The municipal by-law designating the HCD requires that owners comply with the HCD guidelines, assisted by a heritage advisory committee in the district.
District plans are law and there are potential penalties, including fines, for willingly contravening the Ontario Heritage Act.
However, rather than relying on prosecution and penalties, it has been the practice to provide encouragement and information to homeowners and to assist them in educating themselves to voluntarily comply with heritage by-laws.
A Heritage Conservation District Advisory Committee, comprised of interested local residents who volunteer their time, has been established as a key partner in ensuring the success of the HCD. The Committee acts as the local community representative of the District Plan, assists property owners seeking information on heritage matters. The Committee also provides advice to Heritage Preservation Services staff on heritage permit applications in the HCD that may not be in keeping with the heritage guidelines or that may have a significant impact on a property’s heritage attributes. The Committee may be called upon to work with applicants and local residents to find mutually acceptable solutions where City Preservation Services has determined that a Heritage Permit should not be issued without changes to the application to make it consistent with the HCD guidelines.