The conservation of cultural heritage resources enriches our lives. It is an important shared responsibility and a prominent civic legacy that we leave for future generations. The City uses regulatory tools and processes to manage changes to properties that City Council has determined to have heritage potential, or that have been included on the Heritage Register. Those seeking to adapt or change these properties will find information below on what the City requires in applications, and the processes the City follows.
Toronto’s cultural heritage can be seen in the significant buildings, properties, districts, landscapes and archaeological sites found throughout the city. As Toronto continues to grow and intensify, this growth must recognize and be balanced with the ongoing conservation of our significant heritage properties. Their protection, wise use and management demonstrate the City’s goal to integrate the significant achievements of our people, their history, our landmarks, and our neighbourhoods into a shared sense of place and belonging for its inhabitants.
The conservation of cultural heritage resources is an integral component of good planning, contributing to a sense of place, economic prosperity, and healthy and equitable communities. Heritage conservation in Ontario is identified as a provincial interest under the Planning Act. Cultural heritage resources are considered irreplaceable and valuable assets that must be wisely protected and managed as part of planning for future growth under the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024. Heritage conservation is enabled through the Ontario Heritage Act. The City of Toronto’s Official Plan implements the provincial policy regime, the Planning Act, the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) and provides policies to guide decision making within the city.
Heritage Planning staff review development applications to ensure that through the Planning Act process heritage properties and archaeological resources are conserved and maintained consistent with Provincial Policy, the City’s Official Plan, the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada and to ensure that significant archaeological resources, and the cultural heritage value and attributes of heritage properties are conserved.
Owners require a heritage permit prior to undertaking changes to properties that are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Permits are not required for properties that are included on the Heritage Register, but not designated, commonly referred to as listed properties.
For information on obtaining heritage permits, please see the Heritage Permit Guide.
To determine whether or not your property is included on the Heritage Register as a non-designated, listed property, as individually designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act or designated as part of a Heritage Conservation District under Part V of the Act, see the City’s Heritage Register Map or the Heritage Register Search Tool.
Most planning applications that involve heritage properties require the submission of a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA). An HIA is an independent professional and objective study undertaken at the earliest stage of project planning, design, construction and development activity necessary to inform a project’s design with the goal of conservation.
The purpose of the HIA is to:
Within the City of Toronto’s application process and complete application requirements, the purpose of the HIA is also to inform decisions of City staff and City Council and to guide the creation of a Conservation Plan or any other Council approved condition.
If you have questions about the completion of a Heritage Impact Assessment or whether your application is subject to one please contact Heritage Planning staff at heritageplanning@toronto.ca.
The early identification and understanding of a historic place is an essential first step to good conservation. The primary document used by Heritage Planning to guide research and the evaluation of properties for their cultural heritage value is the Cultural Heritage Resource Evaluation Report (CHER). A clear understanding of a resource’s heritage value can both ensure its long-term conservation, as well as identify opportunities for flexibility and change early in the planning process.
Under the Official Plan, Schedule 3, a CHER will be required as part of a complete application for Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-law Amendments, or Plans of Subdivision where a property meets one or more of the criteria below:
Check the Heritage Register Map to determine if your property meets these criteria. Applicants are also encouraged to contact Heritage Planning staff at heritageplanning@toronto.ca prior to beginning work on a CHER to confirm this requirement.
Under the Official Plan, Schedule 3, a CHER may be required as a component of an Heritage Impact Assessment.
A CHER is encouraged for development applications that include a property that is not on the City’s Heritage Register and does not meet the criteria above, but that may have cultural heritage value.
A CHER is not required for properties that are:
A property owner is encouraged to complete a CHER if they have an interest in understanding the potential heritage value of their property outside of a development application process, if they wish to recognize valued community assets, or if they wish to determine if their property could qualify for the heritage property tax rebate and grant programs.
Owners of listed properties are required to provide the City with written notice at least sixty days prior to removing or demolishing a building or structure on a listed property. The required contents of a notice are prescribed in Chapter 103-7.2 of the City of Toronto’s Municipal Code. Owners considering submitting a notice are encouraged to contact Heritage Planning in advance to discuss notice requirements.
Through Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, the Province of Ontario amended the Ontario Heritage Act placing a two-year time limitation on the inclusion of non-designated heritage properties (listed properties) on the Heritage Register. In addition, properties that were listed prior to January 1, 2023, may only remain listed until January 1, 2027. Listed properties that are not designated prior to their expiration date will be removed from the Heritage Register.
As part of a complete application, certain Planning Act Applications for development on lands that contain formerly listed properties that City Council believes have cultural heritage value or interest are required to include a Cultural Heritage Resource Evaluation Report (CHER).
To determine whether your property is subject to a CHER requirement see the Heritage Register Map.
Applicants are encouraged to contact Heritage Planning staff at heritageplanning@toronto.ca prior to beginning work on a CHER to confirm this requirement.
An archaeological resource assessment identifies and evaluates the presence of archaeological resources. Archaeological resources or sites include the physical remains and contextual setting of any structure, event, place, feature or object which is on or below the surface of the land or water and are important to understanding the history of a people or place.
The City of Toronto has developed and implemented an Archaeological Management Plan which identifies lands with archaeological potential, which are likely to contain archaeological resources.
Under the Official Plan, Schedule 3, an archaeological assessment will be required as part of a complete application for Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-Law Amendments, Plans of Subdivision, or Site Plan Control applications where a property is identified in the City of Toronto’s database of lands with archaeological potential.
An archaeological resource assessment will be required as a condition of approval of most Consent to Sever and certain Minor Variance applications that involve property identified as having archaeological potential. It may also be required as part of a Heritage Permit application for properties identified in Heritage Conservation District Plans, or if a property is identified on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register.
To determine whether a property is identified as having archaeological potential, visit Toronto Maps.