Heritage Planning

Heritage

In 1974 the Ontario Government established the Ontario Heritage Act. This allowed Municipalities to take an active role in preserving heritage properties within their boundaries. The act enables Fort Erie Council to choose, protect and enhance properties and areas of:

architectural value,
historical value,
contextual value.

Notices

Visit Ontario Heritage Act for more information on notices.

Heritage Permits

Heritage Permit Information Package and Application Form

The Ontario Heritage Act enables the municipality to establish a municipal heritage committee. The committee advises and assists Town Council on matters relating to:

Part IV (Conservation of Property of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest);
Part V (Heritage Conservation Districts);
other heritage matters as the council may specify by by-law.

The council shall consult with its committee on the issues legislated by the OHA.

Fort Erie has 22 individual properties that have been designated under the OHA.

The MHSC provides advice and recommendations to City Council and staff about heritage permit applications in accordance with the OHA.

The Committee will be familiar with and consider the respective heritage guidelines as well as by-laws designating individual properties under the OHA. The Committee will also consider the Town's Official Plan as well as any other provincial or applicable heritage resource (e.g. the Ontario Heritage Tool Kit).

If you live in a designated heritage home or are located within one of the Town's heritage districts you may need a heritage permit before making certain changes to your property.

Typically, a heritage permit is required for more major changes to a designated heritage property. For example:

Construction of a new dwelling
Additions
New porch
New garage

Interior changes to a building and routine maintenance rarely need a heritage permit.

Process

If you need a heritage permit, your application is submitted to the Planning and Building Services Department.
The application is reviewed by the MHSC, which makes a recommendation on the application.
Planning and Building Services then prepares a report to Town Council for consideration when demolition is proposed. All other heritage permit approvals (as new construction, addition) are considered by the Committee and dealt with by a resolution, which is forwarded to Council for approval.

Background

In 1996, the Town of Fort Erie established the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC). Since that time, 22 individual properties have been designated under the OHA. Today, the Municipal Heritage Standing Committee (MHSC) (formally LACAC) advises Council on heritage matters.

Registered Heritage Properties

Section 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act requires the clerk of every municipality to keep a publicly accessible register of properties that are of cultural heritage value or interest in the municipality. The register must list all properties in the municipality that are designated under: Part IV (individual property designation) and Part V (within a designated heritage conservation district) of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Registered Heritage Properties Inventory List
Interactive Map - Designated Properties

Town of Fort Erie Register of Designated and Non-designated Cultural Heritage Properties

For properties designated under Part IV, the municipal register must include:

a legal description of the property;
the name and address of the owner;
a statement explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of the property;
a description of its heritage attributes.

For districts designated under Part V, the municipal register must include a map or description of the area of each district.

The Ontario Heritage Act (subsection 27(1.2)) also allows a municipality to include properties of cultural heritage value or interest that have not been designated in its municipal register.

The designation of heritage properties is a way of acknowledging a property's value to a community. At the same time, designation helps ensure these important places' conservation.

The main criticism of a heritage designation is the myth that it will reduce the value of a property. Here are some of the benefits:

Studies have shown that heritage properties increase in value at the same rate as non-designated properties.
You may have access to heritage grant programs to improve your property.
Heritage staff can help with advice on renovations.
There are rebates available on property taxes through the Town's Heritage Tax Rebate Programs.
There is an increased sense of pride in ownership and civic responsibility.

Although there are added steps to demolish or alter a heritage home, if you work with Town staff and understand how to make your application, it should not take much more time than a regular building permit.

Owners of listed properties must give the council of the municipality at least 60 days' notice of their intention to demolish or remove a building or structure on the property. This allows the municipality to decide whether to begin a designation process to give long-term protection to the property.

Heritage Tax Rebate Program

In the 2001 Ontario Budget, municipalities were given the ability to establish tax relief programs for owners with properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. These programs were set up to encourage the restoration and preservation of heritage buildings. The tax relief must be set between 10 and 40 percent of the taxes levied on the property.

The Town of Fort Erie passed By-law 204-07 to provide "tax refunds or reductions regarding an eligible heritage property." By-law 157-2021 has amended the previous by-law. Currently, eligible heritage property owners can receive a refund of up to 40% of the taxes levied for municipal and school purposes. The Heritage Tax Refund gets based on a maximum assessed value of $500,000.00 for each eligible heritage property.

Eligible heritage properties have been participating in the program since its creation. If your property is designated and you would like to take part in the program, please fill out and submit the following before February 28 of the following tax year.

Heritage Tax Rebate Application

For any heritage related inquiries, please contact:

Kimberlyn Smith - Junior Community Planner

Phone: 905-871-1600 ext. 2508