Heritage Planning

The Provincial Policy Statement, issued under the Ontario Planning Act in 2005, requires that "significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes" be conserved. To implement this policy, section 4.5 of the Town of Essex Official Plan includes detailed policies regarding cultural heritage, which must be taken into consideration during the planning approval process.

The Town's Planning Department is also responsible for processing requests for heritage designation. The Town Planner, as staff liaison to the Heritage Committee, works with the Committee and its members to research properties of heritage importance and then to report to Council in this regard. In addition, the Planning Department ensures that heritage is considered when reviewing all new development proposals.

Residents are encouraged to contact the Planning Department or the Heritage Committee if you believe your property or a property within the municipality is eligible for heritage designation.

Heritage Plaque Program

The Heritage Committee introduced the Heritage Plaque Program in 2016. The program is intended to broaden public knowledge surrounding the historical and cultural resources in our community by installing plaques at local heritage sites.

Heritage Register

Engage with our past by learning more about some of the built and cultural heritage that dots our landscape. Find out more about heritage designation and our built heritage by visiting our Heritage Register page and our Heritage Designation FAQ.

Ontario Heritage Toolkit

The Government of Ontario provides a series of guides designed to help municipal councils, staff, Heritage Committees, land use planners, heritage professionals and organizations, property owners and others understand the heritage conservation process in Ontario.

The Ontario Heritage Toolkit is available online through the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport. A hard copy may be obtained by calling 1-800-668-9938.