Archives > Houses and Buildings
Those who are interested in discovering when their house was built and who lived there previously may find the following Frequently Asked Questions and Resources useful.
This information is also available in a printable brochure, which can be viewed by clicking here - [PDF 424KB].
Frequently Asked Questions about House Research:
Q.Does the Archives have a complete history of my house already prepared?
A. If your house is a designated heritage building, a history of it may already available in the Development and Planning Department, since applications for heritage designation (which go through the Heritage Planner) generally require a history of the building. The research that went into the application was likely done at the City Archives, probably by the owner of the building. Otherwise, Archives' staff will be more than willing to discuss the sources available to you and assist you in your research.
Q. How do I find the original owner of my house?
A. The best and most accurate source for this information is the tax assessment rolls. Tax rolls are not the easiest records to use so you may want to start your research by finding out the date, or approximate date, that your house was built (see When was my house built?). When you have discovered the date of construction, then locating your property in the tax roll will give you the name of the original owner. If your house was built after 1900, you may want to get a copy of your Application for Sewer Connection or "plumbing plan" from the Permits and Inspections Division in City Hall. This may seem like an odd source of information, but the person who originally built the house likely had the house plumbed, and therefore their name will be on the application. An added bonus is that the application should also have the old legal description and a footprint plan of the house.
Q. Who owned / lived in my house over the years?
A. A good place to start your research is with the city directories (see description under Resources). As you work your way through the years, you will be able to get an idea of the number of different people who lived in your house. Starting in the 1930s, ownership is designated by an asterisk (*) in front of the name. Also during this time, the wife’s name was added in brackets behind that of her husband. If you wish to delve deeper into the history of the families who lived in your home see Family Research.
Q. When was my house built?
A. There are two resources that are most commonly used to answer this question. It is helpful to start with the city directories and work backwards until the address is no longer listed (take into account that Victoria street numbers were changed in 1907 and that many street names changed as well). By doing this, you will have an approximate building date. For a more accurate date, next check the tax assessment rolls (keep in mind that you will need the old legal description of the property to use the tax rolls – see Where can I find the old legal description of a property?).
You may also want to search the building permits. Unfortunately, the building permits are arranged by permit number so they require a bit of time to go through.
Q. Who was the architect / builder of my house?
A. Finding the architect and/or builder of a house can be difficult. Prior to 1907, the City did not require plans to be submitted for retention by the Engineering Department. Building plans are one of the only types of records available that document the architect. Occasionally plumbing plans are signed by an architect, but that architect may not have designed the house, only the installation of the plumbing (and perhaps the bathroom). The architect, builder or contractor sometimes signed building permits.
At the beginning of each new year the newspapers published a list of buildings and homes built over the previous twelve months. Architect-designed homes are often singled out for special mention. The City Archives does have copies of some of these lists, or you can look at the newspapers on microfilm at the Greater Victoria Public Library.
Q. Where can I find the old legal description of a property?
A. There are a couple of different ways to find this information. The easiest
is to request a copy of your Application for Sewer Connection ("plumbing
plan") from the Permits
and Inspections Division in City Hall. The application should contain the
old legal description, as well as provide you with the name of the owner at the
time the house was plumbed. Alternatively, Archives’ staff can determine the old
legal description by using various maps.
Q. Where can I find a photograph of my house?
A. The City Archives has a large photograph collection. The photographs have either been donated by individuals, businesses or organizations or they have been created by City of Victoria departments. While it is possible that the Archives does have a photograph of your house or street, we do not have photographs for every home in the city. If you do not have any luck finding the photograph you want here, you may want to try the British Columbia Archives or the Hallmark Society.
Q. Where can I find plans of my house?
A. Prior to 1907, the City did not require plans to be submitted for retention
by the Engineering Department. Requests to search for house plans can be made
through the Permits and Inspections
Division. If you think that P. Leonard James or Hubert Savage may have designed
your home, the City Archives have a number of their plans. If you are lucky enough
to own a house designed by Samuel Maclure, the University of Victoria Special Collections has a large collection of Maclure
plans.
Q. How can I find out when my ancestor’s house was demolished?
A. Demolished buildings plans (CRS 144) and
the Applications for Sewer/Plumbing Connections (CRS 181) are the best sources
to find demolition dates. Regrettably, the majority of the demolished building
plans are for commercial buildings, but it is always worth a look. When a home
of building is demolished and the sewer disconnected, the Applications for Sewer/Plumbing
Connections are transferred to the Archives, after receiving a "demolished"
date stamp.
Resources for House Research
City Directories List
1860-1997 (not a complete set)
For the house researcher, the city directories are a good place to start. The directories can provide a rough guide as to the age of a building, from the date the address first appears in the directories.
The early directories list residents (not owners) in the city and environs and include their address and occupation. It wasn't until the 1890s that another section listing by street was added. Some directories include only the city, while others include Vancouver Island and British Columbia.
View City Directories List.
*The street numbering system for Victoria was changed in 1905.
*Street names often changed.
*City directories are not always accurate.
Tax Assessment Rolls
1865-1948
Tax Assessment Rolls consist of assessments made on real property and improvements
compiled for the purpose of determining taxes. Although these records are
not particularly user-friendly, they are very accurate. The tax rolls are
available on microfilm for the years 1864 to 1916. From the 1864 to 1871
they are accessed by name, from 1872 by lot number, and from 1916 by tax roll
number. Tax assessment rolls show lot size, name of owner, land value and
improvements to the land (i.e. house). Further information about these records
is available in the City Record Series descriptions (CRS
150).
*When using tax assessment rolls it is useful to have the legal description of the property.
*Old and new legal descriptions are similar only in lot number.
Clipping Files Subject Headings List
These extensive clipping files about the City of Victoria date mainly from 1985 but many articles from earlier newspapers are also included. The provide an excellent source of information for development and planning issues, street histories, buildings and neighbourhoods.
View Clipping Files Subject List.
Publications
- This Old House and This Old Town - Planning Department Publications
- Downtown Heritage Inventory - Planning Department Publications
- Camus Chronicles - the History of James Bay - Camus History Group
- Architectural Trends in Victoria 1850-1914 - On microfiche as well as at the library
- Victoria: A History in Architecture 1843-1929 - Martin Segger
- Samuel Maclure - Martin Segger
Death and Marriage Notices
1901-1939 (predominantly)
Obituary and marriage notices from the Victoria Daily Times are available for 1901-1939. Also available at the Archives are obituaries from the Times-Colonist, 1985 to June 1993. The earlier obituary and marriage notices are often very detailed and can provide considerable information. The marriage and death notice indexes are available online here.
Maps and Plans
Fire insurance maps and lot maps can be useful when researching property. Fire insurance maps show each building, type of construction, how many storeys, type of roofing material, lot number, positioning on the lot and sometimes the use of the building. Lot maps can be used to trace the growth of the city and to determine the legal description of buildings. Buildings plans and applications for plumbing connections for demolished buildings are held by the Archives. These are useful tools for researching architects and homes, buildings and businesses which have been demolished.
Applications for plumbing connections show the owner at time the building was connected to water and sewer services, legal description and a drawing of the outline of the building showing connections to the sewer. Building plans often show who the building was built for, date, architect, elevations and alterations.
Maps and Plans Lists
Some access to the maps and plans is available on the following pages:
More extensive descriptions of the maps and plans are available at the Archives.
Building Plans and Plumbing Plans
Plans for existing buildings can be obtained through the Building Inspection Division at City Hall. However, access to these plans requires the permission of the current owner of the property. Contact (250) 361-0344
*Plans do not exist for every home in the city.
*Try asking for these records if you are trying to find out the architect or builder.
Building Permits
1907-1958
Building permits are available from 1907 to 1950. They are listed by building permit number but can be useful for establishing an approximate date of construction. They also include owner's name, legal description, number of storeys, construction material and cost of the building.
House Names
Lists of house names from the early 1900's are available online. The lists provide
information on the name of the residence, its street address, the owner, and the
municipality in which it was located. For the house names search page, click here.
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