Facade Conservation & Enhancement Grant Program

Projects buildings without heritage elements which only include maintenance work on your façade will only be eligible for the Building Refresh Incentive. It is important to understand what is considered maintenance work before you finalize your design plans. Please see the Program Guide for more information.

Maintenance work is defined in the policy as: routine, cyclical, non-destructive actions necessary to slow deterioration. It entails periodic inspection; routine, cyclical, non- destructive cleaning, minor repair and re-finishing operations; replacement of damaged or deteriorated materials that are impractical to save.

• The project must involve the conservation or rejuvenation of the façade of a commercial property.
• The site must be located in a Business Improvement District (BID) area with allocated funding. Currently areas with allocated funding include: Riversdale Business District, Downtown Business District, Broadway Business District and Sutherland Business District.
• Projects must enhance the building façade and be designed to respect other buildings in the neighbourhood.
• The Adjudication Committee reserves the right to decline applications that have received previous funding under this program.
• The Building Refresh Incentive can be awarded once every five years.
• Projects on buildings without heritage elements which are only maintenance are only eligible for funding under the Building Refresh Incentive. Exceptions to this provision may be granted at the discretion of the Adjudication Committee.
• Full funding is not guaranteed for any application.

The City of Saskatoon, Planning and Development Division directly administers the program. The Façade Grant Program Coordinator receives the applications, facilitates the process, and presents the project to the Façade Conservation & Enhancement Adjudication Committee.The Adjudication Committee reviews projects for the Façade Conservation & Enhancement Incentive Grant and Heritage Incentive Grant twice a year, once in spring and again in fall. Dates will be posted to this webpage and provided to the BIDS. The Building Refresh Incentive Grant will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis, and will be awarded until the funding has been allocated for the year. The Building Refresh Incentive Grant is reviewed and adjudicated on administratively. 

Submit your application to the Façade Grant Program Coordinator at the City of Saskatoon.  

Complete applications must include the following:

• Signed and completed application form
• Full project description outlining scope of the project and detailed description of materials to be used
• Scaled drawings/renderings of the proposed project
• A line-by-line cost breakdown of project components related to the facade only
• Current photos of the building façade prior to construction beginning
• Any historic photos of the building (if available)
• If tenant is applying, a letter of understanding from the property owner must be provided indicating they are aware of the work being undertaken and the tenant is completing the work and will be the one to receive the incentive

Completed applications must be submitted prior to commencement of the work. Failure to do so will result in not qualifying for funding.

The committee consists of City Administration and the Executive Directors from the Business Improvement Districts within Saskatoon. The final grant amount is determined by the Adjudication Committee through a proposal evaluation based on Urban Design and Heritage Conservation Criteria.

Facade Enhancement Incentives will be awarded to projects that create an attractive environment, relate to neighbourhood context, improve the overall street character, use quality materials, and incorporate good design concepts. Renovations may include but are not necessarily limited to re-facing or re-finishing of the facade, doors, windows, awnings, graphics and exterior lighting.

Heritage Conservation Incentives will be awarded to projects that undertake the conservation of character defining elements of the facade (historic architectural features and details).  All work must be sympathetic to the overall building character and streetscape. To be eligible buildings must be on either the Saskatoon Register of Historic Places, or on the Built Heritage Database.

Please see the Program Guide for more information.