LEED Grant Program
Encourages sustainable industrial, commercial, mixed-use, and multi-unit residential construction* and land development in urban areas.
The City of Hamilton will equally share the incremental construction costs, consultation, energy modelling, and certification fees with applicants to achieve LEED certification.
Offered by Invest in Hamilton
Amount
City shares 50/50 the incremental construction cost (to a maximum as per Table 1: 0.50% Certified, 1.5% Silver, 2.5% Gold, 4% Platinum), consultation, energy modeling and certification fees, paid as a five-year grant not exceeding 75% of the municipal realty tax increase
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Who can apply
This program applies to the Hamilton LEEDING the Way Community Improvement Project Area (as such, boundaries are presently defined).
Application fee of $1,130 to accompany application
The property shall be redeveloped such that the amount of work undertaken is sufficient to, at a minimum, result in an increase in the assessed value of the property;
Note: Applicants must be the registered property owner.
Before any grant is provided to the applicant for a property for which a satisfactory grant application has been received and approved, realty taxes are required to have been paid in full each year and, in compliance with the City’s by-laws and policies.
Developing, redeveloping or renovating lands and buildings within the Hamilton LEEDING the Way Community Improvement Project area for LEED certified industrial, commercial, mixed-use and multi-unit residential projects, are eligible for grant approval following the owner’s grant application for Council approval. Such application shall be submitted and only received if it is prior to the owners commencement of development of their property and shall include plans, estimates, contracts and other details as may be required to satisfy the City as to the cost of the project and as to the conformity of the project with the objectives of the Hamilton LEEDING the Way Community Improvement Plan.
Such project is also required to be in compliance with the City’s other by-laws and policies, including zoning, site plan approval, design guidelines, etc. The compliance of each application with the criteria of this program and the amount and the property’s grants (within the permitted terms of this program) is in the discretion of and subject to Council approval.
The applicant will be required to enter into an Agreement with the City of Hamilton that sets out the conditions of the annual grant.
About the funding
The purpose of the grant program is for the City to share (50/50) the incremental construction cost (to a maximum, as per the Table 1 – Page 3), consultation, energy modeling and certification fees with the applicant to achieve LEED certification.
Grants are calculated on the basis of the rating of official certification under the LEED rating system by the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC).
This program authorizes for each approved grant application, a five year grant, the amount of which is subject to Council approval, in an amount not exceeding the increase in municipal realty taxes as a direct result of the development/redevelopment of the land and/or building. The grant, which may be approved by Council, shall be an amount, which does not exceed 75% of the municipal realty tax increase during the first five (5) years following which the building has been officially certified under the LEED rating system by the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC). The base year for determining pre-development taxes will be the year building permit is issued.
The total of each property’s five years of approved grants shall not exceed the City’s share of the incremental construction cost.
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The grant terminates following the five (5) year period (5 grant payments) or when the City’s share of the incremental construction cost has been granted in full (whichever comes first).
Table 1 – Maximum share of City contribution for incremental construction cost LEED Rating Certified Silver Gold Platinum Incremental 1% 3% 5% 8% Construction Cost Total Applicant 0.50% 1.5% 2.5% 4% Share *City Share 0.50% 1.5% 2.5% 4% Source: Enermodal Engineering, Kitchener ON *Based on actual construction costs
Eligible costs under this Program include the following which are required to achieve LEED certification under the LEED rating system by the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC);
- A 50/50 share of incremental construction costs (calculated as per Table 1 of the LEED Grant Program Description and Terms);
- consultation fees;
- energy modeling; and
- certification fees; and
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barton / Kenilworth Planning and Building Fees Rebate (BKPBFR) Program | Grant, Rebate | Grant up to a maximum of $25,000 for eligible City planning application fees and a maximum of $25,000 for eligible City building application fees for a total maximum grant of $50,000 | Open |
| Barton / Kenilworth Revitalization Grant (BKRG) Program | Grant | Up to $75,000 | Open |
| Barton / Kenilworth Tax Increment Grant (BKTIG) Program | Grant | Maximum annual Grant as a percentage of actual municipal tax increment generated from improvement/development: Years 1–5: 100% | Open |
| Commercial District Revitalization Grant Program | Grant | 50% of Eligible Costs | Open |
