Heritage Homes

A house with Victorian archetecture

A house featuring grey stone

Tour Kingsville's Heritage Properties

We invite you to take a self-guided tour of Kingsville's Heritage properties to explore the rich history of our community.

Heritage Walking and Driving Tour

What is a designated heritage property?

The Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) recognizes the value of conserving each community’s cultural heritage. The act allows municipalities to designate certain properties with cultural significance to prevent demolition of heritage properties and preserve history for future generations. See Kingsville's Designated Properties List or take our online Heritage Property Tour .

What is a listed heritage property?

Listed properties are seen as potential sites to be designated. The purpose of listing a property is to give it protection from demolition while it is in the process of being designated. A property can stay on the list for two years. If it is not designated during that window, the property is removed and must wait five years to be added back to the list. See Kingsville's Listed Heritage Properties.

What is the value of designating property?

Designated heritage properties have many values for the property owner and the municipality as well. Designation helps:

Further knowledge of the rich history of the community;
Foster knowledge and understanding of the property;
Protect buildings from losing their iconic design and architecture; and
Ensure good conservation practices and good stewardship.

What types of properties can get heritage designation?

The types of properties that could be eligible for heritage designation include houses, commercial buildings, and public buildings, places of worship, cemeteries, and industrial buildings. Essentially, the designation can be applied to any property with cultural heritage value or interest to protect. In Ontario, there are official criteria that evaluate a property and determine whether or not it should be designated as a heritage property.

Criteria includes:

Design or Physical Value (What is the style, material and construction method? Is there artistic merit?)
Historical or Associative Value (Does it have a direct association with a person, theme, event, etc. that is significant to the community?)
Contextual Value (Is it a landmark? How does it maintain and support the character of the area?)

How does heritage designation work?

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, municipalities can pass by-laws to formally designate properties with cultural heritage. When the heritage designation by-law is passed by Town Council, a Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest is included, which describes why the property deserves designation. If the owner of a designated heritage property wants to alter the property in a way that changes physical heritage attributes, they must obtain written consent from the Town Council. The designation by-law is registered on the property and runs with the land in perpetuity, regardless of how many times it is bought or sold.

How do property owners benefit?

The most obvious benefit to owners of a heritage property is the pride of owning a piece of local history, but there are also financial benefits. Owners of designated properties are eligible for a heritage tax relief, which (unless otherwise specified), is 40% of the taxes for municipal and school purposes.

How are designated properties identified?

Whenever a property is designated as a heritage site, the Town provides the owner with a plaque that can be mounted on the property to signify its designated status. The plaque includes the property's recognized name, address, construction date and designation date.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Here are the questions we usually get from property owners considering designation.

Is special approval required to renovate or make changes to designated property?

There are no special requirements for a designated property as long as what is being renovated is not listed in the by-law as a distinctive physical feature of the property. Changes to heritage features require consent from Town Council. If a building permit is required for any renovation work, the Town’s Planner may contact you to provide suggestions on how to ensure the property's heritage value is protected through the renovation process.

Will being designated prevent future development on my property?

Being designated may impact future development on your property. Some attributes of the property are protected and need Council’s approval to change or renovate. However, newer designations no longer protect interiors, so owners can treat interior renovations the same as any other property.

Will being designated impact the real estate value of my property?

Registering your property as a heritage site should not negatively impact your property value. In fact, residences with well-maintained heritage features have been found to attract a price premium compared to equivalent undesignated properties.

Will being designated affect my property insurance?

The cost of your property insurance is based primarily on two principles: the level of risk and the type of coverage. Older properties may be subject to higher risk due to outdated systems and materials, so risk is likely to be higher whether designated as a heritage property or not. Similarly, some types of insurance, such as full replacement cost insurance, which provides for repair or replacement with “like kind and quality,” can be more expensive than others.

How can I get my property designated?

You can apply to be listed as a potential heritage property. Listing does not guarantee designation, but it is the first step in the process. In Kingsville, listed properties cannot be demolished without permission from Town Council.

Is heritage designation removal possible?

Yes, the OHA provides a process to repeal a designation by-law, but it is rare for Council to support a request. The removal of a heritage designation is usually only considered when the property is severely damaged by a natural disaster and the heritage features are destroyed. If there is a request to remove a heritage designation and it is refused by Town Council, the property owner can appeal for an Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing.

Can my property be designated without my consent?

While the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) does not require municipalities to obtain the consent of property owners before designating a heritage site, the Town of Kingsville takes a collaborative approach to gain the support of property owners in recognizing their property as a piece of local history. In cases where a significant heritage property is at risk of imminent development or demolition, the Town may need to step in and designate the property for the sake of public interest. However, the Town always prioritizes working with property owners to educate the community and preserve the rich heritage of the area.