London has one of the most diverse and extensive inventories of heritage structures
in Ontario. London's downtown alone has more than 500 heritage buildings – many
of them original and some are the most architecturally significant examples in the
region.
The City of London provides a variety of financial incentives to encourage the
designation and retention of heritage structures. For further information, please call
Planning and Development, 661‐4980 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to
Friday.
The steps in the heritage designation process are outlined below:
- Step 1 Write to the London Advisory Committee on Heritage (directed
through the Planning and Development Department) to request designation.
- Step 2 Working with the Advisory Committee, reasons for designation are
prepared and reviewed.
- Step 3 The London Advisory Committee on Heritage makes its
recommendation to the Planning Committee of Council.
- Step 4 The Planning Committee makes its recommendation to Council.
- Step 5 If Council approves, a "Notice of Intent to Designate" is advertised
three times in the London Free Press over a 30‐day period.
- Step 6 If no objections have been filed, Council gives its final decision.
For more information about the criteria for designation and how cultural heritage
value of interest is determined, please visit the City of London website.