Town of Cobourg Reviews Heritage Designation for Listed Properties

Outreach underway asking heritage property owners about designation interest

The Town of Cobourg Development Division has launched a process to review and offer heritage designation to several properties currently listed as having heritage interest on the Town’s Heritage Register.

This effort is in response to recent changes under the Ontario Heritage Act and the Province’s Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act.

Ninety-four affected property owners have received a letter in the mail, explaining the process and requesting a response form be sent back to indicate whether they are interested or not in moving through the heritage designation process.

Under Bill 23, all properties that are “listed” (but not yet designated) on a municipal heritage register must be designated within a two-year period ending January 1, 2027. Properties that are not designated by that date must be removed from the register.

If a listed property is removed from the Heritage Register due to this deadline:

It cannot be re-listed for a period of five years; and

The Town would have no mechanism to prevent demolition or detrimental alterations to that property.

Cobourg is committed to identifying and protecting places in our community that have significant cultural heritage value through the designation of properties under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Designation is intended to:

Formally acknowledge the property’s importance to the community; and

Provide tools to prevent demolition or major exterior alterations that would remove or diminish its cultural heritage value.

Designation does not mean that changes cannot be made to the property or that the Town can require you to make changes. Exterior alterations are reviewed by the Town and evaluated against a description of the property’s heritage attributes to ensure they are compatible with its heritage character. The designation by-law will identify specific heritage attributes, providing clarity on which elements contribute to cultural heritage value and guiding which aspects can or cannot be altered. Interior alterations can be made without heritage review, as is the case for other properties in Cobourg.

The Town of Cobourg thanks property owners for their consideration. Any questions may be directed to the Development Services Division by calling 905-372-1005. Learn more at www.Cobourg.ca/heritage.