FAQs

The City of Burlington is reviewing the potential heritage conservation district designation of 33 properties in Burlington. They are:

1. 415 Burlington Ave.
2. 418 Burlington Ave.
3. 419 Burlington Ave.
4. 422 Burlington Ave.
5. 425 Burlington Ave.
6. 426 Burlington Ave.
7. 431 Burlington Ave.
8. 432 Burlington Ave.
9. 436 Burlington Ave.
10.  437 Burlington Ave.
11.  446 Burlington Ave.
12.  454 Burlington Ave.
13.  455 Burlington Ave.
14.  457 Burlington Ave.
15.  460 Burlington Ave.
16.  461 Burlington Ave.
17.  465 Burlington Ave.
18.  466 Burlington Ave.
19.  471 Burlington Ave.
20.  472 Burlington Ave.
21.  475 Burlington Ave.
22.  476 Burlington Ave.
23.  479 Burlington Ave.
24.  487 Burlington Ave.
25.  482 Burlington Ave.
26.  1406 Ontario St.
27.  1410 Ontario St.
28.  1414 Ontario St.
29.  1418 Ontario St.
30.  1422 Ontario St.
31.  1426 Ontario St.
32.  1393 Elgin St.
33.  1401 Elgin St.

The Province’s Bill 23 amended the Ontario Heritage Act and the impact will affect any non-designated property. The City has until January 2027 to designate significant non-designated heritage properties.

Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, was passed in 2022 to help encourage the construction of 1.5 million new homes in Ontario by 2031.

Burlington is taking this opportunity to permanently protect significant built heritage properties and significant cultural heritage areas.

Any property that is removed from the City’s heritage list may be looked at again in 2032.

A property may be designated in a heritage conservation district under Part V, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act if it meets the criteria defined by the Province in Ontario Regulation 9/06. 

This criterion determines whether at least 25 per cent of the properties being studied are of cultural heritage value or interest. The types of criteria considered are design value or physical value, historical value or associative value and contextual value:

 i.  they are rare, unique, representative or early examples of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

ii.  they display craftsmanship or artistic merit.

iii.  they show a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.

iv.  they have a direct association with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

v.  they have, or have the potential to have, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture.

vi.  they reflect the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

vii. they define, maintain or support the character of the district.

viii. are physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to each other.

ix.  are a landmark

It could increase your property value.

Studies have shown that individually designating heritage properties does not negatively impact price and may actually increase property values. For more information, see the 2023 McMaster University study, Investigating the Impact of Heritage Property Designation on Real Estate Value. 

Yes, the City of Burling offers the Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program as well as grants and loans through the Community Heritage Fund.

If you are the owner of a designated property owner, you need to:

• get a Heritage Permit application from the City if you would like make changes to the property, other than the inside of any structure or building on the property.
• seek Council permission to demolish a designated structure.
• new owners of designated properties need to advise the City Clerk of the change of ownership within 30 days after becoming owner of the property.
• maintain your heritage property and its heritage features in a safe and secure condition.

Yes. You have 30 days after the City publishes the Notice of Passage of the By-law designating the municipality or any defined area or areas of the municipality as a heritage conservation district to appeal the heritage conservation district designation bylaw to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) by serving their objection on the Tribunal and the municipality.

There are many ways to be involved. 

There will be a public consultation session in Fall 2024. 

In the meantime, email heritage@burlington.ca with questions or comments.