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Home > Services > Business Services > Heritage Preservation > Heritage Permits and Clearances

Heritage Review: Permits and Clearance

HERITAGE PERMIT

Properties located within Heritage Conservation Districts (HCD) and Individually Designated Properties are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

A Heritage Permit is required for any work that changes the appearance of these properties. This includes the entire property and any additional structures located within.

A Heritage Permit is obtained through a successful Heritage Review.

HERITAGE REVIEW

The scope of the Heritage Review is determined by the designation of the property (either a property in a Heritage Conservation District or an Individually Designated Property) and what is being proposed.

The stages of a Heritage Review:

1. Cultural Heritage staff analyze the proposed project (this can be done in conjunction with a Planning Application)

2. Heritage Vaughan Committee review the project

3. Recommendation from Heritage Vaughan Committee to Council for approval

4. A Heritage Permit is prepared and provided to the Applicant by Cultural Heritage staff with Council approval

Some examples of work requiring a Heritage Review:

All additions and alterations to any structures on the property

Demolition of structures on the property

All new construction

Landscaping and/or alteration of the property (including grading and tree removals)

Change in window or door openings and / or replacement of windows or doors

Removal and/or installation of porches, verandahs, canopies, cladding and chimneys

Change in trim, cladding and painting of building exterior

Removal and/or installation of a deck, fence, gate, trellis, arbours and/or gazebos

A Heritage Review may require the applicant provide the following (depending on the location and scope of the project):

Full description of all works proposed
Context Plan
Photographs (current and/or historic)
Boundary Plan of Survey
Topographic Survey
Arborist Report, Tree Inventory and Assessment, Tree Preservation Plan
Site Plan
Site and Building Elevations (existing and proposed)
Site and Building Sections
1:50 scale Detailed Building Elevations
Proposed Materials and Methodology
Colour Perspective Drawings
Landscape and Lighting Plan and Landscape Details
Grading Plan
Building Code Review/ Building Code Matrix/ Heritage Architect Review
Letter of Authorization

The following reports may be required and are to be completed by a heritage professional with expertise relating to the subject heritage resource. Staff will notify the applicant if any of the following are required:

Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (CHIA)

Heritage Conservation District Conformity Report (HCDC)

Conservation Plan for Heritage Resources

Archaeological Assessment

Please note that a satisfactory Heritage Review does not signify approval from other City Departments.

HERITAGE CLEARANCE

A Heritage Clearance is required prior to any Demolition Permit being issued by the City of Vaughan. The form is available here: Heritage Clearance. Please provide one copy of a survey or a site plan identifying the building that will be demolished.

Heritage Clearance is also required for any topsoil or soil removal.

MAINTENANCE of a heritage property

If the scope or scale of the proposed conservation work to a heritage resource does not require Site Development Approval or a Building Permit approval, (such as, brick cleaning and repointing, or work of this category listed in the related Heritage Conservation District Plan).

The following would be sufficient for a Cultural Heritage Review:

a letter from the owner (or the hired contractor) describing:
the scope of work
methodology
materials and product specifications

Return to Main Heritage Preservation page

Contact Information

Cultural Heritage Division,

Development Planning Department

Phone:
905-832-2281

Location:
City Hall, Level 2
2141 Major Mackenzie Drive
Vaughan L6A 1T1

Email:

CulturalHeritage@Vaughan.ca

Cultural Heritage Staff:

Nick Borcescu, Senior Heritage Planner

Katrina Guy, Cultural Heritage Coordinator

Wendy Whitfield Ferguson, Cultural Heritage Coordinator