Building & Land Use Research Guide

If you have an interest in researching your home, building or historical land use, the following resources will help you get started.

City Directories (1860–1999)

City directories provide an idea of what type of building was at a particular address (i.e., residence or business). The directories also provide a rough idea of the age of the building, by the date the address first appears in the directories.

During your research, keep in mind that the street numbering system for Victoria changed in 1907. In addition, street names often change.

List of City Directories at the Archives

The Vancouver Public Library has digitized many B.C. related directories.

B.C. City Directories 1860–1955

Maps and Plans

Fire insurance plans and lot maps can be useful when researching buildings. Fire insurance plans show:

street numbers
construction material used for each building
number of storeys
type of roofing material
position of building on lot
locations of outbuildings
the use of the building

The Archives has five sets of original fire insurance plans (1903–1909, 1911–1916, 1921–1949, 1925–1949 and 1957–1967). The following plans are available online:

Lot maps can help trace the growth of the city and determine the legal description of a building. Descriptions of the maps in the Archives’ collection are searchable.

Archives' Online Map Search

Demolished Building Plans

Building plans and applications for plumbing connections for demolished buildings are held by the Archives. You can search for these with the Archives’ Online Search. These records are useful for researching architects and buildings that have been demolished. Applications for plumbing connections will usually confirm the date a building was plumbed and the date it was demolished.

Search Building Plans Search Plumbing Connection Applications

For plans of extant buildings, contact the City’s Permits and Inspections division.

Building Permits (1907–1989)

Building permit applications are arranged by building permit number. They can help establish an approximate date of construction. In addition, the owner's name, legal description, number of storeys and rooms are recorded. The building permit application ledgers are available for viewing in the Archives’ reading room.

1907–1936 Ledger

Oil Burning Equipment & Fuel Storage Tank Permits (1980s–present)

These records are available through the Victoria Fire Department. They include the date, name of installer, tank capacity and the location of tanks and pumps.

Tax Assessment Rolls (1864–1948)

Tax assessment records can help to establish ownership of a property or the construction dates of a building. These records show lot size, name of owner, land value and improvements to the land (i.e., house). Tax assessment records are available for viewing in the Archives’ reading room.

Photographs

The City of Victoria Archives has an extensive photograph collection from a variety of sources. Many of these images are scanned and searchable through the Archives’ Online Search. Please note that these images represent only part of the Archives collection, as the scanning of records is ongoing.

Archives’ Online Photograph Search

Newspaper Clippings

Clipping files provide an excellent source of information on development and planning issues, street histories, buildings and neighbourhoods.

Archives’ Online Newspaper Clippings Search

House Names

A list of house names from the early 1900s is available online. The list provides information on the name of the residence, its street address, the owner and the municipality in which it was located.

List of House Names (Alphabetical List)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Archives have a complete history of my house already prepared?

How do I find the original owner of my house and the date of construction?

There are several sources that can be used to find this information. The best and most accurate source is tax assessment rolls. However, they are difficult and time-consuming records to use.

If your house was built after 1900, obtaining a copy of your plumbing plan from Permits and Inspections will give you the date that the house was connected to the sewer system. This is likely the same year the house was built. The document will also have the name of the owner at that time.

City directories can also be helpful in narrowing down the date (if other sources are not available) and will help you determine who lived in your house over the years.

Who was the architect / builder of my house?

Finding out this information can be difficult. Prior to 1907, the City did not require that building plans be submitted, and plans are one of the few sources that document the architect or builder's name. You can request a search for house plans through the Permits and Inspections division. Building permits were occasionally signed by the architect, builder, or contractor.

As a last resort, try the newspapers. At the beginning of each year, they published a list of buildings built in the previous twelve months. Architect-designed homes were often singled out for special mention. Historical newspapers are available on microfilm at the Greater Victoria Public Library and online (British Colonist and Victoria Daily Times).

Where can I find a photograph of my house?

Where can I find evidence of underground tanks?

Where can I find land use information for other municipalities?

Where can I find air photos?