You may be able to get financial support to help with the conservation of a designated heritage property through two incentive programs.
The City of Burlington Heritage Tax Rebate Program
The application cycle for the 2023 tax year closed in March, and will re-open for the 2024 tax year in January 2025.
Apply for a Heritage Tax Rebate
If you are the owner of a designated heritage property in the city, you may qualify for our Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program. Heritage properties must be in a good and sound state of repair to be eligible for the program.This program can help you with the conservation, protection and restoration of your designated residential or commercial heritage property. Designated residential properties receive a 40 per cent property tax rebate, including City, regional and school board portions. As of 2022, eligible commercial properties can receive a 20 per cent rebate on their property taxes, including City, regional and school board portions.
The Community Heritage Fund
The Community Heritage fund is available to you if you own a designated heritage property.
You may be able to get a grant or loan for work on your property which conserves or enhances its heritage features. Those features that are outlined in the heritage designation bylaw applying to your property are eligible, but routine minor repairs are not eligible. For example, you cannot apply for a grant to cover the cost of painting or repairing non-original siding or roofing.
Apply for the Community Heritage Fund
Grants
- You may qualify for a grant of up to 25 per cent of the total eligible project costs to a maximum of $15,000.
- The work is subject to specific guidelines.
- Upon approval, you must sign a conservation agreement.
Loans
- You may be eligible for a loan of up to 50 per cent of the total eligible project costs to a maximum of $15,000.
- The work is subject to specific guidelines.
- You will not be charged interest on amounts under $5,000.
- You will be charged interest at half of the Bank Prime Rate on the remainder of your loan above $5,000.
- All loans will be amortized over a maximum of 10 years.
- If you sell the property, the loan shall become due and payable
- Upon approval, you must enter into a Conservation Agreement with the City and a lien will be registered on property so securities may be required. You will receive 50 per cent of the loan; and you will receive the balance upon satisfactory completion of the project.
- City Council approval required.
Eligible Work
- Conservation and major repairs to heritage features listed in the designation bylaw. Some example of these include original windows, doors, verandahs, etc.
- Restoration of missing features where the renewal is based on documentary evidence. This could include plans or drawings, photographs, newspaper descriptions, etc.
- Painting: Limit one loan only per property for exterior painting in documented original colours or colours appropriate to the building style in the period during which it was built.
- Structural work required to restore the building to structural soundness, which is not the result of a modern renovation.
- Interior features outlined in the heritage designation bylaw.
Ineligible Work
Any work performed on parts of the building that are not heritage features in the designation bylaw. Examples include:
- Work on modern additions.
- Sheds or outbuildings not specifically referred to in the reasons for designation.
- Modern doors and windows, such as vinyl, aluminum or fibreglass windows.
- New storm windows or screen doors.
- Repairs to a non-original chimney.
- Repair or installation of eavestroughs unless it is identified as a heritage feature.