Heritage Property Grant Program - Cost sharing grant

Who is eligible?

• Incorporated not-for-profit organizations that own designated heritage properties
• Charitable organizations that own designated heritage properties

Who is not eligible

• Government and public agencies, including municipal, provincial, and federal bodies, Crown Corporations, and school boards.
• Foreign embassies.
• Owners of non-contributing (Category 4) buildings in Heritage Conservation Districts.
• Organizations or companies that are not incorporated not-for-profit or charitable organizations.

Eligible expenses

• Restoration and repointing of exterior brick masonry.
• Restoration of original windows and porches.
• Structural repairs, including foundation work (at staff discretion).
• Protection and repair of existing heritage materials, form, and integrity.
• Technical studies such as building condition assessments, engineering or stabilization reports, and paint analysis (to a limited extent).
• Replication of heritage attributes that are beyond restoration (e.g., windows, porches, decorative woodwork, masonry).
• Restoration of cladding, including original paint colour, repointing, or non-abrasive cleaning of masonry (once per property).
• Restoration of lost heritage attributes, where specific documentary evidence of the missing feature exists.
• Eligible material costs if the property owner undertakes the work themselves (labour not covered).

Eligible geographic areas

• Properties located within the City of Ottawa.

• Priority given to newly designated properties and first-time applicants.
• Urgency of the restoration project, especially where the integrity of the heritage resource may be threatened if the work is not undertaken.
• Projects demonstrating the highest standards of heritage conservation.
• Projects maximizing retention of historic fabric.
• Consideration for projects that are proposed to be phased at the time of application.

• Step 1: Consult Program Guidelines and Staff
  • Review the Heritage Property Grant Program's guidelines to ensure your project meets the standards and eligibility requirements.
  • Contact heritage staff in the Heritage Planning Branch to discuss your project, determine eligibility, receive technical advice, and schedule a mandatory site meeting.
• Step 2: Gather Required Documentation
  • Obtain photographs of the building and areas where work is proposed.
  • Secure at least two quotes for the proposed work (exceptions may be made if you can demonstrate difficulty obtaining multiple quotes).
  • If completing any work yourself, prepare a detailed quote for material costs.
• Step 3: Complete Application Form
  • Fill out the application form available on the City of Ottawa website.
• Step 4: Site Meeting with Heritage Staff
  • Participate in a site meeting with heritage staff to discuss project requirements, priorities, and phasing (required for cost-sharing grant stream).
• Step 5: Submit Application
  • Submit the completed application form, photographs, quotes, and any other required documentation to the Planning, Development and Building Services Department by the posted deadline.
• Step 6: Application Review
  • The Planning, Development and Building Services Department will review your application and submit recommendations for funding allocation to the Program Manager, Heritage Planning Branch.
• Step 7: Notification and Agreement
  • You will receive a letter notifying you of the application's result. If approved, the letter will outline the grant amount and include a contribution agreement to sign, detailing reporting requirements.
• Step 8: Project Completion and Reporting
  • Complete the approved restoration work as described in your application and according to the contribution agreement.
  • Submit a project report, proof of payment, and photographs of the completed work to the Planning, Development and Building Services Department.
• Step 9: Site Inspection
  • A heritage planner will schedule a site visit to verify that the work has been completed according to approved restoration standards.
• Step 10: Disbursement of Grant Funds
  • Once the work is verified and all reporting requirements are met, the grant payment will be processed and issued within forty-five (45) days after project completion certification.

• Applicants are required to provide at least two quotes for the proposed work, though exceptions may be granted if efforts to obtain additional quotes are demonstrated.
• A site meeting with heritage staff is required prior to submitting a formal application for the cost-sharing stream.
• Successful applicants must enter into a contribution agreement with the City of Ottawa, which details reporting requirements.
• The guidelines and program priorities are reviewed periodically and may be updated in line with City policy and legislative changes.