City of Fredericton Heritage Conservation Area By-law and Planning and Design Guidelines Project

Background and overview of the project:

In June of 2023, Fredericton City Council adopted the Fredericton Heritage Program and Services Review. One key recommendation from this review is to develop a new Heritage Conservation By-Law and accompanying design guidelines. These changes aim to strengthen the City’s approach to heritage conservation, and provide clear guidance in the St. Anne’s Point Heritage Conservation Area.

The updated By-law and Guidelines aim to:

• Better guide exterior alterations and new construction
• Clarify the approval process for property owners
• Ensure changes respect the character of the area
• Allow flexibility in design while protecting heritage value

Where are we now?

Since launching the project in June 2025, the project has moved into Phase 4, which focuses on the finalization of both documents.

To date, staff have held three neighbourhood meetings to engage property owners within St. Anne’s Point. At the March 23, 2026, City Council meeting, Council directed staff to host an additional round of public engagement to gather more feedback from the community.

What is the Heritage Conservation By-Law?

The Municipal Heritage Conservation Act of the Province of New Brunswick enables municipalities to make by-laws for the preservation and conservation of areas and sites of importance to the community. The current Heritage Preservation By-Law (By-Law L-4) regulates the design of any changes or work done to the exterior of buildings within the designated area. Known today as the City of Fredericton Heritage Preservation Area By-law, it will be renamed the City of Fredericton Heritage Conservation Area By-law to align with the Heritage Conservation Act.

What areas in the city are administered under a Conservation By-Law?

The area presently administered under the By-law is called the St. Anne’s Point Preservation Area. Currently, there are approximately 350 properties in the area.

What are design guidelines?

Design guidelines are a set of principles and best practices used to guide physical changes to the built environment. They help ensure that new development, renovations, and alterations are compatible with the surrounding context and character of the neighborhood.

While they do not dictate exact designs, design guidelines provide direction on elements such as:

• Authenticity/integrity
• Scale and massing
• Compatibility
• Balance/proportion/harmony
• Window and door openings; porches
• Materials
• Colour
• Ornamentation
• Modern interventions
• Signs
• Fencings and other landscaping elements
• New buildings: siting and design.

What is changing?

• Under the New Brunswick Heritage Conservation Act, a new City of Fredericton Heritage Conservation By-law will be created to replace the existing by-law.
• New design guidelines are being created to support the new Heritage Conservation Area By-law. These will provide consistent and user-friendly standards for the design and exterior alterations of structures within the St. Anne’s Point Heritage Conservation Area.

What’s the purpose of neighbourhood engagement?

The purpose of neighbourhood engagement is to hear from the property owners within the Heritage Conservation Area. Your feddback will help shape the new Heritage Conservation Area By-law and accompanying design guidelines, ensuring that the thoughts and opinions of the neighbourhood are considered during this process.

How can I ask questions or share feedback?

Attend the fourth in-person neighbourhood engagement session, featuring a presentation followed by an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback:

• The date of the fourth in-person neighbourhood engagement session is to be determined and will be shared closer to the date.

Email questions or comments to:

planning@fredericton.ca or leave a question on the project page below!

Staff encourages property owners to review the available documents online in advance.

What are the next steps?

Following the fourth round of engagement, feedback will be reviewed and used to refine the documents. Final drafts will then be presented to City Council for consideration and adoption.