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Heritage Permit (HE)

A Heritage Permit is required from the City before undertaking any external building or property alterations to individually designated heritage properties, or any properties located within a heritage conservation district, and for any proposed demolition the above properties.

 

Minor Heritage Permit Application

The Minor Heritage Permit is only required when no other permits or development approvals are required. Typical projects requiring a Heritage Permit include, but not limited to:

  • New or different wall cladding or roof treatment
  • Painting
  • Masonry cleaning and repointing
  • Removal and replacement of windows or doors
  • Changes to architectural decorations (i.e. Verandas, trim, soffits, fascia, etc.)
  • Front yard patios, lamp installations, awnings
  • Installation of mechanical equipment
  • Exterior repairs that change the appearance of the building 
  • Construction of fences

 

A Heritage Permit is not required for:

  • General repairs to weather-stripping, eaves troughs, roofs, chimneys, fences, existing cladding
  • Repair of broken window panes to original specifications
  • Backyard patios, garden sheds, gazebos, and other small outbuildings that are not readily visible from the street (and which do not require a Building Permit)
  • Planting and removal of vegetation on private property (tree removal requires a separate permit)

 

Major Heritage Permit Application

A Major Heritage Permit Application is required for more substantial alteration projects, which do not include the type of projects, identifies as Minor, and may include, but not limited to:

  1. New Residential Dwelling Units in heritage conservation districts such as detached, semi-detached, other forms of low rise units, multiplex buildings up to 10 units, townhouse, and coach house;
  2. Residential Additions/Alterations/Accessory Buildings in heritage conservation districts and on individually desiginated properties (including facade changes and new or expanded driveways); and 
  3. New construction, additions or alterations in heritage conservation districts and on individually designated properties involving more than ten (10) dwelling units or non-residential designated heritage property, where the Permit requirements, including any terms and conditions, are not included in a Planning Act approval or agreement, such as a Site Plan Agreement.  This could include alterations and additions (under 50 metre square in size) to commercial/institutional/other properties.

 

Demolition Heritage Permit Application

The demolition or removal of any building or structure on any property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, whether individually designated (Part IV), or located within a heritage conservation district (Part V), requires submission of a Demolition Heritage Permit Application.

Note that this application is in addition to any demolition approval required as per the Ontario Building Code Act.

For more information, visit the Heritage Protection page.

 

Application Submission

Please review the new Heritage Permit process Prior to submitting the appropriate permit application.

The applicant submits the application online via ePLAN with the Application Form, drawings, photographs or specifications that will assist in the review of the application.

Note:  will there is no fee for a Minor Heritage Permit application, there are applicable fees for Major Permit applications, as well as Heritage Demolition Permit applications, please refer to the Fee By-law.

 

Circulation and Staff Review

Once received, the application will be circulated to Heritage Staff for review who will work with the applicant to resolve issues identified during the review. If applicable, the applicant will revise and resubmit documents to address Staff concerns.

Heritage staff will also determine if the application must go to the Heritage Markham Committee or the Development Services Committee for review.  Once an application is deemed complete, Heritage Section staff have 90 days to either approve (often with conditions) or recommend denial. While Heritage Section staff have delegated authority to approve Heritage Permit applications, only Council had the authority to deny a Heritage Permit.

All Major Heritage Permit applications are considered by the Heritage Markham Committee, an advisory body to Council on all heritage-related matters.  As part of the heritage approvals process, Heritage Section staff prepares a memorandum for each application and presents it to the Committee for review and recommendation.

Minor Heritage Permit applications which are compliant with existing heritage policies are approved by the Heritage Section staff using delegated authority ad are brought forward to Heritage Committee for informational purposes.

 

Staff determines if the application must go to the Development Services Committee (DSC) for review

If Heritage Staff determines that the application must go to DSC for consideration, a recommendation report will be drafted and forwarded to DSC.  DSC will review and render a decision.

 

Approval

Once Heritage Section staff have determined that the proposed scope of work as detailed in the Heritage Permit application conforms with the relevant heritage policies, and following review of the Heritage Markham Committee and DSC/Council (if applicable), approval will be issued in the form of a Heritage permit.

Application Submission

Please review the new Heritage Permit process prior to submitting the permit.

The applicant submits an application online via ePLAN (with the Application Form, drawing, photograph or specification that will assist in the review of the application).

 

Note: There is no fee for a Minor Heritage Permit and there are applicable fees for Major Heritage Permit fees, please see the Fee By-Law.

Circulation and Staff Review

Once received, the application will be circulated to Heritage Staff for review.

Heritage Staff will work with the applicant to resolve issues identified during the review.

If applicable, the applicant will revise and resubmit documents for review.

Heritage staff will also determine if the application must go to Heritage Markham Committee or Development Services Committee for review. Applications which are compliant with existing policy are approved by Heritage Section staff.

Application is forwarded to Heritage Markham Committee for review

Heritage Staff prepares a memorandum and presents it to the Heritage Markham Committee for review and recommendation.

Staff determines if the application must go to the Development Services Committee (DSC) for review

If Heritage Staff determines that the application must go to DSC for consideration, a recommendation report will be drafted and forwarded to DSC. DSC will review and render a decision.

Approval

If Heritage Staff determines that the application must go to DSC for consideration, a recommendation report will be drafted and forwarded to DSC. DSC will review and render a decision.