Heritage grants - Heritage Incentive Program

• The building must be privately owned and used for commercial, non-commercial, residential, industrial, institutional, religious/spiritual, or mixed-use purposes, including those operated by non-profit organizations under a long-term lease (10+ years) with the City of Vancouver.
• The property must be listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register and legally protected by a heritage designation bylaw (or be committed to obtaining such designation prior to development permit issuance).
• The building must be constructed primarily of unreinforced masonry, including combinations with heavy-timber post-and-beam, structural steel, unreinforced concrete, or other historic structural assemblies.
• The project must include substantive heritage conservation and seismic upgrade work in alignment with the program's conservation and retention objectives.
• The applicant must not be in arrears on property taxes or in contravention of City bylaws.

Who is eligible?

• Privately owned commercial building owners
• Non-commercial building owners
• Non-profit organizations operating eligible buildings
• Owners of buildings used for residential, industrial, institutional, or religious/spiritual purposes

Who is not eligible

• Single-family and duplex dwellings, multi-family conversions, row-houses, and similar smaller building typologies that are primarily of wood-frame construction (these may be eligible under a different program).
• Major redevelopment projects offering low retention levels of existing heritage structures or significantly altering heritage resources to accommodate new construction.
• Buildings/sites that have already received City incentives (such as zoning variances, density transfers, property tax exemptions, or grants) through past redevelopment, rehabilitation, or rezoning processes.
• Properties with façade-only retention proposals (facadism) as the main conservation approach.
• Applicants in arrears on property taxes or in contravention of City bylaws.

Eligible expenses

• Construction costs directly related to heritage conservation as defined by the approved conservation plan.
• Seismic and structural upgrade costs.
• Life-safety building system upgrade costs.
• Professional consultant fees for heritage evaluation, including the development of a Statement of Significance (SOS).
• Costs of preparing a conservation plan.
• Professional fees for structural and seismic assessment reports and upgrade proposals.
• Other professional assessment reports required for project approval.
• Costs for a quantity surveyor to prepare or certify cost estimates and provide final financial summary documentation.

Eligible geographic areas

• Businesses located in Vancouver (British Columbia), listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register.

• Level of conservation program, including retention, use compatibility, and sustainable rehabilitation (up to 3 points).
• Extent of required upgrades, including seismic/structural systems and fire/life safety systems (up to 2 points).
• Contribution to other major City initiatives, such as priority housing, cultural use, or location within a historic area (up to 3 points).
• Extent of deterioration or dysfunction, with priority given to vacant or seriously underutilized properties (1 point).
• Private/public capital investment ratio, favoring projects with higher private investment relative to public funding (1 point).

• Step 1: Review Program Policies and Procedures
  • Download and review the Heritage Incentive Program Policies and Procedures.
  • Examine the Step-by-Step Guide on Preparing to Complete the Expression of Interest Form.
• Step 2: Pre-Application Preparation
  • Prepare and complete the Expression of Interest Form outlining how your proposal meets the program's intent and eligibility.
  • Include a Statement of Significance for the property.
  • Provide a project rationale and outline your heritage conservation strategy.
  • Obtain a professional assessment of current building condition (structural/seismic/life safety systems).
  • Include an early cost estimate for the conservation scope of work.
• Step 3: Submit Pre-Application
  • Submit the completed pre-application package as per instructions in the program guide by the stated pre-application deadline.
• Step 4: Pre-Application Evaluation
  • Wait for City staff to evaluate your submission based on established criteria.
  • Receive notice of whether your project will proceed to the application phase, typically by July 1.
• Step 5: Application Phase Preparation
  • If invited, prepare a full application, including a Heritage Conservation Plan, detailed Statement of Significance, conservation procedures, sustainable rehabilitation rationale, and maintenance plan.
  • Obtain Structural/Seismic, Fire & Life Safety, and (if needed) Building Systems Assessment Reports, each with upgrade proposals.
  • Provide a cost estimate by a Quantity Surveyor clearly identifying conservation-related costs.
  • Prepare all documentation required for the Development Permit application.
• Step 6: Submit Full Application
  • Submit the complete application package by the October 1 deadline.
• Step 7: Application Review and Council Consideration
  • City staff process the application and present it to the Vancouver Heritage Commission for review.
  • The application is then presented to City Council for decision and conditional approval of incentives.
• Step 8: Legal Agreements and Permitting
  • If approved, work with City Legal Services to finalize and execute the restoration or Heritage Revitalization Agreement, which is registered on the property title.
  • Obtain necessary permits as required before starting conservation work.
• Step 9: Project Implementation
  • Complete conservation and upgrade work according to the approved plan and agreement, within three years of registration.
• Step 10: Project Completion and Grant Claim
  • Upon project completion, submit a Letter of Completion along with the Project Completion Status Report prepared by your heritage consultant and endorsed by the owner.
  • Submit a Financial Statement Summary (itemized payment/invoice summary) prepared by a quantity surveyor.
  • Provide a copy of the Occupancy Permit.
  • Include financial information required for grant disbursement.
• Step 11: Final Site Visit and Fund Disbursement
  • Host a site visit for City staff and the heritage consultant to verify project completion status.
  • Upon successful verification, the City processes and issues the grant payment.

• The grant amount is calculated at $100 per square foot of total floor area, up to a maximum of 50% of eligible conservation costs and capped at $4 million per building.
• Transferable Heritage Density incentives may be available for sites in specific historic areas such as Gastown, Chinatown, Victory Square, and the Hastings Street Corridor, under certain conditions.
• Any conservation work funded under the program must be completed within three years from the date of legal agreement registration; a one-year extension is permissible in exceptional circumstances if requested within the initial period.
• The completion of work and final grant release is contingent on submission and approval of a comprehensive completion package and a successful site verification by city staff.