Norfolk County > Living > Heritage & Culture > Norfolk Heritage Committee

Norfolk Heritage Committee

The Norfolk Heritage Committee will advise and assist the Council of the Corporation of Norfolk County on all matters relating to Parts IV and V of the Ontario Heritage Act.

If you are the owner of a Norfolk County property with a heritage designation, you are required to obtain the approval of the Municipality before any alterations are made to said property.  To apply for approval, please complete and submit the Norfolk County Heritage Alterations Application

Duties of the Norfolk Heritage Committee

  • advise and assist Council on all matters relating to Parts IV and V of the Ontario Heritage Act
  • acts as a liaison with property owners
  • research and keep an ongoing inventory of heritage properties
  • identify, protect and promote heritage resources in Norfolk County
  • network with other organizations and committees concerning heritage matters

Why a Property Would be Designated

  • architectural merit
  • unique style
  • historical background
  • natural visual beauty

What Could be Designated

Structures

Houses, barns, stores, bridges, public and industrial buildings, monuments, streetscapes and cemeteries

Landscapes

Archaeological sites, parks, natural areas and vistas

Benefits of Designation

  • increases the value of the property
  • helps preserve the County’s heritage
  • a plaque is presented to the property owner
  • the neighbourhood is enhanced
  • community recognition of the heritage property
  • encourages others to seek designation

Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value of Interest

Under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, a property may be designated if it meets one or more of the following criteria for determining whether it is of cultural heritage value or interest:

  1. The property has design value or physical value because it
    1. is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method,
    2. displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit or
    3. demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.
  2. The property has historical value or associative value because it
    1. has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community,
    2. yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture, or
    3. demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.
  3. The property has contextual value because it
    1. is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area,
    2. is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings or
    3. is a landmark.

To receive more information about heritage designation, please contact Phone: 519-426-5870 or 226-NORFOLK ext. 1347

Permission to Designate Property as Heritage