Living in a Heritage Conservation District

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE IN A HERITAGE DISTRICT?

The Cabbagetown Preservation Association (CPA) has a keen interest in heritage issues; in fact, the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation Districts Advisory Committee grew out of the CPA. Today, as well as being a leader in building the future Cabbagetown on its strong heritage, the CPA focuses its resources on education, interpretation and appreciation of Cabbagetown through its various programs.

The lead for heritage issues belongs to the city supported by the Cabbagetown HCD Advisory Committee. The HCD should be your first contact for heritage issues, but we are always happy to be kept informed of any issues.

WHEN DO YOU NEED A PERMIT?

Owning a property in one of Cabbagetown's HCDs gives you the advantage of living in a beautiful historic neighbourhood of leafy, human-scaled streets, Victorian era architectural styles and a tangible connection to Toronto’s past. These characteristics that we find so attractive, and the rarity of finding such a preserved gem intact, are protected by the Ontario Heritage Act and the Guidelines of each district’s HCD Plan.

It is important to note that if a property is located in a heritage district, any building permit - even if the work planned does not have any heritage aspects - will require review and approval from the City’s Heritage Preservation Services. When property owners in Cabbagetown want to make changes to parts of their homes that are visible from the street, a Heritage Permit needs to be obtained from the City of Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Services.

A heritage permit is required for:

  • Any renovations, alterations or additions that are visible from the street (this includes: windows, doors, porches, siding, and brick repairs using a material other than the original or the existing material);
  • Renovations that have an impact on the building's heritage attributes;
  • If a renovation involves demolition, property owners will need to submit an application to secure a permit;
  • As with any property, a Building Permit from the City is required if you intend to construct a new building, make structural alterations or additions, or change your signage.

A heritage permit is NOT required for:

  • Painting of wood, existing stucco or metal finishes;
  • Repair of existing features, including roofs, wall cladding, dormers, cresting, cupolas, cornices, brackets. columns, balustrades, porches as well as steps, entrances, windows, foundations, and decorative wood, metal, stone or terracotta, provided that the same type of materials are used;
  • Installation of eaves troughs;
  • Weatherproofing, including installation of removable storm windows and doors, caulking, and weather stripping;
  • Installation of exterior lights;
  • An alteration that is not visible from the street.

For detailed information and to access your area HCD Plan & Guidelines, please visit the Cabbagetown HCD Advisory Committee’s website.

HOW TO OBTAIN A HERITAGE PERMIT

The Heritage Preservation Services of the City of Toronto (Planning Division) is responsible for advising and assisting City Council, the Toronto Preservation Board, the community and property owners on the conservation of the city's heritage resources. Obtaining a Heritage Permit is free and can often be done easily via email exchange with the City's Heritage Preservation Services to advise them of your plans. Details can be found on the Heritage Permit Process on the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District Committee site.

Some things to consider:

  • New additions, including items such as skylights, will need to be located to the rear and side, away from the main elevation.
  • New garages and parking spaces will need to be located in unobtrusive areas, normally to the rear and side yards.
  • Additions must be sensitive to the character of their neighbours in size and height.
HERITAGE GRANTS

The Toronto Heritage Grant Program is administered by the Heritage Preservation Services Unit of the City Planning Division to encourage the conservation of designated heritage properties in the City of Toronto.

The Program provides grant funds of up to 50% of the estimated cost of eligible heritage conservation work to designated heritage properties. You can apply online at Heritage Preservation Grant Application.