The City of St. Catharines has over 1,000 heritage properties protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. Properties are protected in one of three ways:
- Designated individually under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act
- Designated as part of the Heritage Conservation District under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act
- Listed on the City’s Heritage Register
Designated Properties
Properties that are designated both individually or as part of the heritage district may require a Heritage Permit if you would like to make changes to the property. Please see the Heritage Permit section for more information.
In addition, there is also a Heritage Designated Property Grant program to help you preserve heritage elements.
Listed Properties
Properties that are listed on the City’s Heritage Register do not require heritage permits. As of January 1, 2023, these properties can only remain on the Register for up to two years. During this time, Council is required to designate the property, or the property will be removed from the Heritage Register for five years. Please note that all listings for properties on the Register before January 1, 2023 will expire on January 1, 2027.
While a property is on the Heritage Register, the owner must give Council 60 days' notice if you wish to demolish or remove a building or structure on the property. This allows the City to review the demolition application and evaluate the property’s cultural heritage value to determine if the property meets the criteria for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. If the property meets the criteria for designation, the property can be designated by the City and protected from demolition.
Should a property owner wish to demolish a building on a Listed property, they are required to contact the City's Heritage Planner to determine the appropriate information and reports required as part of their demolition application.
Significant Individuals
The City of St. Catharines also maintains a list of significant local individuals who have contributed to the community. The list has been organized, researched and maintained by the City's Heritage Advisory Committee and is used for commemorations, street names and for public recognition of these individuals. Should you know of an individual that should be added to the list, please contact the City's Heritage Planner.