DECORATION EXTERNAL, the Building act, (7 and Victoria, cap. 84), requires. that in external decorations, every coping, cornice, facia, window - dressing, portico, balcony, balustrade, or other external decoration or projec tion whatsoever, to any building now or hereafter to he built, or to any addition or enlargement of any such building, shall externally he of brick, stone, burnt-clay, or artificial stone, stucco, lead, or iron ; except the cornice and dressings to shop. windows: and it is further provided with regard to buildings hereafter to be built or rebuilt, in reference to projections therefrom : As to copings, parapets, cornices to overhanging roofs, blocking-courses, cornices, piers, columns, pilasters, entabla tures, facias, door and window-dressings, or other architec tural decorations, forming part of an external wall, all such may project beyond the general line fronts in any street or alley, hut they must be built of the same materials as are by this act directed to be used for building the external walls to which such projections belong, or of such other proper and sufficient materials, as the official referees may approve and permit.
And as to all balconies, verandas, porches, porticos. shop fronts, open enclosures of open areas, and steps and water pipes, and to all other projections from external walls not forming part thereof; every such projection (except part of shop-fronts, and the frames and sashes of the windows and doors, in reference to the necessary wood-work thereof) may stand beyond the general line of fronts in any street or alley, but they must be built of brick, stone, tile, artificial stone, slate. cement, or metal, or other proper and sufficient fire proof materials; and they must be so built as not to overhang the ground belonging to any other owner, nor so as to obstruct the light and air, or be otherwise injurious to the owners or occupiers of the buildings adjoining thereto on any side thereof.
Projections front walls o f buildings over public ways, And with regard to all buildings, hereafter to he built or rebuilt, in reference to projections from the walls of such buildings, including-steps, cellar-doors, and area inclosures, the walls of all such building; must be set back, so that all projections therefrom, and also all steps, cellar-doors, and area inebasures,shall only overhang or occupy the ground of the owner of such building, without overhanging or encroach ing upon any public way.
Projected buildings beyond the general line of buildings, and ftom other external walls.
And with regard to buildings already built, or hereafter to be rebuilt, as to bow or other projections of any kind.
Such projections must neither be built with nor be added to any building on any thee of an external wall thereof. so
as to extend beyond the general line of the fronts of the houses (which general line may be determined by the sur veyor, except so far as is herein before provided with regard to porticos projected over public ways ; and with regard to projections front fitee-walls and shop-fronts, not so as to over hang the ground belonging to any other owner, nor so as to obstruct the light and air, or be otherwise injurious to the owner or occupiers of the buildings adjoining thereto on any side thereof.
Projections from insulated buildings.
Provided always, with regard to any insulated buildings, that if the projection be at the least 8 feet from any public way, and if they be at least 20 feet from any other building not in the same occupation, then such projections are excepted from the rules and directions of this act.
Wooden shop-- ronts and shutters.
And with regard to shop-fronts and their entablatures, their shutters, and pilasters and stall-boards made of wood.
If the street or alley in which such front is situate, be of less width than 30 feet, then no part. of such shop-front must be higher in any part thereof than 15 feet ; nor must any part, except the cornice, project from the face of a wall, whether there be an area or not, more than 5 inches; nor must the cornice project therefrom more than 18 inches.
If the street or alley he of a greater width than 30 feet, then no part of such shop-front, except the cornice, must project from the face of a wall, whether there be an area or not, more than 10 inches ; nor must the cornice project therefrom more than IS inches.
And the width of such street or alley must be ascertained by measuring the same, as directed by the act.
And the wood-work of any shop-front must not be fixed r.earer than four and a half inches to the centre line of a party wall.
And with regard to such wood-work. if it be put up at such distance of four and a half inches, then a pier or corbel built of stone or of brick, or other incombustible material, and of the width of four and a half inches at the least, must be fixed in the line of time party wall, so as to be as high as such wood-work, and so as to project one inch at the least in front of the face thereof.
And the height of every shop-front must be ascertained by measuring from the level of the public foot pavement in front of the building.
And every sign or notice-board fixed against or upon any part of any house or other building standing close to any piddle way, must be so fixed that the top shall be within 18 feet at the most above the level of such public way.