Designated Heritage Properties

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Heritage designation

• Recognizes the importance of a property to the local community
• Protects the property's cultural heritage value
• Encourages good stewardship and conservation
• Promotes knowledge and understanding about the property

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, municipalities can pass bylaws to formally designate properties of cultural heritage value or interest. Formal designation of heritage properties is one way of publicly acknowledging a property's heritage value to a community. At the same time, designation helps to ensure the conservation of these important places for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Properties can be designated individually or as part of a larger Heritage Conservation District. Properties may also be "listed" on the Municipal Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest. Properties are evaluated by Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value or Interest to determine significance and eligibility of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Designation does not prohibit, restrict, or adversely affect the sale of a property. Research indicates that a designated property may perform more consistently than a comparable non-designated property in a turbulent market.

Designation does not oblige the owner to restore and maintain the building beyond what is reasonably expected of any property owner. Designation does not prohibit the development or alteration of a property, but Heritage Permit approval from Council is usually required.

Heritage Conservation Districts

A Heritage Conservation District falls under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act, which enables the council of a municipality to designate the entire municipality or any defined area or areas of the municipality as a Heritage Conservation District (HCD).

An HCD is an area of special character, which may combine older buildings and their settings, making up a district that has a cohesive and distinct sense of time and place. The heritage resources within a district can include buildings, structures, cultural landscapes, and sites of archaeological potential; as well as intangible resources, such as associations with historical events and traditional activities.

The purpose of declaring an area an HCD is to conserve and enhance the character of the neighbourhood. A Heritage Conservation District Plan guides physical change over time so that any change will contribute to the district's special character.

The value and interest of an HCD may also depend on the diversity of the lifestyle and the traditions of the people who live and work there. As the users and the ultimate guardians, the community forms a vital part of a Heritage Conservation District.

The Township of Loyalist currently has one Heritage Conservation District located at the west-end of the Village of Bath, and contains nine properties selected due to their integrity, diversity, and contributions to the larger environment. In October of 1982, the Corporation of the Village of Bath passed a by-law that enabled the designation of the Heritage Conservation District.

In 2013 the Heritage Conservation District Plan was updated to identify its conformance with current heritage legislation and planning policy. Since the designation of the HCD in 1982 there had been substantial revisions made to the Ontario Heritage Act prompting the need for revisions to the Heritage Conservation District Plan in Bath.

The Village of Bath Heritage Conservation District Plan provides detailed information on the history of Bath, the key heritage attributes under protection, the implementation of the plan, and outlines the goals, objectives, and policies of the Plan.