Heritage - Frequently Asked Questions

Are you curious about heritage buildings in Saanich?

Whether you own one, are thinking about buying one, or are wondering about designation and the processes involved, we've put together this handy guide to get you started.

Answers

  1. How old does a house have to be to be considered “heritage”?

    Age is only one factor in determining heritage. The history, use, architect, owners, architectural features and uniqueness are also considered.

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  2. What is the difference between “heritage designated” and “heritage registered”?

    There are two levels of Heritage property protection:

    1. “Heritage Registered” means that a house has documented historical value, but has not been designated and protected by Bylaw.
    2. “Heritage Designated” carries a higher level of protection and recognition, and is approved by Saanich Council through a Heritage Designation Bylaw. This form of protection requires that any alternation to the site or building must be authorized by Saanich Council through a Heritage Alteration Permit. Note that designation generally applies to the exterior only, though interior or landscape features can be included.

    To be eligable to receive a House Grant for any restoration to your heritage home, your property must be designated not registered.

    The Saanich Heritage Register book includes both types of recognition, and hundreds of  registered and designated properties in all of the Local Areas in Saanich! 

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  3. What is the process to have my house designated or registered?

    To explore adding your property to the Heritage Registry, please contact the Saanich Planning Department.

    To have it designated, start by filling out the Saanich Heritage Application for Heritage Designation. Return the form, along with the required supporting documentation, to the Saanich Planning Department (planning@saanich.ca). For assistance with historical information, contact Saanich Archives (archives@saanich.ca) or the Saanich Heritage Foundation (info@saanichheritagefoundation.ca).

    You are strongly encouraged to hire and work with a Heritage Consultant to prepare a Statement of Significance. This will speed up the process and provide clear documentation of character defining elements.

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  4. What is a Statement of Significance (SOS)?

    A SOS is a succinct way of expressing heritage value for the property. 

    There are three parts of an SOS:

    • Description of the historic place
    • Identification of the key heritage values assigned to the historic place
    • List of its principal character-defining elements

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  5. I own a heritage house. Is there any financial support available?

    Yes! The Saanich Heritage Foundation administers a House Grant Program for restoration and upkeep work. Owners of Designated Heritage properties are eligible to apply.

    Grants are based on up to 35% of project costs on approved work, to a maximum of $10,000 per year per house. Applications are due by December 31 each year. 

    For further details, please refer to our Restoration guideline for House Grants or visit House Grants Program to apply. 

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  6. Can I renovate my heritage house? Are there any restrictions to what I am allowed to do?

    Interior Renovations

    Though the District of Saanich encourages homeowners to retain original features, interior renovations generally don’t require permission (unless the interior is also Designated). 

    Exterior Renovations and Demolitions

    Owners may not alter the exterior of a building, make a structural change, or construct an addition to a building, without applying for a Building Permit and sucessfully obtaining a Heritage Alteration Permit.

    Similarly, demolition requires an application for de-designation and/or removal of the property from the Heritage Register, with supporting documentation.

    In both cases, the application will come to the Saanich Heritage Foundation for comment and recommendations, which will be forwarded to Saanich Council and considered as part of the decision-making process.

    We encourage you to contact Saanich Planning staff by emailing heritage@saanich.ca before or at the start of the process — we're here to help!

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  7. How do I have my heritage house de-registered or de-designated?

    We urge you to consider keeping your property on the register or designated list — it’s an important part of our local history. If you would like to know more about its history, please contact the Saanich Heritage Foundation or Saanich Archives.

    When your home was designated, a by-law regarding that designation was put into place. It was designated as a Municipal Heritage Site under Sections 967, 968 and 969 of the B.C. Local Government Act. We encourage you to contact Saanich Planning staff to explore options for retaining your heritage building, including potentially as part of a larger development.

    If you would like to de-register or de-designate your property, you will have to prepare your case and make an application to be reviewed by Saanich Council. To support your case, you may want to include a Building Condition Assessment and hire a Heritage Consultant to prepare a Heritage Assessment. Your application will come to the Saanich Heritage Foundation for comment and recommendations, both of which will be forwarded to Saanich Council and considered as part of the decision-making process.

    We encourage you to contact Saanich Planning staff by emailing heritage@saanich.ca before or at the start of the process — we're here to help!

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