New Westminster values the retention and restoration of its many historic buildings and structures. There are many opportunities available to ensure growth and change in the community is respectful of its heritage assets.
Heritage Protection Tools
There are different types of heritage protection and tools available to manage change to properties with heritage value.
If you are considering buying or selling a property with heritage value, contact the Planning Division to learn more about the implications of the heritage value for development and potential benefits.
Buildings Older than 50 Years
If a building is older than 50 years, it may have heritage value.
Prior to a demolition permit being accepted for a building older than 50 years, the City will review the building to identify any heritage value. If there is high value, the City may reach out to the applicant regarding alternative development options. It may also be reviewed by the Community Heritage Commission and Council. Council may choose to temporarily withhold a demolition permit.
Buildings older than 50 years may be eligible for a Heritage Revitalization Agreement. This is a negotiated agreement with the City which allows development benefits on the property in return for heritage restoration and long-term legal protection of the building through Designation.
To check the age of a building, use CityViews, the interactive mapping system.
Note: A building listed on the Heritage Inventory is likely to have heritage value.
Buildings 100 Years and Older
There are a limited number of buildings 100 years old or older in New Westminster. The City seeks to retain them wherever possible.
The City expects a high level of consideration and evaluation be given to buildings 100 years old or older prior to applying for a demolition permit. Similarly, all efforts should be made to retain buildings 100 years old or older on properties subject to a rezoning application. All such buildings are eligible for Heritage Revitalization Agreements.
If you are considering redeveloping a property with a building 100 years old or older on it, a Heritage Values Assessment written by a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) will be required, in order to determine the heritage value of the building and how the proposed changes would affect it. A building 100 years old or older with heritage value may be asked to consider a Heritage Revitalization Agreement instead of a rezoning.
A demolition or redevelopment application for a building 100 years old or older will be reviewed by the Planning Division. It may also be reviewed by the Community Heritage Commission and Council. Council may temporarily withhold a demolition permit or Building Permit.
To check the age of a building, use CityViews, the interactive mapping system.
Heritage Register
The Heritage Register is an official list of properties with heritage value which have been identified by the City. It can notify potential buyers of heritage value, which may alter the development options for a property.
Applications for changes to or demolition of properties listed on the Heritage Register are generally reviewed by the Planning Division and may be referred to the Community Heritage Commission. Alterations and additions are reviewed to determine the appropriateness of the proposed changes in relation to the character defining elements of the building or structure. However, no heritage-related permits are required in addition to the standard Building Permit.
Inclusion of a property on the Heritage Register allows Council the option to temporarily withhold a Building Permit, temporarily withhold a demolition permit, and/or to require a Heritage Assessment. A Heritage Assessment investigates the heritage value of a property, how the proposed changes would affect it, and applicable mitigation or conservation measures.
Advantages of being on the Heritage Register include eligibility for special provisions in the B.C. Building Code and the Homeowner Protection Act. To add your property to the Heritage Register, please contact the Planning Division. There is no fee.
To check if a property is on the Heritage Register or to learn more about properties on the Heritage Register, view the Heritage Register Interactive Properties Map.
Heritage Designation
Heritage Designation is a form of long-term legal protection that is enabled with a bylaw and is registered on Title.
A Designation Bylaw may be applied to the whole property, part of a property or building, interior or exterior fixtures or features, and landscape features. In New Westminster, the Designation generally applies only to the exterior of the building. Heritage Designation cannot vary land use, density, or other Zoning Bylaw regulations. Designated properties may be eligible for special provisions in the B.C. Building Code and the Homeowner Protection Act. Designated properties also receive a plaque for the property which recognizes the value of their building.
To see whether a property is Designated or to learn more about Designated properties, view the Heritage Protection Map. To view the Designation Bylaw for a property, contact the Planning Division.
Designation Process
Any property that has heritage value is eligible for Designation. There is no fee to Designate a property. To Designate a property, staff present a report to Council outlining the heritage value of the property, identifying its historic features, and commenting on its compatibility with City policies.
If Council decides to move forward with the Designation process, a Public Hearing will be held before the Designation Bylaw is adopted. To learn more about Designating a property, contact the Planning Division. There is no fee.
Working with a Designated Building
Any changes to a Designated property must be authorized through a Heritage Alteration Permit (HAP). An HAP provides the City the opportunity to review proposed changes to a building and ensure they do not impact its heritage value. There is no fee for an HAP for a Designated property. Applications for the alteration or demolition of a Designated property may be reviewed by the Community Heritage Commission and Council. Council may deny proposed alterations or demolition.
The City has a Heritage Property Maintenance Standards Bylaw. The purpose of this bylaw is to establish minimum standards of maintenance and ensure heritage properties are not lost through neglect or a lack of maintenance. Standard maintenance, such as replacement of materials in-kind, does not require an HAP.
Heritage Conservation Area
A Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) provides long-term protection to an entire area which demonstrates distinct heritage value and character as a whole. There is currently one HCA in New Westminster: the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood.
An HCA places a layer of heritage protection over all properties within the identified area, regardless of construction age. In the Queen's Park Heritage Conservation Area, properties are classified in two categories: Protected and Non-protected.
Building Permit applications for some kinds of work (e.g., new buildings; demolition; or changes affecting the front, sides, or visible roofline of Protected properties) and subdivision applications require a Heritage Alteration Permit (HAP) and are reviewed for design guideline compliance. For Protected properties, an HAP and additional review is also given for exterior changes that do not require a Building Permit.
Advantages of having a Protected property include incentives, such as additional density, special provisions in the B.C. Building Code, density transfer and relaxed design guidelines for laneway and carriage houses, and no heritage permit fees.
Heritage Property Maintenance Standards Bylaw
The Heritage Property Maintenance Standards Bylaw applies to Protected properties. It requires an owner of protected property to keep their historic building, and identified architectural features and landscape features, in good repair. The purpose of this bylaw is to establish minimum standards of maintenance and ensure heritage properties are not lost due to neglect or a lack of maintenance. Standard maintenance, such as replacement of materials in-kind, does not require an HAP.
Protected heritage property includes those with a Designation Bylaw, a Heritage Revitalization Agreement, and/or protected in the Queen's Park Heritage Conservation Area.