FAQs

The intent of a feasibility assessment is to:

• Consider an area’s potential for designation as a Heritage Conservation District
• Initiate a dialogue with community members on designation
• Scope resource and budget requirements for a full Heritage Conservation District study 

These feasibility assessments are completed by City staff after which a recommendation for future action such as a Heritage Conservation District study are brought forward to the Built Heritage Committee and Council for each assessment. The results of the feasibility assessments will direct where to undertake future Heritage Conservation Districts across the city. More information on feasibility assessments is available as part of report ACS2024-PDB-RHU-0046.

Beaverbrook was recommended as a Heritage Conservation District Feasibility Assessment area in response to community interest in designation. Beaverbrook was also identified as an area with designation potential through the Heritage Planning Branch’s review of the City’s Heritage Register in response to the Province of Ontario’s Bill 23. More information on Bill 23 can be found in report ACS2023-PRE-RHU-0019.

Heritage Conservation Districts are a tool used to conserve the heritage value of an area, such as a street or neighbourhood. There are 21 Heritage Conservation Districts in Ottawa, including the ByWard Market, New Edinburgh and Centretown. 

These districts are created under the authority of Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. Using a municipal by-law, the City can designate an area as a Heritage Conservation District and adopt a Heritage Conservation District plan that sets out policies and guidelines for managing change and maintaining the area’s look and feel. When the owner of a property in a Heritage Conservation District wants to make a change to the exterior of their property, those changes need to meet the policies and guidelines of the Heritage Conservation District plan and may require a heritage permit from the City. 

No, heritage designations are not a direct outcome of the feasibility assessment and the heritage status of properties in the Beaverbrook area will not be impacted as a result of this assessment. 

The feasibility assessment may recommend that the City complete a formal Heritage Conservation District study for Beaverbrook in the future. That study could recommend designation of the area as a Heritage Conservation District. The development of a Heritage Conservation District would include many more opportunities for public consultation and engagement.