Voluntary Heritage Designation
The purpose of heritage designation is to protect heritage buildings from unsymphathetic alteration and subsequent loss of character or value (some alterations may be required for ongoing use through a Heritage Alteration Permit application). The Local Government Act gives City Council the power to designate heritage properties by bylaw and describes the process to follow to protect a property.
The City's Heritage Interest Inventory and Mountain View Heritage Conservation Area identifies a number of potential heritage properties, but they are predominantly privately owned. The City uses a voluntary designation process and the preservation of these properties is contingent on individual decisions by the concerned owners.