Heritage conservation

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Overview

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 of the Heritage Planning Branch is part of the Planning, Development and Building Services Department. The branch 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 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 biannually and issues orders for board-up, graffiti removal, repair, restoration or property maintenance as required.

This list is being provided for information purposes only. If there is a designated heritage property you are concerned about please contact 3-1-1. This list is up to date as of June 10, 2025.

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

This property was recently damaged by fire, and a heritage permit has been issued for its demolition. The building will be removed from the list once it is demolished.

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.

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 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

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 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

There are no active applications for this property.

Heritage stone and brick house with front blue awning.

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.

View from the street of the fire-damaged buildings at 35-43 ½ William Street.

35-37 William Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act, 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 40 Lyttleton Gardens

40 Lyttleton Gardens
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act, 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, Ontario Heritage Act, Clemow Estate East Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

St Marc's United stone Church under renovation.

St Marc's United Church, 325 Elgin Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act, Minto 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.

Front façade of modern brick house at 75 Lyttleton Gardens

75 Lyttleton Gardens
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act, Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Crumbling stone building at1 Onigam Street

5 Onigam 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.

Front façade of modern stone house at 125 Lakeway Drive.

125 Lakeway Drive
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.

Front façade of house at 8 Briarcliffe Drive Part V: Briarcliffe Heritage Conservation District

8 Briarcliffe Drive
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act, Briarcliffe Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

 

Brick triplex at 379 Metcalfe Street.

379 Metcalfe Street
Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Centretown Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.
 

Heritage brick building at 552 Booth Street.

552 Booth Street

Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property.
 

Brick building with blue wrap on a wall at 111 Parent Avenue

111 Parent Avenue

Part V, Ontario Heritage Act, ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.
 

Heritage brick house with graffiti at 127 York Street.

127 York Street

Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.
 

Heritage stone building at 60 des Oblats.

60 des Oblats Avenue

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.

Heritage half-timbered house on 259 Clemow Avenue.

259 Clemow Avenue

Part V, Ontario Heritage Act: Clemow-Monkland Driveway and Linden Terrace 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.
 

Old brick buildings at 1495 Heron Road.

1495 Heron Road

Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property.

Heritage house with hedge in front at 669 Acacia Avenue

699 Acacia Avenue

Part V: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Heritage house with front awning at 240 Coltrin Road

240 Coltrin Road

Part V: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Heritage house surrounded by trees at 6 Coltrin Place.

6 Coltrin Place

Part V: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Heritage house at 191 Mariposa Avenue.

191 Mariposa Avenue

Part V: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Old stone house located at 488 Acacia Avenue.

488 Acacia Avenue

Part V: Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Former heritage one-room brick schoolhouse located at 3131 Jockvale Road.

3131 Jockvale Road

Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property.

Old wooden house with a picket fence in front located at 306 Cyr Avenue.

306 Cyr Avenue

Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property.

Historic brick storefront with boarded up windows at ground level located at 152 Bank Street.

152 Bank Street

Part V of Ontario Heritage Act: Bank Street Heritage Conservation District

There are no active applications for this property.

Historic two-storey brick house with porch at 501 Cole Avenue.

501 Cole Avenue

Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act

There are no active applications for this property.

Abandoned historic side-by-side duplex with boarded up ground floor windows at 227-229 St. Patrick Street.

227-229 St. Patrick Street

Part V of Ontario Heritage Act: Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District

A heritage permit has been issued to demolish the building. The building will be removed from the list once it is demolished.

Abandoned historic house with boarded up ground floor windows at 231-233 St. Patrick Street.

231-233 St. Patrick Street

Part V of Ontario Heritage Act: Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District

A heritage permit has been issued to demolish the building. The building will be removed from the list once it is demolished.

Historic two-storey side-by-side duplex at 235-237 St. Patrick Street.

235-237 St. Patrick Street

Part V of Ontario Heritage Act: Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District

A heritage permit has been issued to demolish the building. The building will be removed from the list once it is demolished.