Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program
The Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program provides funding to commercial property owners and tenants of commercial property, to redesign, renovate or restore facades on commercial buildings that are commercial use at street level and may have commercial and or residential uses on upper floors.
Offered by Economic Development & Culture Division (City of Toronto)
Amount
Up to $12,500
Half of the costs of eligible improvements up to a maximum $12,500 grant for $25,000 worth of improvements (minimum grant $2,500 for $5,000 worth of improvements); plus half of the costs of accessibility AODA upgrades up to a maximum $2,500 grant, and for multiunit commercial properties $2,500 per additional unit up to five units (maximum bonus grant of $12,500)
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
- Commercial property owners and tenants of commercial property
- Commercial buildings that are commercial use at street level and may have commercial and or residential uses on upper floors
- The building façade must face a public road or a right-of-way that is accessible to the public
- An applicant must be the property owner or a commercial tenant that has the permission of the property owner
- A minimum of three eligible improvements are required for an application
- Applications are disqualified if: Any of the proposed improvements are completed or underway, before approval of the proposed improvements by the City; The subject property received the maximum façade improvement grant in the previous ten years; The building has a place of worship use, a public institutional use, a not-for-profit use or a residential use without street level commercial uses
About the funding
Half of the costs of eligible improvements is covered up to a maximum $12,500 grant for $25,000 worth of improvements. The minimum grant is $2,500 for $5,000 worth of improvements.
Additional funding of half of the costs of accessibility AODA upgrade improvements up to a maximum $2,500 grant for $5,000 worth of improvements.
For multiunit commercial properties, $2,500 per additional unit up to five units totaling a maximum bonus grant of $12,500.
Eligibility improvements include, but are not limited to, masonry, brick cleaning and restoration, new doors, new windows, outdoor decorative or security lighting, outdoor security equipment, outdoor entrance tiling, installation of canopies or awnings, repair of cornice, parapets and other architectural features, outdoor wall mounted signs and exterior painting as part of the eligible improvements.
Wheelchair accessibility ramping, accessible railings and accessible door openers that meet Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards are also eligible.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund | Grant | Stream 2 (New Builds/Signature New Builds): up to $10 million, provincial cost-sharing up to 90% for Indigenous communities and Indigenous not-for-profit organizations, up to 50% for municipalities, local services boards and not-for-profit organizations, up to 25% for for-profit organizations (Signature New Builds may be considered for over $10 million) | Open |
| Economic Development & Growth in Employment (EDGE) Incentive Program | Grant | 100 per cent of the increase in the municipal taxes attributable to the eligible development over a five-year period (temporarily increased from 60 per cent of the Municipal Tax Increment) | Open |
| Enbridge Gas New Construction: Savings by Design Residential | Grant, In-Kind Support | Incentives of $1,650 per home for up to 50 homes (ENERGY STAR for New Homes) | Open |
| Enbridge Gas Retrofits & Custom Projects: Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program, Commercial Custom Retrofit Program, and Industrial Custom Engineering Program | Grant, In-Kind Support | Commercial Custom Retrofit: up to 50 percent of incremental project costs | Open |
