Heritage Planning Resources

A Heritage Permit is required prior to undertaking any alterations to a heritage building or property that may impact its character-defining features or attributes. For properties that are individually designated under Section 29 (Part IV) of the Ontario Heritage Act, these heritage attributes should be clearly listed in the designation by-law. For properties within a Heritage Conservation District designation under Section 41 (Part V) of the Ontario Heritage Act, the character-defining features will be listed in the District Plan. In the case of the Pickering Village, the list of heritage attributes can be found in Sections 8.3.1 and 8.3.2 of the Pickering Village Heritage Conservation District Plan.

The system for processing a Heritage Permit application is dependent upon the nature of the application. Council has delegated authority to staff for decisions on minor applications, so the turnaround time for approval can be as little as a few days. Decisions on applications of a moderate scale are generally made by staff after consultation with the Town’s Heritage Advisory Committee. Major applications are subjected to review by the Heritage Advisory Committee and a decision by Council. Regardless of the nature of the application, the Town is required under the Ontario Heritage Act to make a decision within 90 days.

There is a one-page Heritage Permit primer available for those looking for more information on Heritage Permits. The Heritage Permit Application Form is also available online.

Cultural Heritage Evaluation Reports may be required by the Town when development is proposed on or adjacent to a property with probable but unconfirmed heritage value. Generally, this type of property is included on the Town’s informal inventory of non-designated properties. The purpose of the Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report is to clearly document the heritage value of the property with regard to its historical, design and contextual characteristics. All reports must contain an evaluation of the subject property using Ontario Regulation 9/06, which assesses heritage value using nine criteria. If a property is demonstrated to satisfy at least one of the nine criteria, Council is required to determine whether it will seek designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.

All Cultural Heritage Evaluation Reports must be completed by a qualified heritage consultant. The content of the report may be combined with a Heritage Impact Statement to form a comprehensive document that identifies a property’s value and offers mitigation options to protect that value.

A Heritage Impact Statement may be required by the Town when development is proposed on or adjacent to a designated or non-designated heritage property. The Heritage Impact Statement must describe the subject heritage property, identify the potential impacts of the proposed development, identify conservation options, and recommend impact mitigation techniques and an implementation strategy. All Heritage Impact Statements must demonstrate that the subject heritage property will not be adversely affected by the development. Review by the Town’s Heritage Advisory Committee is also required.

All Heritage Impact Statements must be completed by a qualified heritage consultant. In some cases, the content of the statement may be combined with a Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report to form a comprehensive document that identifies a property’s value and offers mitigation options to protect that value.

A Conservation Plan may be required by the Town in instances where development is anticipated to impact a designated heritage property. Unlike a Heritage Impact Statement, which primarily identifies the impacts of a development and offers mitigations options, a Conservation Plan is a finely detailed plan that outlines how the heritage attributes of a property will be conserved. This is typically done graphically through annotated site plans and elevation drawings that demonstrate where and how conservation work will be conducted. Conservation Plans should also include recommendations and timelines for future interventions and maintenance.

Where a Conservation Plan is required, it is typically included in a development agreement as a condition of approval. The Town may require securities to be posted by the developer for the value of the work outlined within the Plan. This ensures that the work is completed to the standards required by the Town.

An archaeological assessment may be required by the Town when development is proposed on or adjacent to lands containing known archaeological resources or archaeological potential. Areas of archaeological potential are typically characterized by proximity to water bodies, the presence of heritage resources or previously undisturbed soils. Where archaeological resources or archaeological potential exists, the developer must retain a consulting archaeologist holding a valid license to carry out the work. This assessment must occur prior to any demolition, grading or other soil disturbance.

There are four stages of archaeological assessment but not all stages will be necessary for each project, as archaeological potential can be cleared at any stage. Any significant archaeological resources present on a property shall be preserved on site or removed and documented to the satisfaction of all authorities.

In 2006, Town Council approved a Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program designed to reduce property tax costs for designated heritage properties. The program provides a 10% rebate on the Town and Education portions of the tax bill. Property owners must apply on a yearly basis in order to receive the rebate.

Eligibility in the program is contingent upon a property being designated under the Ontario Heritage Act (either as an individual property or as part of a Heritage Conservation District) and being subject to a Heritage Easement Agreement under Section 22 or 37 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Heritage Easement Agreements are voluntary legal agreements between the Town and a property owner that establish mutually accepted conditions for ensuring preservation in perpetuity. Easements are a stronger form of protection than designation, and therefore, are required to ensure the wise investment of funds returned to the property owner through the Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program.

A Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program information guide is available for those looking for more information on the program. The Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program Application Form is also available online.

Heritage properties located in Pickering Village that are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act (either as an individual property or as part of a Heritage Conservation District) or included on the Town’s informal inventory of non-designated heritage properties may be eligible for a number of financial incentives available through the Pickering Village Community Improvement Program (CIP).

Further information regarding the Pickering Village CIP is available on the Town's website.