Heritage Restoration Grant Program
Restore your heritage storefront with up to $5,000 in reimbursement. The City of Vernon covers 50% of eligible exterior work, but you must pay first and get approval before starting. Applications are open.
How we verify funding records →
Before you spend a dollar
Get the city's approval BEFORE you start work or buy anything — starting early is the #1 way owners lose this funding.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Not sure if you qualify?
Get a free, 2-minute read on whether this program fits your business. No obligation.
Check your fit →Is this for you?
- You own a commercial property on the Vernon Heritage Register
- You are planning exterior restoration like painting, siding, or structural repairs
- You can secure approval before spending any money on the project
Probably not the right fit if
- Your building is not officially heritage-designated
- You have already started or completed the restoration work
- Your business is located outside the eligible Vernon zones
How much you'd realistically get
For example, a storefront refresh — new facade, paint and exterior lighting:
Project cost
$10,000
Program pays
$5,000
You pay
$5,000
That's the program's maximum — a bigger project works, and the amount above the cap is yours to fund.
That's work we build. Price my project like this →
Illustration using this program's published rate and cap; amounts and eligibility are decided by the program.
Up to 50% of works, to a maximum of $5,000
What may be supported
- Exterior restoration to original condition
- Structural repairs (foundations, chimneys, gutters, roofing, windows, siding)
- Exterior painting (heritage colour schemes)
How applying works
Effort: mediumA city application with quotes/photos; approval before you start, then claim after completion.
- 01Confirm your property is in the program area and funds are available
- 02Get the city's written pre-approval BEFORE starting
- 03Complete the approved work
- 04Submit your costs for reimbursement
Before you apply
Your application will likely need written quotes
Programs like this usually ask for written estimates for the work before they approve anything, and some require as many as three. BBN Labs works with you on this: we prepare a quote for the work this program funds — scope, costs and timelines you can put straight into your application. Free, no obligation.
Get my quote for this program →Documents commonly required
- Quotes/estimates for the work
- Photos of the current storefront
- Proof of property ownership or owner's consent
How BBN Labs helps
- BBN coordinates qualified trades for your exterior restoration, siding, and structural repairs to restore your building to its original condition.
- BBN coordinates exterior painting in heritage-appropriate colours, keeping your building true to its original character while looking sharp on the street.
- BBN guides you through the application and documentation process so you don't lose the funding.
What to know before you count on it
- Cost-share: you pay for the work first, then you're reimbursed (about half) after it's done and inspected.
- Apply and get approved BEFORE you start any work or buy anything — starting early disqualifies most of these.
- Area-gated to Vernon's designated CIP/BIA zone — confirm your address qualifies before you spend.
- Often requires a heritage-designated/listed building (most ordinary storefronts won't qualify) — check first.
- Municipal funding is limited each year — confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
Area-gated and funding-limited, but a straightforward fit if your Vernon address qualifies and you apply before starting.
Related BBN services
Storefront Signs & Sign Boards
Sign concepts, mockups and measurements done right. Fabrication and installation quoted and managed for you.
Storefront & Facade Improvements
Facade refresh concepts, visualizations and contractor coordination, scoped the way municipal improvement programs expect.
Accessibility Improvements
Accessible websites, clear signage, and ramps or entrance work handled by licensed trades.
What you can combine it with
May combine with provincial/federal programs for the same project — we'll check what stacks.
Worth reading before you apply
Get alerted when this changes
Programs open and close, budgets run out, rules change. We send one short email when something changes that matters for this program.
Record last updated ; last verified yesterday with the official source. Source: official program page.