Ottawa Centretown Heritage Facade Improvement Program
Refresh your heritage storefront with up to 75% of costs, max $75,000. This is a cost-share program, so you pay first and get reimbursed after the work is done and approved. Applications are open.
How we verify funding records →
“The program offers cost sharing grants up to 75 per cent of costs to a maximum of $75,000.”
From the official program page
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 business in a heritage-designated building in Ottawa's Bank Street or Somerset Village area.
- You are planning exterior work like facade repairs, new signage, or accessibility upgrades.
- You are ready to get approval from the city before you start any work or buy materials.
Probably not the right fit if
- Your building is not officially designated as heritage under the Ontario Heritage Act.
- You have already started or finished the renovation work.
- You are looking for a grant that pays you upfront rather than reimbursing you later.
How much you'd realistically get
For example, a storefront refresh — new facade, paint and exterior lighting:
Project cost
$60,000
Program pays
$45,000
You pay
$15,000
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 75% of costs, max $75,000
What may be supported
- new storefront signage
- exterior lighting
- storefront entrance + accessibility
- masonry cleaning/repointing
- heritage restoration
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 designs new storefront signage and coordinates qualified partners for installation so your brand stands out and draws more foot traffic from the street.
- BBN coordinates masonry cleaning, repointing, and heritage restoration trades to restore your building's character and curb appeal with one point of contact.
- BBN coordinates exterior lighting and entrance accessibility upgrades so your storefront looks inviting and welcomes every customer safely.
- Start work before approval and you lose the grant. BBN helps you manage the steps so you avoid that costly mistake.
What to know before you count on it
- Cost-share: you pay for the work first, then the city reimburses its share (up to 75%) after it's done and inspected.
- Apply and get approved BEFORE you start any work or buy anything — starting early disqualifies most of these.
- Bank Street / Somerset Village Heritage Conservation District, Ottawa. Confirm your address qualifies before you spend.
- Your building must be designated/registered under the Ontario Heritage Act (most ordinary storefronts won't qualify).
- Municipal funding is limited each year — confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
Area-gated and funding-limited, and designed for heritage buildings in Centretown — check your building's heritage status first, and apply before starting.
Related BBN services
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.
Storefront Signs & Sign Boards
Sign concepts, mockups and measurements done right. Fabrication and installation quoted and managed for you.
Tourism & Hospitality Digitization
Booking-ready websites, multilingual visitor info, itineraries, kiosks and media for operators and attractions.
What you can combine it with
May combine with provincial/federal programs for the same project — we'll check what stacks.
Related programs
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 6 days ago with the official source. Source: official program page.