Heritage Advisory Committee

A Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee established by Council provides advice on all matters relating to the legal designation and conservation of property of cultural heritage value or interest. The Terms of Reference provides additional detail about this consultative role.

In 1982, a Heritage Conservation District was designated in Bayfield under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. It is one of the oldest districts in Ontario.

A Heritage Conservation District Plan (HCD Plan) is in effect for Main Street, Clan Gregor Square and Elgin Place which is the same area designated under Part V. The policies are intended to reinforce and refine land use planning policies for the Heritage Conservation District and ensure its long-term viability, preservation and enhancement.

This plan was updated. Please consult this plan prior to proposing any changes to your designated property and consider the potential impact of your proposal on the Heritage Conservation District in whole and in part.

Project background information is available through our Plans, Reports and Projects page.

HCD Plan Update

The Municipality has completed an update of the Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Plan for Bayfield under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. Council passed By-law 105-2024 on November 18th, 2024. The by-law comes into full force following the 30-day appeal period. The appeal period ends on January 3rd, 2025. View the full notice of passing. 

The Municipality and Huron County planning staff worked alongside the consultants, GSP Group and ERA Architects, to create an updated and expanded plan for the community. One public meeting was held prior to the draft plan being produced for public comment. A public meeting was held with Bluewater Council on July 8th, 2024. Four public consultations were held between November 2023 and February 2024.

The process included an assessment of the district boundary, the development of policies and guidelines based on the findings of the HCD Study, public input, and the existing and future land-use planning context and associated guidelines and policies. As part of the update, a Heritage Analysis Report was prepared by ERA Architects. View the Heritage Analysis Report.

Changes to designated properties are managed through Heritage Permits. Permits apply the goals of the Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines. The complete guidelines are available for viewing.

If you own or rent property in Bayfield’s commercial district and it contributes to the historical character of the community, you may find the property on our interactive story board. The story board is a resource that promotes the heritage conservation district plan. Please refer to the complete guidelines above for details. The story board was created in partnership with the County of Huron.

What's new?

The Plan and Guidelines give staff the tools needed to manage change in the Heritage Conservation District. It protects contributing heritage properties and provides guidance to non-contributing properties that together maintain Bayfield’s historic character.

There are two streams of heritage permits—major and minor. Major permits will be considered by Council in consultation with the Heritage Advisory Committee. On November 18th, 2024, Council passed a by-law to delegate authority to staff to approve minor permits.

To apply for a heritage permit, email applications to heritage@municipalityofbluewater.ca.

The Municipality of Bluewater passed By-law 46-2015 to establish a Heritage Property Register. The Register provides the cultural and physical heritage attributes of properties designated under Part IV and Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act as well as properties of cultural heritage value (also known as listed properties). To view the heritage property register, please contact the Development Services department.

There are six parts to the Register:

Part 1 – Bayfield Register

Part 2 – Hensall Register

Part 3 – Zurich Register

Part 4 – Hay Ward Register

Part 5 – St. Joseph Register

Part 6 – Stanley Ward Register

The Bayfield Main Street Streetscape and Open Space Improvements Master Plan was created at the request of the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee to address two decades of changes within the Heritage Conservation District. The Master Plan allows for improvements to parking, walkways, tree collection, lighting and other landscape features. The Master Plan is intended for use in planning future infrastructure improvements. An update was completed in 2010.  

Both the Master Plan and Update may be obtained from the Development Services Department for viewing.

The Ontario Heritage Act requires that owners of property situated in a Heritage Conservation District or designated under Part IV obtain a permit from the Municipality prior to altering or demolishing any part of the property other than the interior of any structure or building on the property. There is currently no fee to apply for a Heritage Permit.

Completion of the Heritage Permit Application Form allows assessment of the proposed project on likeliness to affect the property’s heritage attributes as set out in the by-law designating the property as well as impact on neighboring properties. The application is provided to the municipal Heritage Advisory Committee. The Committee provides advice to Council that informs the final decision.

Your project may also require other permits such as a building permit, land use planning permission, site plan control and/or encroachment agreement. If you do or unsure whether you do, contact staff to arrange pre-consultation and discussion of your proposed project. Staff will strive to co-ordinate review of all approvals.

If you own or lease property in the Bayfield Heritage Conservation District or that is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and are planning on altering or demolishing any part of the property other than the interior, please review the application information or contact the Development Services Department.

Owners of historical properties are encouraged to express their pride and tell their story by installing an historical plaque.

This Heritage Plaque Program is for recognition purposes. A plaque indicates that the property is historically significant in some fashion, such as being a century farm.

As such, the program leads to the opportunity to list the property and its historical attributes on the Heritage Property Register. The effect of listing is that advance notice of demolition must be provided to Council. However, listing on the Register does not mean the property is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Please contact Development Services Staff for more information.

Bluewater is proud of its history. If you’re looking to spend some happy hours admiring both architecture and the tenacity that created it in a new land, then these walking and driving tours of our historic villages – Bayfield, Hensall and Zurich – as well as Hay and Stanley Townships, will delight and entertain you.

The Bluewater Heritage Tours were produced by the Municipality of Bluewater Heritage Advisory Committee in 2018 with the generous assistance of the Huron Heritage Fund.