Grants and Funding for properties within Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs)
On March 23, 2021, Regional Council adopted a program to support the restoration and renovation of buildings located within the boundaries of the Schmidtville and Old South Suburb Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs), over a period of five years.
Application form
What is eligible?
Conservation grants
The Financial Incentives Program for Schmidtville and Old South Suburb HCDs provides conservation grants for 50% of the cost for materials and labour up to a maximum grant of $50,000 to complete exterior conservation work on properties located within the boundaries of these two HCDs.
Functional improvement grants
This program also provides functional improvement grants for 15% of the cost for materials and labour up to a maximum grant of $400,000 to install or repair integral building systems, including work to bring these systems up to current building code requirements, improve their energy efficiency (including plumbing, heating, electrical, etc.) or improve their accessibility (including ramps, equipment, etc.).
Dual grants
A single grant application can apply for both a conservation grant and a functional improvement grant simultaneously. Also, conservation work exceeding $100,000 is eligible for inclusion in a 15 per cent functional improvement grant. For example, a conservation project costing $150,000 would be eligible for a 50 per cent conservation grant of $50,000 plus a 15 per cent functional improvement grant of $7,500.
Other rules
All properties located within the Schmidtville HCD or the Old South Suburb HCD are eligible for conservation and functional improvement grants. However, if a property is not identified as a contributing heritage resource (see maps above), the types of work that are eligible are limited (see complete rules). For both grant types, work cannot have been undertaken prior to the application being made. Properties currently 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 are not eligible for this program.
Complete rules and requirements for this program are set out in Administrative Order 2020-005-ADM.
When is the application deadline?
Applications are accepted between Jan. 1 and Mar. 1 of each year.
How do I apply for this program?
To apply for this program, submit a completed application form (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 a certificate of appropriateness or approval of substantial alterations.
Who do I contact to submit my application or ask questions?
Applications or questions pertaining to the Financial Incentives Program should be submitted to:
Email: shaoqiu.gong@halifax.ca
Phone: 902.233.9826
Mail:
HRM Heritage Property Program
c/o Shaoqiu Gong
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?
The Financial Incentives Program evaluates all applications, but prioritizes applications according to the criteria in Appendix A of the Administrative Order 2020-005-ADM.