Led by Parks Canada and a parliamentary committee on heritage, a policy was drafted and approved by cabinet in 1982.
Cabinet allocated funds from Parks Canada's budget to manage FHBRO.
A pioneering evaluation system was developed by leading heritage conservation architect, Hal Kalman.
The majority of federal heritage buildings are owned by Parks Canada, but significant holdings are managed by the Department of National Defence, Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
In recent years, FHBRO has been a key player in facilitating the protection and conservation of the country's most prominent buildings on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.