Heritage Planning
We are committed to protecting and celebrating Brantford’s past with over 200 designated heritage properties in the city.
Heritage Register
The City of Brantford maintains a comprehensive Heritage Register in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act. The Heritage Register includes the City’s designated heritage properties, as well as ‘listed’ properties that are not designated but have unique heritage value. Visit the Heritage Register page for more information.
Heritage Permits
A Heritage Permit is required to make changes to a designated heritage property.
We strongly recommend consulting with Planning Staff at heritage@brantford.ca before submitting a Heritage Permit application. Staff will also be able to advise you if other permits or approvals are required.
Application Requirements |
You can apply for a Heritage Permit by completing and submitting a Heritage Permit Application Form, along with a written description of the proposed works, construction drawings, and photographs. |
Heritage Design Guidelines |
The Brant Avenue Heritage Conservation District Study includes design guidelines for properties along Brant Avenue, from St. Paul Avenue to Colborne Street West. The Victoria Park Square Heritage Conservation District Study includes design direction for properties surrounding Victoria Park. The Sign By-law includes design guidelines for signs on designated heritage properties. |
Application Process |
Your application will be reviewed by Planning Staff and the Brantford Heritage Committee in accordance with the Committee’s meeting schedule. |
Heritage Grant Program
The Heritage Grant Program provides financial assistance for projects that protect, preserve, restore and/or repair designated heritage properties. The Heritage Grant Program provides grants that can cover up to half of the eligible costs, to a maximum grant amount of $20,000.
If you are planning a project that includes work that fits in with those goals, it may qualify for financial assistance from the City. Examples of eligible projects include:
- Masonry repairs, including repointing or repairing damaged brick and stone;
- Restoring or reconstructing heritage attributes such as an original chimney, porch, wooden windows and doors, or other wooden trim such as eave brackets;
- Repairs that are critical to the stabilization and preservation of the property (e.g. roof structure, building foundation).
For information about the Heritage Grant Program, consult with Planning Staff at heritage@brantford.ca or by phone at 519-759-4150 and ask to speak with Long Range Planning about the Heritage Grant Program.
Step 1: Contact the City |
To talk about a project you are considering, email heritage@brantford.ca or call the City at 519-759-4150 and ask to speak with Long Range Planning about the Heritage Grant Program. Staff will:
For eligible projects, Staff will provide you with a record of consultation to confirm eligibility and any other important details for your project. |
Step 2: Applying for a Heritage Grant |
After consulting with Planning Staff and receiving your record of consultation, you can apply for a Heritage Grant by completing and submitting a Heritage Grant Program Application Form. Your application must also include:
In some cases, Staff may identify other documents that we would need to review your application properly. If there are any additional requirements, they will be communicated to you in writing. |
Step 3: Application Review |
Council has delegated approval of Heritage Grants to provide a streamlined process, while still providing some appropriate oversight on how funds are disbursed. If your application is requesting a grant of $7,500 or less, the applications will be reviewed by Staff, and Staff has the authority to approve the application. Applications will be reviewed when submitted. If your application is requesting a grant over $7,500, up to the maximum grant amount of $20,000, then the application is reviewed by Staff as well as the Brantford Heritage Committee. In this case:
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Step 4: Approved Applications |
If your application is approved, then the City will prepare a short agreement to confirm the eligible work, the eligible costs, and the grant that you will receive for completing the project. Once your application is approved, your contractor can start the work. After the work is completed, you will need to let Planning Staff know and provide a copy of an invoice showing the work is paid in full. We will also schedule a site visit to take some ‘after’ photos for our files. After that is complete, Staff will issue a grant cheque to you for the completed work, as set out in the agreement. |
Frequently Asked Questions about the Heritage Grant Program
My property is old; can I get a Heritage Grant? |
Heritage grants under the Heritage Grant Program are only available to owners of designated heritage properties. You can find a list of designated heritage properties by visiting the City’s Heritage Register page. |
How do I know if my property is designated? |
The City has an online Heritage Register where we keep a list of every property that is designated in the City. You can find the Heritage Register and look up properties by visiting the Heritage Register webpage. Please note that some properties are identified as “listed” but not designated. Listed properties are not eligible for the Heritage Grant Program at this time. |
I’m planning to restore the interior of my property; can I get a Heritage Grant for that work? |
Most likely, the answer will be no. While the Heritage Grant Program helps with projects that protect, preserve, restore and/or repair designated heritage properties, the focus of the grants is to help with work that addresses a property’s heritage attributes which are usually on the exterior. The City rarely designates features on the inside of the property, and then generally only on publicly accessible buildings (e.g. the Sanderson Centre). |
Is there a deadline to apply for a Heritage Grant? |
Submissions can be made at any time of year (provided there are funds available), however the Heritage Grant Program will accept one application per property per calendar year. This limit is in place so multiple properties in the City have a chance to benefit from the program in a given year. |
Can I make two different grant applications in two consecutive years? |
Yes, you can apply twice in two consecutive years (e.g. 2024 and 2025) but the work must be different in scope and nature. For example, you could apply for a grant to assist with masonry repair in one year and then apply to repair wooden trim or a porch in a subsequent calendar year. To apply a second time, the work has to be different in nature. You cannot apply for a grant for masonry repairs on one wall (e.g. front wall) in one year and then apply for a second grant for masonry repairs on a side wall in another year. |
For some projects I need two quotes with the same scope of work; what do you mean by “same scope of work”? |
“Same scope of work” means that both quotes talk about the same project components. |
If I’m planning a large project with multiple different components, how many quotes are required? |
For large projects, where work will deal with different components and trades (e.g. repairing masonry, a wooden porch, and stained glass windows) you would need two quotes for each component (masonry repair, porch, and windows). In situations like these, you can satisfy the requirement for two quotes in different ways, such as:
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Brantford Heritage Committee
The Brantford Heritage Committee is a citizen volunteer committee that meets monthly to advise Council on heritage matters in the city. Meeting agendas are published in the Council and Committee Calendar.
The Brantford Heritage Committee reviews Heritage Permit applications and Heritage Grant applications as outlined in the schedule below. Please note meetings in July and August are scheduled only when there are applications to review.
Submission Deadline (4:30 pm) | Meeting Date (6:00 pm) |
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Monday, February 26, 2024 |
Monday, March 25, 2024 |
Monday, April 1, 2024 |
Monday, April 29, 2024 |
Monday, April 29, 2024 |
Monday, May 27, 2024 |
Monday, May 27, 2024 | Monday, June 24, 2024 |
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 | July - at the call of the chair |
Monday, July 29, 2024 | Monday, August 26, 2024 |
Monday, August 26, 2024 | Monday, September 23, 2024 |
Monday, September 30, 2024 | Monday, October 28, 2024 |
Monday, October 28, 2024 | Monday, November 25, 2024 |
Monday, November 18, 2024 | Monday, December 16, 2024 |
Heritage projects and programs
With the conclusion of the Heritage Register Project, the City will be undertaking two new projects:
- Consulting owners of Group A Listed properties for interest in designation.
- Consulting with certain neighbourhoods to gauge interest in establishing one or more new Heritage Conservation Districts.
Check back soon. This website will be updated with more information in the near future.