The municipality is now accepting Heritage Incentives applications until June 15, 2026.
Please note that incomplete or late submissions cannot be considered.
The Heritage Incentives grants for 2026 support the exterior conservation of municipally registered heritage properties. Owners can apply for matching grants, up to $15,000 for residential properties and up to $25,000 for commercial/institutional properties.
Heritage staff are continuing work on the new Heritage Grant Program (HGP) for both registered heritage properties and contributing heritage resources within established heritage conservation districts. The new program will address motions of Council, actions from the Culture and Heritage Priorities Plan, and public feedback. The new Heritage Grant Program is expected to open for applications in 2027.
Grants and funding for municipally registered heritage properties in 2026
The municipality is offering Heritage Incentives grants for the year 2026, while heritage staff continue development of the upcoming Heritage Grant Program (HGP) for 2027. This interim process generally aligns with Administration Order 2014-002-ADM, though staff are also accepting applications from non-profit owners and applications for institutional-use properties.
The municipality will provide matching (50 per cent) Heritage Incentives grants of up to $15,000 for residential properties and $25,000 for commercial/institutional properties to complete exterior conservation to a municipally registered heritage property.
Application Form
What is eligible?
In summary, most exterior conservation work is eligible, but the property must be:
- privately-owned (includes non-profit ownership);
- a municipally registered heritage property; and
- used for residential, commercial, or institutional purposes.
The following items are not eligible for funding:
- work started before an application is made;
- work that requires and has not received Substantial Alteration Approval;
- work that staff determine is inconsistent with the heritage standards and guidelines and/or uses modern building materials (e.g., vinyl or aluminum windows, steel doors, vinyl siding, E.I.F.S. cladding, etc.); and
- properties under investigation or prosecution for Land-use, Building or Fire Code, or Heritage Property Act violations, subject to an Order to Comply, or with liens or taxes outstanding.
Complete rules and requirements for eligibility of work are set out in Administrative Order 2014-002-ADM.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline to submit applications for Heritage Incentives is June 15, 2026.
How do I apply for this program?
To apply for this program, submit a completed application form (see above) along with the following supporting documentation:
- recent photographs of all sides of the building, with attention taken to the areas of work for which the grant is applied;
- a minimum of two contractors cost estimates for the proposed work;
- buildings governed by a condominium by-law must provide the board of directors’ minutes approving submission of the application; and
- applicants may optionally include a Building Conservation Plan.
Applicants should contact heritage staff prior to submitting a grant application to determine whether the work proposed requires approval of substantial alterations or a certificate of appropriateness. This approval is a necessary pre-requisite for a grant application to ensure that HRM’s Standards and Guidelines for Heritage Properties have been met prior to the granting of funds. Additionally, Building Permits may be required, and grant applications cannot be approved without building permit approval, where required.
Who do I contact to submit my application or ask questions?
Applications or questions pertaining to Heritage Incentives grants for 2026 should be submitted to:
Email: kelci.warren@halifax.ca
Phone: 902.499.4659
Mail:
HRM Heritage Property Program
c/o Kelci Warren
PO Box 1749
Halifax, NS B3J 3A5
If you cannot email or mail your application, please deliver your application in-person to our customer service counter at 5251 Duke Street (Duke Tower) Suite 300 / 3rd Floor, Halifax.
How are applications prioritized?
Heritage Incentives applications will be prioritized according to the criteria in Section 21 of Administrative Order 2014-002-ADM within the total funding available. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding.
Prioritization criteria include:
- Preference will be given to first-time applicants;
- Higher priority will be given to preservation and restoration of historic structural and weather-proofing elements than to cosmetic improvements. For example, the restoration of cladding, windows, doors, or roof has greater priority than painting;
- Preference given to restoration of publicly visible features. For example, the restoration of a front porch would have higher priority than a rear porch restoration;
- Balance sought between applications from difference geographic regions of HRM; and
- Preference given to applications supported by a Building Conservation Plan prepared by an architect, building inspector, engineer, or other qualified restoration professional. The Plan may be a drawing or a report which reasonably illustrates work required for the building.