications to blue and purple rated structures.
2. Make recommendations to the Vieux Carré Commission on new construction and demolition except for those covered by Section 65,14.

When there is a question of whether the Architectural Committee should approve or refer an application to the Commission, the Chairman shall determine if the permit is to be issued or the matter be referred to the Commission.

C. The Vieux Carré Commission
The Vieux Carré Commission shall review applications under the following circumstances:

1. Variances to the Zoning Ordinance for recommendation to the Board of Zoning Adjustments.
2. Changes to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for recommendation to the City Planning Commission and City Council.
3. Subdivision and conditional uses for recommendations to the City Planning Commission.
4. Demolition except for those sheds exempted for repair under Section 65,14.
5. All new construction and capital projects of the City of New Orleans.
6. Appeals of Architectural Committee decisions.
7. Policy determination, and variances to adopted policies for blue and purple rated buildings.
8. Major architectural modifications to yellow, orange and brown rated structures; significant modifications to pink and green rated structures; and with the exception outlines under A and B above, all other modifications to blue and purple rated structures.
9. Approval of final working drawings for any significant changes to blue and purple rated buildings unless specified otherwise by the Vieux Carré Commission
10. All such other matter not delegated to the Director, the staff or Architectural Committee.

D. Exceptions
The Vieux Carré Commission by its very nature deals with exceptions and unusual circumstances on a regular basis; guidelines for levels of authority must be flexible and rely on a reasonable level of discretion on the part of the staff and the Architectural Committee in referring applications.

E. Chart

Rating	Minor Policy Guided, Paint Repair to Matching Existing	Limited Changes	Significant Changes	Major Changes
Brown	Staff	Staff(AC)	AC	VCC
Orange	Staff	Staff(AC)	AC	VCC
Yellow	Staff	Staff(AC)	AC	VCC
Pink	Staff	AC	AC	VCC
Green	Staff	AC	AC	VCC
Blue	Staff (AC)	VCC	VCC	VCC
Purple	AC	VCC	VCC	VCC