Learn the history of your Cabbagetown home
In partnership with the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District Advisory Committee, the CPA developed a compendium of properties where you can find information about your own Cabbagetown home. Using the Address search field or drop-down options, search for a property within Cabbagetown to learn interesting historical facts.
Heritage Resources & Links
Cabbagetown HCD Advisory Committee
While the CPA focuses our resources on heritage education and celebration of Cabbagetown and its unique character, the lead for heritage issues belongs to the City of Toronto and is supported by the Cabbagetown HCD Advisory Committee. The HCD Committee should be your first contact for heritage issues, such as renovation and restoration guidelines, commercial property designations, heritage grants, etc.
Owning a property in the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District gives you the advantage of living in a beautiful historic neighbourhood of leafy, human-scaled streets, Victorian era architectural styles and a tangible connection to Toronto’s past. These characteristics that we find so attractive are protected by the Ontario Heritage Act and the Guidelines of each district’s HCD Plan. Click here to see the HCD plans for Cabbagetown.
Living in a Heritage Conservation District (HCD)
Renovations & Restoration in an HCD
When property owners in Cabbagetown want to make changes to parts of their homes that are visible from the street, a Heritage Permit needs to be obtained from the City of Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Services. It is also important to note that if a property is located in a heritage district, ANY building permit will require review and approval from the City’s Heritage Preservation Services even if the work does not include heritage elements.
More details can be found on the Heritage Permit Process on the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District Committee site.
A heritage permit is required for:
Any renovations, alterations or additions that are visible from the street (this includes: windows, doors, porches, siding, and brick repairs using a material other than the original or the existing material);
Renovations that have an impact on the building's heritage attributes;
If a renovation involves demolition, property owners will need to submit an application to secure a permit;
As with any property, a Building Permit from the City is required if you intend to construct a new building, make structural alterations or additions, or change your signage.
Painting of wood, existing stucco or metal finishes;
Repair of existing features, including roofs, wall cladding, dormers, cresting, cupolas, cornices, brackets. columns, balustrades, porches as well as steps, entrances, windows, foundations, and decorative wood, metal, stone or terracotta, provided that the same type of materials are used;
Installation of eaves troughs;
Weatherproofing, including installation of removable storm windows and doors, caulking, and weather stripping;
Installation of exterior lights;
An alteration that is not visible from the street.
A heritage permit is NOT required for:
The Toronto Heritage Grant Program is administered by the Heritage Preservation Services Unit of the City Planning Division to encourage the conservation of designated heritage properties in the City of Toronto. The program assists property owners to repair and retain defining heritage attributes, including masonry, windows, doors, wood detailing, and slate roofs.
Heritage Grants
Our Community Partners
We believe in working with other community groups to build strong networks that protect and celebrate our shared heritage. Here is a list of local organisations who also focus on Cabbagetown.