These ledgers are a record of property tax payments. Prior to 1982, the assessment rolls list both the owner and occupier of the property, as well as whether the land was held as freehold or leasehold. Following a change in the method of taxation in 1982, information relating to property occupiers was no longer recorded. Other information may include:

• number of floors
• number of rooms
• whether the property has water and sewer services

These records are organized by civic address rather than by the name of the property owner.

Important dates

• The earliest assessment roll available dates from 1891-1892
• Records from 1888 to July 1892 were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1892
• Assessment rolls were produced every three years from 1891 to 1921
• From 1923 to 1949, assessment rolls were produced every two years
• Beginning in 1949, assessments were produced yearly
• The final paper copy was created in 1995; electronic versions are available thereafter.

Taxation search

Between 1982 and 1996, the City adopted a capital value system of taxation, in which taxes were based on the assessed value of the property. Under this system, only the property owner and freehold or leasehold status were recorded, and information about occupiers was no longer required.

From 1997 to the present, a market value system of taxation has been used, with property taxes based on the estimated sale value of the property on the open market.

Records of permits issued for new construction, renovations and demolitions are available intermittently from 1911 on. The City of St. John's Archives does have records of electrical and plumbing permits from the 1970s onward.

City directories provide listings of names, street addresses and other information dating back to 1864. Editions were published intermittently by various compliers between 1864 and 1936, with no directories produced during the 1940s and 1950s. Annual editions were published from 1960 to 2000, when publication ceased due to privacy legislation.

Selected directories are available below. If the directory you are seeking is not available, please contact the Archives for assistance. 

• 1877 The Atlantic Telegraph NFLD Directory
• 1885-86 Directory for the towns of St. John's, Harbor Grace, and Carbonear
• 1913 St. John's Newfoundland Directory including Harbor Grace, Carbonear and Bell Island
• 1915 McAlpine's St. John's City Directory
• 1922 St. John's Telephone Directory  
• 1928 Newfoundland Directory
• 1932 St. John's Classified Business and City Directory
• 1936 Lloyd's Newfoundland Directory
• 1951 St. John's Telephone Directory
• 1958 Eastern Newfoundland Telephone Directory
• 1960-61 Polk's St. John's City Directory
• 1966 Henderson's St. John's City Directory
• 1968 Henderson's St. John's City Directory
• 1969 Henderson's St. John's City Directory
• 1970 Henderson's St. John's City Directory
• 1971 Henderson's St. John's City Directory
• 1972 Polk's St. John's City Directory
• 1973 Polk's St. John's City Directory

Insurance Plans provide a very detailed look at properties in St. John's, including:

• construction materials
• number of stories
• roofing materials and type
• building footprints
• accessory buildings
• residential or commercial status
• business type
• civic addresses
• water and sewer information
• location of fountains and hydrants

Together, these plans offer an invaluable resource for understanding how the built environment of St. John's has evolved over time. 

The City of St. John's Archives holds municipal Voter's Lists for the years 1937, 1941, 1969 and from 1981 onward. Due to privacy legislation, only the Voter's List for 1937 and 1941 are open to public access.

The City of St. John's Archives holds the records from the Town of Goulds and the Town of Wedgewood Park. These records include development, building files, permits, taxation and assessment information. When Metroboard was dissolved in 1992, only development and building application records for properties within the jurisdiction of the City were transferred to the Archives. All other Metroboard records were transferred to The Rooms Provincial Archives.

1. Consult the Fire Insurance Plans to get an approximate date of construction.
2. Verify whether the civic or house number has changed over time, as any change in numbering is important to note.
3. Review the City's Assessment Rolls to identify when the property was first assessed for taxation, which often provided an indication of construction date.
4. Examine the City Permit Books to determine when permits for construction or occupancy were issued.

The Archives do not generally maintain complete property histories on file. In cases where a property a designated as a heritage property, some historical information may be available. Ownership histories are typically prepared only when requested by a property owner or an interested party.  Due to the volume of requests received, the Archives is unable to conduct this research on behalf of property owners. Researchers are encouraged to schedule an appointment, during which Archives staff will provide guidance on conducting this research.

Access to departmental records relating to a specific property, including building files, architectural plans and permits, is restricted to property owners who can provide proof of ownership. 

Several sources may be used to determine this information. The main sources include the City's Assessment Rolls, published city directories and municipal voter's lists.  City directories may also provide additional details, such as occupations of residents. City telephone books can provide additional information. Census returns, available through other archival institutions, are also valuable research resources.

Using the date of construction, it is often possible to identify the original property owner through the City’s Assessment Rolls. To conduct the search, the property must be located within the municipal boundaries of the City of St. John’s. Many earlier municipal records were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1892. As a result, determining the exact construction dates and early ownership histories for some properties can be challenging.

For properties constructed from 1986 onward, the Archives may hold a set of original architectural plans, available either on microfiche or in hard copy. In some cases, architectural drawings may also be included within the development application files for houses constructed under the jurisdiction of the Town of Goulds, the Town of Wedgewood Park or the St. John's Metropolitan Area Board. Please note that proof of ownership is required before any house plans can be released.

Researchers are encouraged to consult the Photo Search to determine whether relevant images exist. The Archives hold an extensive photographic collection, including images of houses located within the downtown and central re-development area in the 1950s and 1960s.