Municipal Heritage Register Listed Properties

Niagara Falls History Map

The City will list properties with cultural value or interest to the community in the City’s Municipal Heritage Register.  These properties are not designated.

Listed properties may include properties that are potential candidates for designation.

While some listed properties may later become designated, not all will be.

Listed Properties

What is a listed property?

A property may be identified as being of cultural heritage value or interest and recommended for listing on the Register by an owner, Council, the City’s Municipal Heritage Committee, or a third-party.

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

How does a property become listed?

Consultation with the City’s Municipal Heritage Committee and a Council resolution is required to include a listed property on the Register.

The process to list a property on the Register is outlined in Section 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Can an owner object to a proposed property being listed?

Under Section 27(7) of the Ontario Heritage Act, an owner may object upon receiving notice that the property has been included in the Register by notifying the City Clerk within 30 days.

The owner’s 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 the property should remain or whether it should be removed from the Register.

How is a listed property removed from the register?

The City’s Municipal Heritage Committee, Council, or a property owner may initiate removing a property from the Register.

Council is not required to consult with the Municipal Heritage Committee before removing the listed property from the Register.

Council will consider the request and will decide whether the property should remain or whether it should be removed from the Register.

Under Section 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act, listed properties that are not designated by January 1, 2027 are required to be removed from the Register.  Council may not include the property again in the Register for a period of five years.

What does it mean to be listed on the register?

Listing on the Register

  • It is not the same as heritage designation.
  • Doesn’t legally restrict the permitted zoning use of a property.
  • Listed properties do not require a Heritage Permit.
  • It doesn’t prevent interior or exterior alterations or changes to the property, including additions. A Building Permit is still applicable if required.
  • Doesn’t prevent demolition, but it does provide an interim 60-day protection from demolition by requiring owners to give the Council notice of their intention to demolish or remove the building or structure.
  • It should not impact your insurance rates or coverage.

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

What is interim protection from demolition?

The 60 day interim period is intended to allow Council and staff time to discuss alternatives of the property with the owner, including:  opportunities for retention, adaptive re-use, and photo-documentation of the property prior to demolition.

In the case of significant heritage properties, the 60 day delay allows Council to consider issuing a notice of intention to designate the property during that period to prevent demolition.

If my property is listed, do I need to provide notice of intention to demolish?

Under Section 27(9) of the Ontario Heritage Act, an owner of a listed property must give at least 60 days' notice to Council of their intention to demolish or remove a building or structure on their property.

The notice of intention to demolish should be accompanied by any necessary plans or information (such as a Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment) that would assist Council in deciding whether to remove the property from the Register.

Once staff receive the notice of intention to demolish, a report is prepared for Council to assist in deciding whether or not to remove the property from the Register.

The demolition or removal of any building or structure on the property is prohibited during this time period.

After the Council approves the removal of the listed property from the Register, an application may be made to the City’s Building Department for a Building Permit. 

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