Heritage Conservation District

What is a Heritage Conservation District (HCD)?

• An HCD is an area of the municipality that is protected by a municipal by-law passed under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act by Town Council. See the map of Perth's HCD.
• HCDs are designated because the areas they protect are considered to be historically or culturally significant and require special care and attention in the planning process to ensure that they are conserved.
• The Town of Perth presently has one Heritage Conservation District - the Downtown Perth Heritage Conservation District. 
• The purpose of declaring an area as a heritage conservation district is to conserve and enhance the character of the neighbourhood.
• A heritage conservation district plan guides physical change over time so that any change contributes to the district's historic character.
• Heritage designations come in the form of a by-law, which is registered on the title of each property within the Heritage Conservation District.

Properties with Heritage Designations

There are many properties in Perth that hold a type of heritage designation. See the listing of these properties and what type of designation they have. 

Heritage Grants 

Heritage Permits

Heritage Permits are required for any work on a heritage property that will affect its architectural character, including paint colour.

Note that building permits or sign permits may also be required.

Use the Heritage Permit Application to obtain approval. There is no fee for a Heritage Permit.

Resources

• Map of Perth's HCD
• Listing of Designated Properties in Perth
• The Ontario Heritage Act
• Ontario Regulation 9/06, Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
• Ontario Heritage Tool Kit
• Ontario Architecture Website
• Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada
• Provincial Policy Statement
• The Ontario Heritage Trust - Ontario Heritage Conservation Districts
• Heritage Designation and Property Values: Is there an Effect?
• A Stewardship Guide to the Downtown Perth Heritage Conservation District
• Benjamin Moore Historical Collection Colour Palette
• For further questions about the HCD, please contact the Heritage Tourism Manager at:

613-326-3120
80 Gore Street East
Perth, Ontario K7H 1H9

Annual Reports

2018 Annual Report

2019 Annual Report

2020 Annual Report

2021 Annual Report

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

Municipalities have a key role to play in conserving places that have cultural heritage value. 

Designation is...

• Registered on property title
• A means of recognizing cultural heritage value in our communities and preserving it for future generations
• Recognized by a heritage plaque

Criteria for individual property designations

• Cultural heritage value or interest
• Design or physical value
• Historical or associated value
• Contextual value
• Heritage attributes

Architectural Conservation Award Program

• The purpose of the Heritage Perth Architectural Conservation Award Program is to recognize, promote or otherwise encourage excellence in heritage conservation in Perth, Ontario.
• To qualify for an award, nominations must be received by December 31st of each year. For more information and to fill out the nomination form, please access the Architectural Conservation Award Program Nomination Form. 

• 2021 Award Presentations