Facade Conservation & Enhancement Grant Program
The Façade Conservation & Enhancement Program provides grants to property owners and businesses located in established commercial areas to enhance the overall street character.
Program Updates
City Council approved several updates to the Façade Conservation & Enhancement Program in January 2022. New information including a detailed Program Guide is now available. Please check back regularly for program updates.
Upcoming Dates
- The deadline for the Spring application intake period for both the Façade Conservation & Enhancement Incentive and the Heritage Conservation Incentive is March 31, 2023.
- The deadline for the Fall application intake is September 30, 2023.
- Applications for the Building Refresh Grant may be submitted throughout the year.
Incentive Grants
Façade Conservation & Enhancement Incentive Grant
- The Façade Conservation & Enhancement Incentive Grant is intended to support larger, comprehensive façade redevelopment projects.
- Projects can claim up to 50% of budgeted costs to a maximum of $16,000.
- Projects on buildings without heritage elements which are only maintenance are not eligible for this incentive.
Heritage Conservation Incentive Grant
- The Heritage Conservation Incentive Grant is intended to support the conservation of heritage façades.
- Projects can claim up to 10% of the budgeted costs up to a maximum of $4,000.
- The incentive is awarded based on the level of heritage conservation achieved.
Building Refresh Incentive Grant
- The Building Refresh incentive is intended to support small maintenance and improvement projects.
- The incentive is equivalent to 50% of budgeted costs to a maximum of $2,500.
- The Administration will review applications and awarded incentive amounts. Applications will be considered throughout the year until all funding has been awarded.
- Projects which only include maintenance work are eligible for this grant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is maintenance work?
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.
Is my project eligible for a grant?
- 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.
How is the program administered?
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.
How do I apply?
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.
What is the Façade Grant Adjudication Committee?
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.
In the proposal evaluation process, what is considered for Façade Enhancement and Heritage Conservation incentives?
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.