Heritage Conservation Districts
The Ontario Heritage Act enables the council of a municipality to designate defined areas as a Heritage Conservation District (HCD). This allows Council to manage and guide future change in the district, through district plans. District plans include policies and guidelines for the conservation, protection and enhancement of the area’s special character.
Vaughan has four Heritage Conservation Districts:
HCD's can include residential, commercial and industrial areas, rural landscapes, villages or hamlets with features that contribute to a cohesive sense of time or place. Other physical and spatial elements, such as important vistas and views between buildings are considered. The interest of a district may also depend on the diversity of the lifestyle and the traditions of the people who live and work there. Heritage Conservation Districts form an integral part of our cultural heritage as they contribute to an understanding and appreciation of Vaughan's cultural identity.