Home and business owners in the city’s historic district soon might have to consult a city official before sprucing up their places with a fresh coat of paint.

The Gaffney City Council Finance Committee will likely consider some time this week hiring a consultant to develop architectural review standards for buildings in the historic district, Gaffney Administrator James Taylor said.

The historic district includes the downtown business district, Limestone, Petty and Rutledge streets and the College Drive neighborhoods as well as the Limestone Springs area, which encompasses Limestone College.

Taylor said council would determine the standards the architectural review board would impose.

Under highly restrictive guidelines, homeowners and businesses likely would be required to seek approval for the color of the exterior of their homes or buildings. Facades also would fall under the control of the architectural review board.

Vismol Associates of Columbia would serve as the consultant for the architectural review board, according to Taylor.

Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly is a proponent for a strong architectural review board.

“I am absolutely for this. It’s something that every progressive city in America recommends doing,” Jolly said. “I certainly wouldn’t want somebody downtown to paint their building red, white and blue.”

Jolly said a study developed by Clemson University strongly recommended the creation of an architectural review board.