Heritage permits

Check whether you need a permit

• Owners of properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act require a heritage permit from the City of Toronto prior to undertaking changes to a property.
• There are different requirements for properties that are individually designated (Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act) and designated within Heritage Conservation Districts (Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act).
• To find out if your property is designated under Part IV or Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act or if it is listed on the Heritage Register but not designated, see the City’s Heritage Register Map or the Heritage Register Tool.
• Permission is required for work that involves altering, demolishing/removing or erecting a building or structure on properties that are designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
• To find out whether or not your proposal requires a Heritage Permit please contact Heritage Planning staff at heritageplanning@toronto.ca.

Application Types for Individually Designated Properties

Heritage attributes are detailed in the designation by-law for the property.

• Alteration(s) that affect the heritage attributes — An alteration means that a change is being proposed to the property that is likely to affect one or more of the property’s heritage attribute as described in the designation by-law (S.33).
• Demolition or removal of any of the property’s heritage attributes — The demolition or removal of a heritage attribute means the complete removal of one or more of the attributes described in the designation by-law (S.34(1)1).
• Demolition or removal of a building or structure — The demolition or removal of any building or structure on the property whether or not its demolition or removal would affect the property’s heritage attributes as set out in the designation (S.34(1)2).

Submission Requirements0 of 40

The following submission requirements are required with your application. The level of detail required for reports and/or studies listed below can vary, depending on the nature of your property and your proposal.

• Photographs5Photographs that depict the existing buildings, structures and heritage attributes that are affected by the application and their condition and context. The photographs should:
• Location Plan4A site plan or sketch that illustrates the location of the proposed alteration, demolition or removal. Location Plan should:
• Drawings and Written Specifications8The drawings and written specifications for the proposed alteration, demolition or removal. The drawings and written specifications should include:
• A Description of the Property2The description of the property that is the subject of the application, including such information as the concession and lot numbers, reference plan and part numbers, and street names and numbers. The description should include:
• The reason for the proposed works1
• Details of the potential impacts of the proposed works1Details of the potential impacts to the heritage attributes of the property. This should include:
• Technical Cultural Heritage Studies8All technical cultural heritage studies that are relevant to the proposed alteration, demolition or removal. These may include:
• Heritage Impact Assessment7A Heritage Impact Assessment if the application proposes the demolition or removal of a building or structure, or if the Heritage Permit application is in association with any of the following application types:
• Construction Management Plan4Construction Management Plan if the applicant has confirmed that construction vehicles, materials and activities associated with the proposed works would affect the heritage buildings, structures and/or heritage attributes of the subject property. This Plan should include details to explain:

You need an account to see these 40 items.It’s free. Use Sign in at the top of the page to create one, then tick the items off on any device and print them as a checklist.

Complete the form1Download the set1 form

• 2021 Heritage Permit Application Form and ChecklistForm

Submit your application

• All drawings should be in metric and drawn to a standard scale (i.e. 1:100, 1:200)
• All drawings should contain one diagram, to scale, per page
• Font of plans and drawings is to be sufficiently legible
• Drawings should display the municipal address, project name, drawing title, preparation date
• North arrow with appropriate cross-references to other plans, elevations or cross-sections
• Legend for all symbols, hatching and shading
• Electronically-produced documents, plans and drawings (i.e. dwg, docx) should be converted into PDF format (version 7 or later); for submission. Printing to paper and scanning to create a PDF should be avoided.
• The maximum page size is an ARCH E (36″x48″ or 914.4mm (≈ 3 ft) x 1219.2mm (≈ 4 ft)).
• Plans/Drawings with multiple pages and sets should be combined into a single PDF file
• All submission material should be submitted without a password and/or restrictions
• All submission material should not have any layers and total size of each digital file should be less than 10 MB
• Forms should be completed and signed electronically. All Heritage Permit forms are available and can be completed online.
• Documents/Drawings should have no comments. Text placed on the PDF as a comment must be flattened or removed.
• Plans/drawings should be at a resolution that is easily legible on screen, and the pages must not be skewed.
• Scanned resolutions of 1-bit black and white 300 dpi is usually acceptable. For plans/drawings containing fine lines and detail, 600 dpi resolution is required.
• Do not reduce the scanned document size.
• Email your Heritage Permit Application with all required submission materials attached to Heritage Planning at heritageplanning@toronto.ca.
• Emails should not exceed 10 MB. If you have a large document please email: heritageplanning@toronto.ca.
• Heritage Permit applications are submitted by email and permission must be obtained before starting work.
• You do not have to meet or discuss your proposal with Heritage Planning staff before submitting a Heritage Permit application. However, consultation with staff before drafting or submitting your application may simplify the application process.

Review and decision

• The City will issue a Notification of Completeness/Notice of Receipt when all of the required submission information as required by the Ontario Heritage Act and Chapter 103 of the City’s Municipal Code have been received. If additional information is required you will be advised in writing.
• The Ontario Heritage Act requires that decisions under S.33, S.34 and S.42 of the Act are made within 90 days of the date that the Notice of Complete Application has been served on the applicant.
• If you would like an opportunity to submit revised/additional materials following discussions with Heritage Planning staff it is therefore strongly recommended that you agree to extend the Statutory Time Period in accordance with S.33(7)1, S.34(4.3)1 and/or S.42(4) of the Ontario Heritage Act.
• The decision to approve some Heritage Permits can be made by staff and will not be brought to the Toronto Preservation Board, Community Council and City Council.
• For applications that do not have delegated approval authority Heritage Planning will have to seek a decision from City Council.
• Decisions under S.33, S.34 and S.42 of the Ontario Heritage Act can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.