Heritage Permits

A Heritage Permit is required to make changes to properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in the Town of Whitby. This includes changes to properties located within a Heritage Conservation District or properties that are individually designated.

To determine if your property is designated, view the Heritage Registry.

Apply for a heritage permit

Please contact us to discuss your application, prior to submitting an application.

Once you have completed the Heritage Permit Application, please submit it by email or by mail to:

Town of Whitby Planning and Development Department
575 Rossland Rd E
Whitby, ON L1N 2M8

If you can't mail your application, you can contact us to book an appointment or you can use the drop box outside Town Hall located at 575 Rossland Rd. E.

Application details

Depending on the type of work, your application should include:

Drawings – architectural drawings should clearly show the proposed changes to the property
Site plans – that show existing and proposed structures, additions, set backs, demolitions and positioning of proposed structures
Photographs of the property and surrounding properties
Samples of proposed building materials (we accept physical or visual samples)

Fees

There is currently no fee to apply for a heritage permit.

Heritage building guidelines

Depending on the location of your property and the type of project, you may need to follow additional historic building guidelines. View the following guidelines:

Heritage Conservation Districts plans and guidelines
Contact us for Guidelines for Signage in Historic Brooklin and Whitby

What projects require a heritage permit?

A Heritage Permit helps ensure any alterations are complimentary to the existing heritage attributes of the house and the neighbourhood. Heritage attributes are items such as:

Building materials
Architectural details
Spatial configurations
Historical associations
Character defining elements (such as significant trees, streetscapes) that collectively contribute to the heritage value of the designated property

Please contact us to find out if your proposed work needs a heritage permit.

Approval process

Heritage permit applications are reviewed and approved by Heritage Planning staff when they meet heritage guidelines and requirements. Larger and more complex applications may also be reviewed by Heritage Whitby Advisory Committee at monthly meetings.