Heritage designation is a process established in the Ontario Heritage Act to recognize and protect properties of cultural heritage value or interest.
Properties that are designated by by-law pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act are honoured by Heritage Oshawa through the granting and installation of a plaque, which identifies the property as a City of Oshawa designated heritage property.
What are the advantages of designation? |
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What are the benefits and responsibilities of designation? |
Designation provides a process that ensures changes respect the heritage value of the existing property. Owners of designated properties seek approval of Council, in consultation with Heritage Oshawa, for property alterations that impact the "reasons for designation." Designation does not prohibit alterations. In fact, alterations that restore or maintain heritage features of a property are encouraged. If an owner disagrees with a council decision regarding designation or alterations, the owner may appeal to the Conservation Review Board. Owners of designated properties seek approval of Council, in consultation with Heritage Oshawa, to demolish a designated structure. Owners of designated properties are not required to restore their buildings to its original condition. As well, owners are not required to open their property to the public and are not expected to incur expenses beyond those of any other property owner. |
What are the "reasons for designation"? |
The "reasons for designation" are set out in the heritage designation by-law with a description of significant architectural, historical and contextual features of the property that are to be protected and conserved. |
What types of properties can be designated? |
Heritage properties that can be designated are residential, commercial, industrial and institutional structures, streetscapes, landscapes, natural areas, cemeteries and burial sites, and archaeological sites. |
How do I get my property designated? |
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How long does the designation process take? |
It may take between three and six months to complete the process. |
How much does it cost to designate my property? |
There are no costs to the owner to designate a property. Once a property is designated, you may be eligible to receive a heritage property tax reduction. |
Will designation affect the land use or resale value of my property? |
Designation neither restricts the sale of property or land use. A recent survey has shown that most designated properties performed better than average in the real estate market. |
The City of Oshawa Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest (the Register) is a list of properties that have been formally recognized by Council, pursuant to Section 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act, as being properties having cultural heritage value or interest.
The Register includes "designated" and "registered, non-designated" properties.
All properties listed in the Register can be found in the Heritage Oshawa Inventory along with other properties (e.g. Class A or Class B) that have a potential to be designated.