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Property, buildings or structures designated under the Ontario Heritage Act must meet specific criteria to be considered of architectural or cultural interest.
Property designation under the Ontario Heritage Act recognizes and reinforces the community value of heritage properties, provides protection against inappropriate changes to heritage properties, hinders their demolition, and gives heritage property owners access to government-supported financial assistance.
Getting started
The designation process is usually initiated by the property owner.
Heritage Guelph may recommend designating a property and contact the property owner to discuss plans for the proposed designation.
The property is researched and evaluated against heritage designation criteria. If it is eligible, a statement containing the reasons for designation is presented to Guelph City Council.
Have your say
When City Council accepts a Heritage Guelph recommendation to designate a property, the property owner is notified, and the City posts a notice in the newspaper and on its website.
If there is no objection, City Council can enact a bylaw designating the property which is then registered at the local registry office and forwarded to the property owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Anyone objecting to the proposed designation must notify the City Clerk’s office in writing within thirty days of the notice, and set out the reasons for the objection.
City Clerk’s Office
City of Guelph
1 Carden Street
Guelph, Ontario
N1H 3A1
519-837-5603
[email protected]
After receiving any objections, City Council refers the matter to the Conservation Review Board. The board hosts a public hearing to review the case and report its findings to the parties involved. Based on the board’s advice, City Council can either designate the property or withdraw its intention to designate.
For more information about designating a heritage property
[email protected]
519-837-5616