Ottawa Centretown Heritage Facade Improvement Program
The City of Ottawa pays up to 75% of eligible costs, up to $75,000, for work on designated heritage buildings in Centretown. This is a cost-share program, so you pay first and get reimbursed after the work is done and approved. Applications close December 31, 2026. Applications are open.
“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 any money
Get the city's approval BEFORE you start work or buy anything. Work started before approval may not be funded.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
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 improvements.
- 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
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
Documents commonly required
- Quotes/estimates for the work
- Photos of the current storefront
- Proof of property ownership or owner's consent
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. Costs from work started early may not be paid back.
- Only buildings in Ottawa's Bank Street / Somerset Village Heritage Conservation District qualify. Confirm your address 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?
This program is only for designated heritage buildings in the Bank Street and Somerset Village area, and city funding is limited each year. Check your building's heritage status first, and apply before you start work.
More funding by what it pays for
Funding for Storefronts and Facades
Grants and loans that may help pay for storefront and facade work.
Funding for Accessibility
Grants for ramps, doors and washrooms may help pay for accessibility improvements.
Funding for Storefront Signage
Grants and loans that may help pay for new storefront signage.
Funding for Tourism
Grants and loans that may help pay for visitor marketing and online booking.
What you can combine it with
You may be able to combine this with provincial or federal programs for the same project. Ask the city which programs it allows with this grant.
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.
Page last updated ; status and deadline checked . Source: official program page.