Nominate a Heritage Conservation District

A property owner within the area:

• Upon submission of a nomination application form (PDF, 153KB) and payment of a fee, a property owner or a group of property owners within the HCD may initiate the nomination.
• Within a reasonable amount of time after a completed application is made, the Director of the Planning, Property & Development Department will decide on the nomination based on whether or not the proposed HCD meets the criteria for designation based on its heritage values.
• If the Director decides to nominate, all property owners in the proposed HCD will receive notice of the nomination.
• The Director’s decision regarding the nomination may be appealed by a property owner within the HCD to the Standing Policy Committee on Property and DevelopmentDevelopment (SPC-PD) within 30 days following the date on which notice of the nomination was received.

The Director of the Planning, Property & Development Department:

• The Director may nominate an HCD if they feel that that the HCD would meet the criteria for designation based on its heritage values and if the area is of widespread significance to the entire city. 
• If the Director decides to nominate, all property owners in the proposed HCD will receive notice of the nomination.
• The Director’s decision regarding the nomination may be appealed by a property owner within the HCD to the SPC-PD within 30 days following the date on which notice of the nomination was received.

The reason an area is architecturally or historically significant is based on the following:

• importance in illustrating or interpreting the history of the city or a neighbourhood
• association with important individuals, groups, or events
• illustration of the architectural or design history of the city
• embodiment of distinct or unusual spatial organizations, circulation systems, land use and patterns, ecological or vegetative features, architectural or design characteristics, or a particular styles or methods of construction
• location in an area of historical or architectural interest
• historical or architectural integrity

To help understand heritage value, use Winnipeg's thematic framework. It sets out key events in our development history.

Notice

Once an HCD is nominated, all property owners within the area will be notified of nomination and their right to an appeal.

HCD study

The applicant must prepare an HCD study. The study sets out the objectives of designation, along with the heritage values and proposed character-defining elements to be protected under the designation, along with other things required by the HCD By-law.

The HCD study is reviewed by the Historical Buildings and Resources Committee (HBRC) and the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development.

The study must include:

• proposed boundaries of the HCD
• history and evolution of the HCD
• survey of built features, landscapes, and streetscapes of the proposed HCD
• statement of significance, including a list of all proposed character-defining elements
• objectives of designation, including proposed criteria for determining when a heritage permit is required
• recommendation in respect of whether an HCD Advisory Committee should be required
• results of any public consultation undertaken by the applicant

The applicant will also be responsible for:

• Promoting and leading community consultation sessions
• Any costs related to preparing the HCD study, which may include hosting consultation events, rentals, equipment, etc.

The City will be responsible for:

• coordinating and leading the review process for the HCD study
• providing support to the applicant as required

HCD plan

Once an HCD study is accepted, the City prepares an HCD plan in consultation with the community. The plan establishes conservation policies and design guidelines for managing change within the area. An HCD plan may regulate building demolitions and alterations to buildings, yards, and streetscapes. It may also set out design guidelines for a new infill development to fit within the historic context. An HCD plan does not regulate land use or density (e.g. converting a property to a duplex), as these aspects relate to zoning processes.

The HCD plan sets out a list of work that requires a heritage permit and it may establish an HCD Advisory Committee for reviewing heritage permit applications.

Once an HCD plan is approved by City Council, it is added as a schedule to the HCD By-law, and it will apply to every property within the district.

Decision making process for determining Heritage Conservation District status (PDF, 379KB)

The nominated HCD is reviewed by the Historical Buildings and Resources Committee (HBRC) and committees of Council.

The HBRC considers:

• Heritage values (architectural & historic significance)
• Character defining elements
  • physical features of the area that embody its heritage values
  • usually limited to exterior elements and not elements on the interior of a building
  • Examples include: a park, tree-lined boulevards, a collection of buildings from a certain era, consistent yard setbacks, etc.
• Whether any amendments are required to the HCD study or HCD plan

Committees of Council consider:

• HBRC's recommendation
  • architectural or historic significance of the resource in the heritage values it embodies
• A recommendation by the Director
• Letters of support or opposition and/or delegations from members of the public and property owners