Our heritage grant program helps cover the costs of conserving our cultural heritage resources. Maintaining our history can be expensive, so we hope to make it more affordable for property owners.
On this page:
About the grant program
If you own property individually designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or in one of our heritage districts, you may be eligible to receive grants towards the conservation of your property.
The awarded amount for approved applications is up to one half (50%) of eligible project costs, from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000 for General Projects and $15,000 for Special Projects.
For more information about the heritage grant program, please review our Guidelines for the Designated Heritage Grant Program.
Pre-consultation
If you want to apply for heritage funding, we encourage you to consult with our heritage planning staff as early as possible. This pre-consultation will help:
- avoid ineligible proposals
- avoid delays in the processing of your application
- determine if you need a heritage permit
Pre-consultation is required prior to the submission of a grant application for a Special Project.
Application
The deadline for application submissions is April 15. Download our application form and send the completed form to our heritage planning team.
Please include as much detail as possible, including the materials, methods, dimensions and more. You must include written estimates of the cost of the work.
While reviewing your application, we may ask for:
- more plans
- specifications
- documentary evidence
- drawings or photos
We give priority to work that addresses the structural needs of the property. Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis.
Eligibility
Projects that are eligible to receive heritage grant funding fall into three categories:
- Conservation / Preservation of existing architectural elements which are significant to the cultural heritage value of the property and are identified in designating by-laws or heritage conservation district plans.
- Reconstruction of architectural elements which are significant to the cultural heritage value of the property, are identified in designating by-laws or heritage conservation district plans, and which still exist, but which are beyond conservation or repair.
- Restoration of significant architectural features which have been lost, but for which there exists documentation to support appropriate reproduction as per the original.
For documented features, sources must relate directly to the subject property. The documentation must be either historic drawings, photographs or other sources that clearly show or describe the feature(s) to be restored.
Ineligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- projects of a non-historic nature, such as the introduction of new features or work on existing features which are not identified heritage attributes, or which are not regarded as having heritage value or significance.
- interior projects, unless the features are specifically identified as heritage attributes within the designating by-laws, as determined by the Heritage Planning staff or designate.
- repair or replacement of non-original siding or roofing materials (aluminum siding, asphalt shingles, etc), non-original windows and doors.
- landscaping.
- driveway paving and repairs.
- installation or repairs to heating or cooling system or other energy efficiency upgrades.
- work that has already been started or completed at the time of application. Retroactive grant funding may only be approved on an emergency basis and at the discretion of Heritage Planning staff or designate.
Please review our Guidelines for the Designated Heritage Grant Program for a full list of eligible and ineligible projects.
Heritage tax refunds
If you own a property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, you may be eligible for a property tax refund of up to 40%.
Call us at 519-741-2426 if your designated property is subject to a:
- heritage conservation easement agreement, OR
- preservation and maintenance agreement on a built heritage resource