Municipal Heritage Register Designated Properties

Heritage Property - Designated House

The City designates properties that hold cultural value or interest to the community.  The specific design/physical or historical/contextual reasons that give a property its heritage value are identified through the designation process. 

Once a property is designated, it gains public recognition and a measure of protection from demolition or unsympathetic alterations. Designation guides any future changes to the property so that the heritage value can be maintained. 

Often, designated properties are identified with an official designation plaque so that they may be easily identified in the community.

Designated Properties

What is a designated property?

Designated buildings, structures and cultural heritage landscapes are protected by the Ontario Heritage Act.

Properties may be Provincially and/or Federally designated when they are deemed to have Provincial or Federal significance.

A property that is identified as being of cultural heritage value or interest is recommended for designation on the Register by its owner, Council, the City’s Municipal Heritage Committee, or a third-party.

A property must meet at least two of the prescribed criteria in order to be designated.

A designated property is not the same as a listed property.

How does a property become designated?

In consultation with the City’s Municipal Heritage Committee, Council must pass a designation by-law. If there is no appeal to the designation by-law, it is registered on title and with the Ontario Heritage Trust.

The process to designate a property on the Register is outlined in Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Can an owner or member of the public object to a property being designated?

Under Section 29(5) of the Ontario Heritage Act, a person can object upon receiving notice of intention to designate a property by notifying the City Clerk within 30 days.

The objection must identify the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts.

Council will consider the notice of objection within 90 days and make a decision as to whether or not Council will withdraw the notice of intention to designate the property.  

If Council decides to withdraw the notice of intention to designate, a notice of withdrawal is served.

If Council decides to proceed, the process is outlined in Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

How is a designated property removed from the register?

The designating by-law must be repealed in order to remove the property from the Register.

Only Council or the owner may initiate the repeal in full or in part of a designating by-law.

If Council decides to repeal the designating by-law, or part thereof, the process is outlined in Section 31 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

If the owner decides to repeal the designating by-law, or part thereof, the process is outlined in Section 32 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

What does it mean to be designated on the register?

Designation on the Register

  • It is not the same as a heritage property that is listed.
  • Doesn’t legally restrict the permitted zoning use of a property.
  • Doesn’t prevent interior or exterior alterations or changes to the property that are not identified the property’s heritage attributes, as set out in the description of the property’s heritage attributes in the designation by-law. A Building Permit is still applicable, if required.
  • Demolition, removal, alteration, or new construction that would affect any of the property’s heritage attributes, as set out in the description of the property’s heritage attributes in the designation by-law, is not permitted unless the City issues a Heritage Permit.
  • It enables access to government financial assistance programs, such as the City’s Heritage Designated Properties Grant or provincial programs, when available.
  • It should not impact your insurance rates or coverage.
  • It does not restrict the sale of a property or affect its resale value.
  • Designation does not require property owners to open their property to the public.

If a Planning Act application is being made, staff may require that a Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment is completed to confirm the cultural heritage value or interest of the property and assess the impact of the proposed development/land parcel alteration.

If my property is designated, can I demolish or remove part of a building or structure?

An owner of a designated property is not permitted to demolish or remove, or permit the demolition or removal of, any of the property’s heritage attributes,  or a building or structure on the property, as set out in the description of the property’s heritage attributes in the designation by-law that was required to be registered under the Ontario Heritage Act.

A Heritage Permit is required to be submitted to the Building Department, before the issuance of a Building Permit, that would permit the demolition or removal of any of the property’s heritage attributes and/or a building or structure on the property that is included in the description of the property’s heritage attributes in the designation by-law that was required to be registered under the Ontario Heritage Act.

In conjunction with a Heritage Permit, an owner proposing to demolish or remove part of a building or structure, that is included in the description of the property’s heritage attributes in the designation by-law that was required to be registered under the Ontario Heritage Act, must to apply to Council to repeal the designation by-law, or part thereof.

A Building Permit is required to demolish or remove any building or structure on the property.

I am a new owner of a designated property. What do I need to do?

Under Section 35(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act, a new owner of a designated property is to notify the City’s Clerk within 30 days of becoming the owner of the property.

How do I get a plaque for my designated property?

Designated property plaques are cast-metal ovals which mark those properties that are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Once designation has occurred, with the property owner’s permission, the Municipal Heritage Committee, in cooperation with Council, provides a commemorative plaque denoting the building as a historic landmark and the year in which it was built.