Heritage conservation

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Overview

Heritage Action Plan 2019-2022 [ PDF 38 KB ]

The conservation of cultural heritage resources is a priority for the City of Ottawa. Historic buildings, districts and landscapes provide us with physical reminders of our past and a greater understanding and appreciation of our local identity. The City of Ottawa conserves significant cultural heritage resources to celebrate, revitalize, stabilize and enhance the community as well as to contribute to its physical, social, cultural and economic development. The City has over 300 individually designated buildings and 20 heritage conservation districts.

Heritage planning is the preservation, conservation, rehabilitation, restoration and management of heritage resources. Cultural heritage resources can include sites, structures, buildings, and landscapes of cultural heritage value. Heritage planners work to manage change throughout the city to ensure that cultural heritage resources are retained, protected and integrated into new developments.

The Heritage Services Unit is part of the Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department. The Unit is responsible for researching and evaluating properties and areas for designation, assisting property owners with restoration projects and evaluating applications for alterations and demolition under the Ontario Heritage Act. The Unit provides expert advice to the Built Heritage Sub-Committee, Planning Committee, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and City Council on built heritage matters.

The City of Ottawa uses a variety of tools to identify and protect cultural heritage resources:

The Ontario Heritage Act

The Ontario Heritage Act provides the City of Ottawa with three ways to recognize and protect properties of cultural heritage value

  • Listing on the heritage register (Section 27 of the Act)
  • Individual designation (Part IV of the Act)
  • Heritage district designation (Part V of the Act)

Property Standards By-Law (2013-416)

In 2013, in response to ongoing issues of demolition by neglect of several heritage properties, the City's property standards by-law was updated to include specific rules about the maintenance and minimum standards for heritage buildings. The amendments to the by-law have allowed the City to more closely monitor the condition of designated properties to ensure their long term viability. Section VI of the Property Standards By-Law includes the minimum standards for heritage properties.

Heritage Overlay, Section 60 of the Zoning By-law

Section 60 of the City of Ottawa Zoning By-law contains the Heritage Overlay that is applied to most designated heritage properties and districts. The Overlay provides an additional layer of protection for the property and the character of the area. The Heritage Overlay sets out a variety of requirements for new additions and new construction in heritage areas. For instance, if a building affected by the Heritage Overlay is to be demolished it must be replaced with a building of the same size, massing, and floor area. This regulation is meant to ensure that new construction is not out of character for the area. Section 60 also offers parking incentives for historic buildings.

Contact Us

For more information on the City of Ottawa Heritage Program, please contact:

Heritage Planning
613-580-2463
Email: heritage@ottawa.ca

Heritage Watch List

The Heritage Watch List was created in 2016 through the Mayor’s Heritage Matters Task Force as a tool to monitor designated heritage buildings that are vacant or at risk. The buildings are monitored through the City’s Property Standards By-law (2013-416) which was updated in 2013 to include specific standards for designated heritage properties. A Property Standards Officer visits each property on this list quarterly and issues orders for board-up, graffiti removal, repair, restoration or property maintenance as required.

The list includes all vacant heritage buildings as well as occupied buildings that are deemed to be at risk due to neglect or deterioration. There are several buildings on this list that are currently under development and will be removed from the list once construction is complete and the buildings are occupied.

This list is being provided for information purposes only. The Heritage Watch List  changes frequently so this version may not be the most current list. This list will be updated four times each year. If there is a designated heritage property you are concerned about please contact 3-1-1. For a copy of the most up-to-date list or more information about the list, please contact heritage@ottawa.ca. This list is up to date as of September 12, 2023.

The Bradley-Craig Barn is a large wooden dairy barn with a distinctive monitor roofline located at 590 Hazeldean Road.

Bradley Craig Barn
590 Hazeldean Road
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property. 

This 19th century stone farmhouse is located at 173 Huntmar Road. It features decorative woodwork and porches.

Boyd Farmhouse
173 Huntmar Drive         
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property. 

The City Registry Office at 70 Nicholas Street is a buff brick building with stone details.

City Registry Office
70 Nicholas Street
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

A heritage permit was issued to alter this property. This building will be removed from the list once the construction is completed, and the building is occupied.

The façade of Our Lady’s School is located at 287 Cumberland Street in the Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District.

Our Lady's School
287 Cumberland Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property. 

This red brick house with a covered front porch is located in the Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District.

179 Guigues Avenue    
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

This two and one half storey building with a gabled roof is located in the Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District.

79 Guigues Avenue
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

This flat roof red brick house at 143 Murray Street is located in the ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District and features Italiante detailing including brick voussoirs and a decorative cornice.

143 Murray Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

This flat-roofed two storey red brick building is located at 231 Cobourg Street in Sandy Hill.

231 Cobourg Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Wilbrod-Laurier Heritage Conservation District

This building is vacant but there is an approved heritage permit for demolition of the building and construction of a new building on the site. This building will be removed from the list once it is demolished.

This image shows the 2 ½ storey house at the corner of Maple Lane and Lisgar Road. It features stucco cladding and half timbering.

1 Maple Lane/1112 Lisgar Road   
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

This two storey house is clad in stucco and located at 235 Mariposa Avenue in the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District.

235 Mariposa Avenue   
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

A heritage permit was issued to alter this property. This building will be removed from the list once the construction is completed, and the building is occupied.

The Loeb House, 187 Lansdowne Road is large bungalow, clad in field stone and cedar and located in the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District.

Loeb House, 187 Lansdowne Road
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

A heritage permit was issued to alter this property. This building will be removed from the list once the construction is completed, and the building is occupied.

This Classical revival style building is brown brick with stone detailing and is located at 330 Gilmour Street in the Centretown Heritage Conservation District.

330 Gilmour Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Centretown Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

This red brick house is located at 30 James Street in the Centretown Heritage Conservation District and features a decorative front porch.

30 James Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Centretown Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

This elaborate Queen Anne Revival style red brick house is located at 46 Cartier Street in Centretown. The house features a wrap-around front porch and decorative brick work.

46 Cartier Street
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property.

Somerset House is located at the corner of Bank Street and Somerset Street in the Centretown Heritage Conservation District. The building is red brick and features elaborate decorative metal details.

Somerset House
352 Somerset Street West
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Centretown Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

The Champlain Oil Service Centre is a one and one half storey building located at the corner of Island Park Drive and Richmond Road in Westboro.

Champlain Oil Service Station
70 Richmond Road
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

A heritage permit was issued to alter this property. This building will be removed from the list once the construction is completed, and the building is occupied.

The Magee House is a three storey stone building located at Wellington Street West in Hintonburg.

Magee House
1119 Wellington Street W
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property

The former Broadview School is a two storey red brick building with a flat roof and limestone details. The building is located in the Highland Park neighbourhood.

Broadview School
590 Broadview Avenue
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property. 

The former Soeurs de la Visitation convent is located at 114 Richmond Road in Westboro and is comprised of a Gothic Revival stone house with a large addition that served as a convent.

Sisters of the Visitation
114 Richmond Road       
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

The former Soeurs de la Visitation convent is vacant but there is an approved heritage permit for the restoration of the property and new development on the site. It will be removed from the list once construction is complete and the building is occupied. 

460 Wilbrod Street

460 Wilbrod Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act, Wilbrod/Laurier Heritage Conservation District

This building is not vacant but the property owner has undertaken exterior alterations to the building without a heritage permit. The building is considered to be “at-risk” so has been added to the Heritage Watch List. This building will be removed from the list once the remediation work is completed.

Photo offrant une vue de la rue sur les bâtiments endommagés par un incendie aux 35-43 ½, rue William

35-43 ½ William Street
Part V, ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District

A construction permit was issued for this site in 2019. The property will remain on this list until construction is complete and the building is occupied.

Front façade of the house at 38 Blackburn Avenue

38 Blackburn Avenue
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act, Russell-Range Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Front façade of the house at 190 Lansdowne Road

190 Lansdowne Road
Part V, Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Photo of the house at 40 Lyttleton Gardens

40 Lyttleton Gardens
Part V, Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Front façade of the house at 58 Glebe Avenue

58 Glebe Avenue
Part V, Clemow Estate East Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

7 Crescent Road

7 Crescent Road
Part V, Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property. 

St Marc's United Church

St Marc's United Church, 325 Elgin Street
Part V, Minto Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

75 Lyttleton Gardens

75 Lyttleton Gardens
Part V: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

1 Onigam Street

1 Onigam Street
Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property.

105 Lakeway Drive

105 Lakeway Drive
Part V: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

125 Lakeway Drive

125 Lakeway Drive
Part V: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

8 Briarcliffe Drive Part V: Briarcliffe Heritage Conservation District

8 Briarcliffe Drive
Part V: Briarcliffe Heritage Conservation District

A heritage permit was issued to alter this property. This building will be removed from the list once the construction is completed, and the building is occupied.

200 Mariposa Avenue

200 Mariposa Avenue
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.