Heritage Conservation Districts and Heritage Overlays
Questions and Answers Provided by the City of Ottawa
WHAT IS A HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT?
A heritage conservation district (HCD) is a grouping of older buildings, streets, and/ or landscaped open spaces that combine to create a special sense of time and place. A district may provide outstanding examples of a period of architecture that reflects special architectural and cultural features, or be significant to a specific era in the community's history.
Whatever the type, location, or size of a heritage conservation district, there are factors and values associated with them other than heritage that should be noted. Heritage conservation districts serve as a source of stability within rapidly changing urban environments, creating a special sense of time and place.
HOW IS A HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT DESIGNATED?
In 1975, the provincial government passed the Ontario Heritage Act, giving municipalities two means through which they can recognize and protect their heritage. Municipalities can designate individual buildings or structures under Part IV or heritage conservation districts under Part V. According to the Act, a district is designated when City Council passes a by-law establishing it. Under the Act, City Council must also adopt a heritage conservation district plan to guide the management of the district over time. The Ontario Heritage Act also requires that public consultation be undertaken prior to the designation of a heritage conservation district.
WHAT DOES DISTRICT DESIGNATION MEAN?
Once a district has been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council regulates changes and development in the district. This does not mean that change and development cannot take place. Rather, it means that changes and development are managed to ensure that they are sympathetic to and enhance a district's historic character.
If a property owner wants to alter the exterior of a building, they are required to submit an application to the City of Ottawa. City Council will make a decision to permit the proposed alteration, to refuse it, or to permit the alteration subject to certain conditions. The interior of a building is not regulated through a heritage conservation district designation. Permission must also be obtained prior to demolishing any building or constructing a new building.
WHAT TYPE OF CHANGE IS ACCEPTABLE?
Each district must have a Heritage Conservation District Plan that includes management guidelines for property owners, planners, architects and others to use in restoring or altering an existing structure in the district or constructing a new one on a vacant lot.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF DESIGNATION UNDER THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT?
Heritage grants are available to property owners who wish to restore the historic fabric of their buildings, subject to the availability of funding. Incompatible changes to the character of the District will decline as all changes will be guided by the Heritage District Plan and will have to be approved by City Council.
DO PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE TO RESTORE THE EXTERIOR OF A BUILDING TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION?
No, heritage designation does not require an owner to restore the building. If an owner wishes to restore the exterior then matching grant assistance is available from the City (subject to the availability of funding).
IS COUNCIL PERMISSION REQUIRED TO MAKE INTERIOR CHANGES?
No, a heritage conservation district designation does not affect the interior. The normal requirements for a building permit would still apply.
WILL TAXES GO UP?
As is the case throughout the City, if your property value increases, your property taxes will increase accordingly.
WILL MY PROPERTY VALUES GO DOWN?
According to research conducted at the University of Waterloo Heritage Resource Centre, using a sample of 3000 designated properties in 24 communities, property values of heritage designated buildings are as good or better than the general market trends and the property value of heritage properties tend to be more resistant to down-turns in the general market.
The full report can be found online at: http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/
WILL I BE ABLE TO GET INSURANCE?
Yes. There are currently 17 heritage conservation districts in Ottawa and over 100 throughout Ontario. They are all insured.
Heritage Overlay
WHAT IS THE HERITAGE OVERLAY?
The Heritage Overlay is an additional layer of regulations placed “over” a base zone that is designed to encourage the retention of existing buildings of cultural heritage value. The heritage value defines the potential building envelope essentially to match that of the existing building.
The Heritage Overlay also regulates the placement of additions relative to the existing building. It stipulates that all additions be located in the rear yard of the existing building; that they not exceed the height of the existing building and that be narrower than the existing building.