"The effect of heritage designation is to preserve the key features
of a building and/or land that give it a distinctive heritage character."

There are at least four advantages:
• Designated houses are eligible for grants from the BC Heritage Trust;
• The property is listed in Oak Bay's Community Heritage Register of Oak Bay;
• Oak Bay provides the owner with a plaque recognizing the property as a heritage site; and
• The owner may apply to the Oak Bay Heritage Foundation for cost sharing grants to update and maintain the exterior of the house to heritage standards.

• The owner(s) retain all rights to individual enjoyment and use of their property
• Designation does not affect private ownership and does not impede the purchase or sale of the property.
• Designation does not give the public access to the property without the owners' consent.
• Designation is an effective way to preserve a property of distinctive heritage character.
• Heritage designation remains with the property, even if it is sold.
• Designation may, in some cases, increase the value of a property.
• Alterations sympathetic to the historical and architectural style of the building may be made in consultation with the Heritage Advisory Panel.
• Council approval is needed if the building or structure is to be demolished, the facade or exterior altered, or the land subdivided. Applications are referred to the Heritage Committee, which reports to Council with recommendations within 30 days of referral. Advice to the owner on alternative solutions may also be provided.

You write a letter to the Mayor and Council requesting that your house be designated a municipal heritage structure. When your letter comes before Council, it will be referred to the Heritage Advisory Panel. Following a set of pre-determined criteria, the Panel will determine whether or not to recommend designation. This process will involve a site inspection by the Panel. If the Panel recommends that Council designate your house as a heritage structure, Council will instruct staff to draft a bylaw to that effect. Once the bylaw is drafted, it will come before Council for the first two readings. If it has been read twice without any issue being raised, a public hearing will be called. At the public hearing, your neighbours, and members of the public will have a chance to either support or not. Following the public hearing, at the Council meeting held that same night, Council will decide whether to read the bylaw a third time and adopt it. Should the bylaw be adopted, staff will send the appropriate forms to the Provincial Government.