Heritage Legacy Fund (HLF) - Heritage Planning Program

• Financial assistance covers up to 50% of eligible project expenses, excluding GST.
• Heritage Planning projects: Maximum contribution of $5,000.
• Heritage Awareness projects: Maximum contribution of $10,000.
• Heritage Conservation projects: Maximum contribution of $50,000.
• Recipients receive half of the approved funding at project start; the balance is paid after project completion and submission of all required documentation.

• The applicant must be a registered society (non-profit or charity), local government, First Nations government or organization, school board, or a religious organization owning heritage assets (if it demonstrates a broad-based, inclusive, community-supported role).
• The applicant must be an up-to-date, paid member of Heritage BC (corporate, government, or group membership).
• If the applicant does not own the heritage site, evidence of a long-term lease or management agreement (extending at least three years beyond project completion) must be provided.
• The project must be related to heritage planning, conservation, awareness, or Indigenous partnership and must contribute to the conservation or appreciation of heritage resources in British Columbia.
• Applicants must contact Heritage BC staff to confirm both applicant and project eligibility prior to accessing the online application form.

Who is eligible?

• Registered non-profit organizations
• Registered charities
• Local governments
• First Nations governments and organizations
• School boards
• Religious organizations that own heritage assets (with certain conditions)

Who is not eligible

• Individuals
• Unregistered organizations
• Private businesses
• BC Government Agencies

Eligible expenses

• Commissioning, researching, and generating planning documents related to heritage conservation and awareness (such as conservation assessments, heritage assessments, statements of significance, interpretation plans, accessibility audits, emergency and maintenance plans).
• Structural and/or seismic evaluations, assessments, or surveys required for heritage planning documentation.
• Preparation of eligible planning documents by external consultants or professionals.
• Itemized heritage conservation work related to the direct physical conservation of eligible heritage resources (building exteriors, original interior features if formally recognized, historic structures, building code upgrades, seismic upgrades, conservation of historic sites, cemeteries, or cultural landscapes), under the Heritage Conservation stream.
• Research, design, and production costs for publications or media that increase public awareness of heritage resources (signs, interpretive panels, brochures, guides, permanent or online exhibits, educational websites), under the Heritage Awareness stream.
• In-kind labour directly related to eligible heritage project activities, valued at accepted rates.

Eligible geographic areas

• British Columbia

• Inclusion of priorities such as climate action/adaptation, accessibility, reconciliation, and cultural awareness in the application or organization.
• Demonstrated innovation, sustainability, creativity, and ability to reach a wide audience (specifically for Heritage Awareness projects).
• Clearly established heritage values of the resource and significant contribution toward conservation of those values (specifically for Heritage Conservation projects).
• Presence of a tangible product or outcome with a clear plan to raise public awareness (specifically for Heritage Awareness projects).

• Successful applicants must acknowledge financial support from the Heritage Legacy Fund in all project signage and promotional materials.
• Photographs are required for Heritage Conservation applications and encouraged for other funding streams.
• Updated guidelines and worksheets for applicants are made available annually to assist with application preparation.
• A pre-application worksheet is available to guide applicants in organizing materials before accessing the online application form.