Trois-Rivières — Real Estate Heritage Restoration Program

• Completed and signed application (registration) form
• Proof of authorization for any representative acting on the owner’s behalf (if applicable)
• Brief description of the planned work, or plans and specifications showing the nature and approximate cost of the work
• Plans or sketches showing the proposed interventions when major changes to the exterior envelope are planned
• Any other supporting document deemed relevant to the review of the application

Who is eligible?

• Private owners of heritage buildings.
• Owners of buildings of superior heritage value located in areas subject to an SIIA (site planning and architectural integration program).

Who is not eligible

• Properties/buildings located on land subject to a public-purpose reserve or where expropriation proceedings have been initiated.
• Properties/buildings whose previous approved application under this program was cancelled within the last 12 months due to the owner not meeting program conditions (unless the new application is submitted by a new owner).
• Buildings occupied or intended to be occupied exclusively by an establishment covered by Québec’s Act respecting health services and social services.
• Buildings owned by the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec, or an agency of either government (except if the government-owned property is sold to a private owner).
• Buildings receiving ongoing financial assistance from the federal or Québec government under a social housing program, or that received financial assistance from the City under this program within the last 3 years.

Eligible expenses

• Labour and materials costs billed by an RBQ-licensed contractor for eligible heritage restoration/preservation work.
• Restoration/preservation of exterior wall cladding and finishes (e.g., wood, brick, stone, stamped metal sheet, terracotta, plaster/render and other coatings).
• Restoration/preservation of openings and related components (doors and storm doors, windows and storm windows, dormers, trim/casings, shutters and blinds).
• Restoration/preservation of traditional roof coverings (wood shingles, copper, slate, traditional metal roofing), including snow guards, eavestroughs and downspouts.
• Restoration/preservation of architectural ornamentation (e.g., woodwork, mouldings, cornices, friezes, drip edges, quoins, pilasters).
• Restoration/preservation of projecting exterior elements (porches, verandas, balconies, stoops, railings, enclosed entrances) and exterior stairs (treads, risers, stringers, railings).
• Structural consolidation/restoration/preservation of masonry chimneys, foundations, and load-bearing walls (wood or brick/stone masonry).
• Consolidation/restoration/preservation of masonry boundary walls (stone/brick) and ornamental iron fences.
• Consolidation/restoration/preservation of above-ground architectural or archaeological remains.
• Restoration/preservation of protected interior elements (only where the protection measure applies to interior elements in a classified or cited heritage building).
• Repairs following vandalism, including graffiti removal.
• Removal of an element that is poorly integrated and diminishes the building’s heritage value.
• Removal of a material to assess the building structure.
• Eligible professional/expert fees for “knowledge acquisition” related to the restoration work (e.g., building condition record/technical audit and related plans/specifications; complementary professional studies such as asbestos characterization, soil characterization, structural report; archaeological reports/interventions directly tied to eligible work; consultations with an architect or heritage restoration advisory organizations under agreement with the City).

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Work carried out before the grant is approved.
• Costs exceeding the property insurance indemnity received for eligible work after a fire (this amount is deducted from eligible costs).
• Roofing on flat roofs.
• Asphalt shingle roofing.

Eligible geographic areas

• Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

• Processing of applications on a “first come, first served” basis (order of arrival) until funds are exhausted.
• Prioritization according to the date of registration, then according to the order of arrival once the file is complete.
• Compliance of the project with the urban planning by-laws, the master plan and the provisions of the Program.

• Step 1: Invitation letter (program access)
  • Wait to be notified by mail by the City of Trois-Rivières (eligible property owners are advised by letter so they can submit a grant application).
• Step 2: Registration form (application file)
  • Complete and sign the program registration/application form.
  • Attach a document confirming the mandate of any person acting on the owner’s behalf (if applicable).
  • Attach a brief description of the work to be carried out or plans and specifications showing the nature of the work and the approximate cost.
  • If significant changes to the exterior envelope are planned, attach plans or sketches showing the interventions.
  • Attach any other document considered relevant to the review of the request (as required).
  • Pay the non-refundable file opening fee of $100 at the time of submitting the application (otherwise the application is not considered).
• Step 3: City review (first-come, first-served)
  • Submit the application for review by the City (the program is administered by the Direction de l’aménagement et du développement urbain).
  • Note that applications are processed in order of registration / order received (first-come, first-served) until the program funds are exhausted.
  • Provide any additional documents requested by the program manager, if required for proper administration of the program.
• Step 4: Cost estimate (RBQ-licensed contractor quote)
  • Within 30 days of approval of the application, provide a quote prepared by a contractor holding an appropriate Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) licence.
• Step 5: File administration fees (accepted application)
  • If the application is accepted, pay the non-refundable administration and file follow-up fee of $400 at the time the application is accepted (otherwise you are deemed to have withdrawn).
  • Pay fees by cheque payable to the Ville de Trois-Rivières or in legal tender.
• Step 6: Authorizations and permits (before payment)
  • Obtain the required City construction/renovation permit(s) for the work.
  • If applicable, obtain the required authorization from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications for protected buildings (as required by the program).
• Step 7: Complete the work (timelines and proof)
  • Do not start the work before the grant is approved.
  • Start the work within 3 months of the grant approval date.
  • Carry out the work diligently and complete it within 12 months of the grant approval date (unless an extension is granted in writing).
  • Ensure the work is carried out by a contractor holding an appropriate RBQ licence and that materials are supplied by that contractor.
  • Provide the City with proof that the work was completed by an RBQ-licensed contractor and that materials were supplied by the contractor.
• Step 8: Grant payment (end of work)
  • Receive the grant as a single payment at the end of the work (paid in full on the completion date).
• Step 9: Assistance and contact (information line)
  • For information, contact the City of Trois-Rivières: email 311@v3r.net.
  • Call 311 (within Trois-Rivières) or 1 833 374-2002 (from outside Trois-Rivières, toll-free).

• The City reviews the file following its established procedure and verifies compliance with the program’s requirements and applicable urban planning rules.
• The City registers applications and processes complete files in order of submission (first come, first served), until available funds are exhausted.
• Once the application is approved, the applicant must provide a contractor quote within 30 days.
• The City may request additional documents and may carry out inspections as needed to administer the program.
• Payment is issued in full at the end of the work, and the approved amount may be adjusted if actual eligible costs are lower than expected.

• Funding is offered subject to budget availability and may end once the program’s allocated funds are exhausted.
• The program is delivered through a funding agreement totaling $3.75M for private heritage property restoration, financed 60% by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications (MCC) and 40% by the City of Trois-Rivières.
• Applicants must pay non-refundable administrative fees of $100 to open a file and $400 to administer and monitor an accepted file (taxes included).
• If an eligible building has suffered a fire, the eligible cost base used to calculate the grant is reduced by the insurance indemnity (or, if unavailable, by the damage amount assessed by an expert selected by the City).