The Heritage Community Improvement Plan Program

Who is eligible?

• Owners of buildings designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act
• Owners of contributing properties (Category 1, 2, 3 or Grade I) designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act

Who is not eligible

• Applicants receiving concurrent funding for the same project through the Heritage Grant Program for Building Restoration.
• Projects that intend to combine this grant with any Community Improvement Plan programs other than the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan.

Eligible expenses

• Restoration of heritage attributes identified by heritage staff.
• Fees for hiring a heritage consultant or architect to oversee restoration work.
• Costs for heritage reports, such as Heritage Impact Assessments and Conservation Reports.

Eligible geographic areas

• Properties located within the geographic boundary of the City of Ottawa, Ontario.

• Urgency of the project, such as the need for restoration or rehabilitation.
• Contribution to the public good, including enhancement of the public realm and support for Official Plan goals like housing affordability and sustainability.
• Project location within a Design Priority Area.
• Achievement of sustainability goals, for example, through deconstruction, material salvage and re-use, or green building retrofits.
• Extent of increase in housing units on the site.

• Step 1: Pre-application Consultation
  • Schedule a consultation with Heritage Planning and Economic Development staff at the City of Ottawa.
• Step 2: Complete Application Form
  • Obtain and fill out the official Heritage Community Improvement Plan Program application form.
• Step 3: Prepare Supporting Documentation
  • Provide a written rationale explaining how the project meets the Council-approved Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada and applicable Heritage Conservation District Plans.
  • Gather all required reports and plans, including:
  • Heritage Permit application with a Heritage Impact Assessment.
  • Conservation Plan.
  • Obtain an independent tax study by a qualified consultant (with ACCI, AIMA, or MIMA designation), estimating the property assessment increment due to the heritage restoration improvement.
• Step 4: Submit Application
  • Submit the completed application form along with all supporting documentation and heritage permit application to the City of Ottawa Planning, Development and Building Services department.
• Step 5: Await Assessment and Approval
  • The City reviews your application, supporting material, and eligibility within the framework of annual budget and prioritization criteria.
• Step 6: Post-restoration Compliance and Grant Disbursement
  • After restoration and development are completed, ensure that the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation reassesses the property.
  • Settle any property assessment appeals, and confirm that property taxes have been paid in full.
  • Upon approval, receive annual grant repayments as per the guidelines (up to 75% of the municipal tax increment, up to 10 years and a maximum of $500,000, but not exceeding total restoration costs).

• The grant is self-financing, funded through the property tax increase attributed to qualifying restoration work.
• Grants are disbursed only after completion of restoration, property reassessment, and settlement of all property taxes and appeals.
• An independent tax study by an accredited consultant is a required part of the application.
• The official program details and complete information are set out in By-laws No. 2024-176 and 2020-40.