Property Owner with Heritage Conservation District

A Heritage Conservation District (HCD) designation applies to the exterior of buildings and the surrounding property.

Properties within an HCD can be classified as:

1. Contributing Properties. This means that the property contributes to the significance of the HCD.  Properties whose age, history, or building is significant and/or complementary to the district. Contributing properties may include older buildings of historic interest and more recent buildings of a scale, type, and built form that contributes to the district's character.
2. Other Properties.  Properties whose main building is of a scale or form that does not meet the criteria for the District’s character.

"Contributing Properties" and "Other Properties" can have varying levels of policies regarding exterior work, such as alterations, additions, demolition, or new construction. These policies ensure that the character of your neighbourhood is enduring and that the cultural value of the area remains intact or is enhanced by the work being completed. Generally speaking, a Heritage Permit is needed to complete most exterior work in the HCD.

At the HCD Study stage, the project team may identify contributing properties that have special historical, aesthetic or architectural value in the HCD study area.  Should Council decide to move to the HCD Plan phase, unique policies and guidelines will be developed for properties that "contribute" to the heritage character of the district. Similarly, different policies and guidelines will be developed for "other properties" that are considered to be non-contributing.