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Heritage Revitalization Agreement

Also known as: HRA · Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA)

A contract a BC local government negotiates with the owner of a heritage property. It trades relief from the zoning or subdivision bylaw for binding protection of named heritage features. Section 610 of the Local Government Act.

A Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) is a Section 610 Local Government Act mechanism that local governments and heritage-property owners use to balance heritage conservation with property-owner economic interests. The municipality and the owner negotiate a contract that varies the otherwise-applicable zoning or subdivision bylaw for the specific parcel (typically allowing added density, a duplex conversion, a coach house, or relaxed parking and setback rules) in exchange for legally binding heritage protection of identified features, usually the exterior building envelope, key character-defining elements, and sometimes interior features.

For buyers, the HRA matters in three ways. First, it is registered against title and binds successors: a buyer inherits both the use-rights and the heritage-protection obligations. Second, demolition or significant exterior alteration of the protected features requires a Heritage Alteration Permit (HAP) under LGA Section 617; the HRA itself does not authorize alteration, only varies the underlying zoning.

Third, on heritage-village inventory (Vancouver Special / Strathcona / Hammond / Steveston Village / Fort Langley character homes), an HRA is sometimes the only practical way to add density to a heritage-protected parcel. Pull the title and any registered HRA before pricing redevelopment optionality.

Related terms

  • Official Community Plan — The long-range land-use bylaw a BC local government adopts to say what it wants built where.
  • Bill 44 (2023): SSMUH — BC legislation requiring most municipalities to allow three to four homes on lots zoned for a single house or duplex.

See also

Sources: BC Government(2)
Review dates, licence and how to cite this entry
Rule effective
2003-01-01
Last verified
2026-05-22
Next scheduled review
2027-05-22
Cite this fact

Use any of these formats. Codex content is licensed under CC BY 4.0 — attribution required.

BibTeX — LaTeX, academic
@misc{bronsonjob-bc_lga_heritage_revitalization_agreement,
  author       = {Job, Bronson},
  title        = {{BC Heritage Revitalization Agreement (Local Government Act s. 610)}},
  howpublished = {BC Real Estate Codex},
  year         = {2003},
  url          = {https://www.bronsonjob.com/codex#bc.lga.heritage_revitalization_agreement},
  urldate      = {2026-05-22},
  note         = {Fact ID: bc.lga.heritage_revitalization_agreement, version 1.}
}
APA — Press, journalism
Job, B. (2003). BC Heritage Revitalization Agreement (Local Government Act s. 610). *BC Real Estate Codex*. Retrieved 2026-05-22, from https://www.bronsonjob.com/codex#bc.lga.heritage_revitalization_agreement
Plain link — Slack, email, Twitter
BC Heritage Revitalization Agreement (Local Government Act s. 610) — Bronson Job PREC, BC Real Estate Codex (2026-05-22). https://www.bronsonjob.com/codex#bc.lga.heritage_revitalization_agreement

Fact id: bc.lga.heritage_revitalization_agreement · v1 · machine-readable: /api/v1/facts/by-id/bc.lga.heritage_revitalization_agreement.json

License: This definition is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cite as: "Heritage Revitalization Agreement", BC Real Estate Glossary by Bronson Job, https://www.bronsonjob.com/glossary/heritage-revitalization-agreement.

Bronson Job PREC, REALTOR® at Momentum Realty Inc.. GVR Member #6015742 · FVREB Member #FJOBBR