Protecting Our Heritage
Wrenford is known as "The City by the Falls," and our history is a big part of that identity. The Official Plan includes specific clauses to protect heritage resources. These rules ensure that old buildings, landscapes, and sites remain safe and useful for everyone.
What Counts as Heritage?
A heritage resource is something with historical, architectural, or cultural value. This could be an old mill in Old Mill, a historic home in Riverside Flats, or a significant landscape in the Benchlands. The City lists these places in the Heritage Register. If a property is on the register, it gets extra protection under the Official Plan.
Key Policies
When you plan a project, these clauses guide what you can do:
- Preservation: You must keep the important parts of a heritage building. This includes the outside look, like the roof and windows, and special inside features.
- Changes: If you want to change a heritage building, you need to show that the changes respect its history. New additions should fit in but not hide the old parts.
- Demolition: Demolishing a listed heritage building is very hard to get approval for. The City usually wants to keep these structures standing.
- Heritage Easements: Sometimes, the City or a group can buy the rights to protect a building. This lets the owner keep the property but stops changes that would hurt its heritage value.
How to Apply
If you own a heritage property, you must follow these rules before making changes. You may need to apply for a permit. The City looks at each case carefully. We want to balance keeping history alive with making sure buildings are safe and useful.
For more details on the rules, check the Zoning bylaw. It lists specific zones where heritage rules apply. You can also read the Heritage conservation district plans for areas with special protection.
If you are unsure about a project, contact the Planning Department. They can tell you if your property is listed and what steps to take next.
Need Help?
Visit the Planning applications page to start a request. You can also look at the Official Plan for the full text of these policies.
Call us at 519-555-0100 or email [email protected]. We are here to help you protect Wrenford's unique character.