Downtown Oakville Heritage Conservation District Review

Reviewing our Downtown Oakville Heritage Conservation District and updating, if necessary.

Background

Established in 2013, the Downtown Oakville Heritage Conservation District (HCD) is Oakville's only downtown and commercial heritage district.  

The District has an irregular boundary that includes the area roughly from just west of Navy Street to Dunn Street, and just north of Randall Street to the properties on the south side of Lakeshore Road East. The character of the area is defined by its wealth of 19th and 20th century building stock, the commercial streetscape of Lakeshore Road East, and its proximity to the Sixteen Mile Creek and Oakville Harbour.

As part of the 2013 Downtown Oakville Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines, a review policy was included. A regular review process ensures that the Plan remains up-to-date with current legislation, current best practices in heritage conservation, and meets community needs and expectations.

Public engagement opportunities

As part of the review, we would love to hear from you! There are several ways to get involved:

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Share your feedback

Feel free to send feedback on the district and its operations over the last 12 years and what minor changes or updates you would like to see in the future to Kristen McLaughlin at kristen.mclaughlin@oakville.ca.

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Attend a virtual public information session in August

Attend the virtual public information session in August - dates and details to be confirmed. Check back soon!

Next steps

Input collected from the public will help shape any changes made to the Downtown Oakville HCD Plan and Guidelines. 

Further information will be available at the August public information session before changes, if any, are presented to Council in the fall of 2025. 

Downtown Oakville Heritage Conservation District Study

The HCD review is being launched in the summer of 2025 and includes two main components:

  1. Data analysis: Compilation of data regarding heritage permits and heritage grants since the HCD was put in place in 2013, as well as survey data collected from the public, public meetings, and conversations with interested parties 
  2. Revisions to the District Plan & Guidelines, if needed: If data analysis concludes any minor changes are needed to the Plan & Guidelines, a draft will be written and available for feedback for a later statutory public meeting before being shared with Council for approval.  

Public consultation will be ongoing and include the public survey, public meetings, and webpage updates. Interested parties can include residents/tenants and property owners; professionals such as architects, planners and real estate agents; the Downtown Oakville BIA; Town staff who work within the Guidelines; and the wider Oakville community. 

Feedback is essential in creating a revised District Plan & Guidelines, if necessary, that allows us to manage change in an appropriate manner based on best heritage planning practices that work for the community. 

These reviews will happen regularly in the future.

During the HCD review, all properties within the HCD will remain designated under the existing HCD by-laws. To find out the heritage status of a property, visit the Heritage Districts & Properties page.


Planning & Development

Project status: Public consultation

  • Start: June 2025
  • End: August 2025

Contact

905-845-6601
planning@oakville.ca

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