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Is my BC property in a heritage conservation area?

In a heritage conservation area, subdividing, building, adding on or altering a building or the land usually needs a heritage alteration permit first, following the area's guidelines in the official community plan. A report checks the lot against the Province's list of areas and names any it's in.

The Province lists 33 heritage conservation areas in 17 places, read 2026-10-07; a report checks any BC lot against all of them. The places, by name.

The report opens at this answer, with the lot drawn on the map and every other check alongside. A PID (on the tax notice or title) always finds the lot; an address works when it's an exact match.

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What the answer means

What a heritage conservation area is: A municipality or regional district can designate one in its official community plan to conserve a neighbourhood's heritage character (Local Government Act s. 614). The plan describes the area's special features and sets guidelines for how buildings and land there may change, and it can list protected heritage properties within it.
What needs a permit: Inside the area, subdividing, starting a building or an addition, or altering a building or the land needs a heritage alteration permit that follows the guidelines (s. 615), unless the plan exempts that kind of work. On a property the plan lists as protected, demolition and change are held tighter still.
What a permit can and can't do: The permit can set the form, materials, siting and landscaping, but can't change the use or density the zoning allows (s. 617). An area can't be used to unreasonably restrict the homes the Province's small-scale housing rules require (s. 457.1), though its permit can shape how they look and sit.
Heritage register and designation: Single buildings are protected in other ways. A building on the local government's community heritage register (s. 598) isn't protected by that alone, but the local government can withhold a permit to alter or demolish it for a time (ss. 604, 605). A heritage designation bylaw (s. 611) protects a property outright, is noted on its title, and can entitle the owner to compensation if it lowers the market value (s. 613). A heritage revitalization agreement (s. 610) trades protection for changes to the rules. None of these is on the Province's map of areas.
Not on the list: The Province's list holds the areas local governments report to it. A newly designated area may not be on it yet, and areas that apply only by a bylaw's text may not be drawn.
What it means for a buyer: A permit adds time, design cost and conditions before you renovate, build or subdivide, and the guidelines can rule out the house you had in mind. Ask the local government whether the lot is in an area, whether it's listed or on the heritage register, and what the guidelines would mean for your plans.

Our summary of the Local Government Act, Part 15, read on BC Laws 2026-10-07. The area's guidelines in the official community plan, not the map, decide what a permit needs. Confirm with the local government's planning or heritage department before you buy or build.

Source: Heritage Conservation Areas of BC, Heritage Branch, Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); Local Government Act, Part 15 (heritage conservation), BC Laws (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-07).

By place

All 33 heritage conservation areas on the Province's list, in 17 places, listed by place and name.

Place	Area: who designated it, its plan, and where it is
Abbotsford	Clayburn Village Heritage Conservation Area The City of Abbotsford; designated 1996; OCP Bylaw 2016 Sch. 'A' Clayburn Village HCA; B/L 214-96; HCA Guidelines; its plan lists protected properties. Area around intersection of Clayburn Road and Wright Street, Abbotsford, in the Province's words.
Cumberland	Historic Village Commercial Core heritage conservation area The Village of Cumberland; designated 2014; Cumberland Official Community Plan, 2014. Area along Dunsmuir Avenue between First and Fifth Street, in the Province's words.
Delta	Arthur Drive Conservation Area The City of Delta; designated 2016; Delta Official Community Plan, 2016. Area along Arthur Drive parallel to Chillukthan Slough, in the Province's words.
Delta	Ladner Conservation Area The City of Delta; designated 1995; Delta Official Community Plan, 2016. Area bounded by 48B Street, 48th Avenue, 47A Avenue and the drainage right of way, in the Province's words.
Fraser Valley, Electoral Area B	Yale Heritage Precinct Conservation Area The Fraser Valley Regional District; designated 1998; Fraser Valley RD OCP for Portions of Electoral Area B - Bylaw No. 150, 1998. Area bounded by Trans Canada Highway, Albert Street, Douglas Street and including St. John the Divine Church, Yale Museum; also small triangle of land west of Victoria Street at Trans Canada Highway, in the Province's words.
Kelowna	Abbott Street Conservation Area The City of Kelowna; designated 1995; Abbott Marshall Street Heritage Conservation Area Development Guidelines, 1997. Area bounded by Mill Creek, Royal Avenue, Pandosy Street and Okanagan Lake, in the Province's words.
Kelowna	Marshall Street Conservation Area The City of Kelowna; designated 1995; Abbott Marshall Street Heritage Conservation Area Development Guidelines, 1997. Area around Marshall Street from Buckland Avenue to Pandosy Street, in the Province's words.
Langley	Fort Langley Heritage Conservation Area The Township of Langley; designated 1993; Township of Langley Official Community Plan; Fort Langley Community Plan. Area of downtown centred on Glover Road between Bedford Channel of Fraser River and St. Andrews Street, in the Province's words.
Langley	Murrayville Heritage Conservation Area The Township of Langley; designated 2010; Township of Langley Official Community Plan; Murrayville Community Plan; its plan lists protected properties. Area surrounding intersection of Old Yale Road, 48 Avenue and 216 Street, in the Province's words.
Nanaimo	Downtown / Fitzwilliam Street Corridor heritage conservation area The City of Nanaimo; designated 1998; Nanaimo Official Community Plan, 2008; its plan lists protected properties. Area bounded by Nanaimo waterfront, Front Street, Esplanade, Cavan, Albert , Selby, Milton, Fitzwilliam, Wentworth, Richards, Comox and Terminal Avenue, in the Province's words.
New Westminster	Queen's Park Heritage Conservation Area The City of New Westminster; designated 2017; New Westminster OCP Amendment (Queen’s Park HCA Amendment) Bylaw No. 7926, 2017; its plan lists protected properties. Area bounded by Royal Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Sixth Street, First Street, Vancouver Street and Granville Street, in the Province's words.
North Vancouver	Ottawa Gardens heritage conservation area The City of North Vancouver; designated 2009; Ottawa Gardens - HCA Guidelines, 2009; its plan lists protected properties; the list doesn't confirm it is still in force. Area around 200 and 300 blocks of West 6th Street and the St. Edmond's Church complex, in the Province's words.
Port Moody	Ioco Townsite heritage conservation area The City of Port Moody; designated 2002; Port Moody OCP, Appendix 3: Ioco Townsite HCA Guidelines; its plan lists protected properties. Area bounded by CPR line, Ioco Road, Fourth Avenue, First Avenue, and including Ioco School, in the Province's words.
Port Moody	Moody Centre heritage conservation area The City of Port Moody; designated 2011; Port Moody OCP, Appendix 4: Moody Centre HCA Guidelines; its plan lists protected properties. Area bounded by Vintner Street, Clarke Street, Kyle Street, Andrews Street, Elgin Street, Hope Street and Douglas Street, in the Province's words.
Prince George	Prince George Heritage Conservation Area A The City of Prince George; designated 2012; Prince George Official Community Plan Map Schedules; its plan lists protected properties. Ewart-King House at 1627 7th Avenue, in the Province's words.
Prince George	Prince George Heritage Conservation Area B The City of Prince George; designated 2012; Prince George Official Community Plan Map Schedules; its plan lists protected properties. Post Office at 1294 3rd Avenue, in the Province's words.
Prince George	Prince George Heritage Conservation Area C The City of Prince George; designated 2012; Prince George Official Community Plan Map Schedules; its plan lists protected properties. Government Liquor Store at 1188 6th Avenue, in the Province's words.
Prince George	Prince George Heritage Conservation Area D The City of Prince George; designated 2012; Prince George Official Community Plan Map Schedules; its plan lists protected properties. South Fort George School House at 755 20th Avenue, in the Province's words.
Revelstoke	Revelstoke Station Heritage Conservation Area The City of Revelstoke; designated 2009; City of Revelstoke Official Community Plan, Bylaw 1892, Appendix 4; its plan lists protected properties. Area of downtown generally bounded by Mackenzie Avenue, Third Street, Vernon Avenue, Sixth Street, McArthur Avenue, Seventh Street and Tenth Street, in the Province's words.
Saltspring Island	Ganges Village Core heritage conservation area The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee; designated 2008; Islands Trust SSI Local Trust Committee OCP; Bylaw 434, 2008, Sched. A, Vol.1; its plan lists protected properties. Area bounded by Ganges Harbour, Fulford-Ganges Road, Jackson Avenue, Rainbow Road, Park Drive and Lower Ganges Road, in the Province's words.
Vancouver	First Shaughnessy Heritage Conservation Area The City of Vancouver; designated 2015; Vancouver HCA Official Dev. Plan (HCA ODP) App. A2 and A4, First Shaughnessy HCA; its plan lists protected properties. Area bounded by West 16th Avenue, Marpole, Wolfe, Richelieu Avenues, Arbutus Street, West King Edward Avenue, Arbutus and the west lane of Oak Street, in the Province's words.
Vernon	Historic Downtown District heritage conservation area The City of Vernon; designated 2013; City of Vernon Official Community Plan. Area bounded by 32nd Avenue, 27th Street, 28th Avenue, Coldstream Avenue and 35th Street, in the Province's words.
Vernon	Lower East Hill District heritage conservation area The City of Vernon; designated 2013; City of Vernon Official Community Plan. Area bounded by 35th Avenue, 22nd Street, 25th Avenue, 23rd Street, 23rd Avenue, Highway 6 and 27th Street, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Core Business Area heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Area bounded by Douglas Street, Chatham Street, Blanshard Street, Pandora Avenue, Quadra Street, Fort Street, Humboldt Street and Douglas Street, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Core Historic Area heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Area bounded by Chatham Street, Douglas Street, Humboldt Street and Wharf Street, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Core Mixed-Use Residential heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Area bounded by Blanshard Street, Pembroke Street, Vancouver Street, Balmoral lane, Cook Street, View Street, Quadra Street and Pandora Avenue, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Corridors Heritage heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Area along Fort Street between Blanshard Street and St. Charles Street, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Inner Harbour heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Area surrounding Inner Harbour from Chatham Street to Laurel Point, extending inland to Kingston Street, Menzies, Belleville, Government, Superior, Humboldt and Wharf Street, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Legislative Precinct heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Two blocks: one bounded by Kingston, Menzies and Superior Streets; one bounded by Menzies, Superior, Government and Michigan Streets, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Rock Bay Heritage heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Area bounded by Rock Bay waterfront, Bay Street, Government Street and Chatham Street, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Small Urban Villages Heritage heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Area around intersection of Gladstone Avenue and Fernwood Road, in the Province's words.
Victoria	Traditional Residential heritage conservation area The City of Victoria; designated 2012; Victoria Official Community Plan, 2012. Five distinct areas: Battery Street, Avalon-Huntington, Catherine Street North, St. Charles Street and Elora (Foul Bay Road at Chandler Avenue), in the Province's words.
West Vancouver	Lower Caulfeild Heritage Conservation Area The District Municipality of West Vancouver; designated 2001; West Vancouver - Lower Caulfeild HCA, Heritage Alteration Permit Guidelines. Area bounded by Pilot Cove and Caulfeild Cove waterfront, The Dale and Marine Drive, in the Province's words.

From the Province's Heritage Conservation Areas of BC, read 2026-10-07. Each area is placed by us in the place that holds it. Where the plan lists protected properties, a listed one has tighter limits on demolition and change; ask the local government whether a lot is on that list. A newly designated area may not be on the Province's list yet.