Few home or property owners know it, but there’s a government assistance program for heritage properties preservation. This entitles you to a subsidy for the renovation of your heritage home in Quebec. Designated properties and eligible projects can therefore find funding sources to carry out renovation work on built heritage.This grant program was set up by the Fonds du patrimoine culturel québécois. It targets old buildings in Montreal and other regions of Quebec to protect their heritage features in the long term. This initiative of the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications aims to protect Quebec’s cultural heritage. The Government of Quebec notes:
“This program aims to promote the conservation and enhancement of the historic architecture of heritage buildings and enclosing walls, by providing financial support for the restoration and revitalization work necessary for their preservation.”
A report published in 2024 shows that between 2019 and 2022, these programs funded heritage conservation projects totaling CAD 221 million across Quebec, resulting in improvements to 1,305 heritage properties province-wide.
In Montreal, the heritage home renovation grant can cover up to 30% of eligible costs, for a maximum of $25,000. However, the rules imposed by the Quebec government can change depending on the region in which you live. As a result, the project cost eligible for the subsidy may differ from one region to another.
The Criteria to Meet
To help homeowners preserve the architectural integrity of their buildings, the program offers financial support based on specific requirements. To qualify as heritage sites, eligible buildings and structures must :
- Be of heritage interest
- Eligible old cinemas and theatres must have been built before 1975. They must also still be in use as a cinema or theatre.
- The estimated cost of restoration work must exceed $5,000.
Eligible expenses are based on renovation work on the external envelope. These include doors, windows and cornices. The same applies to the reconstruction of missing elements using original materials (antique doors, carved wooden cornices, etc.).
Owners of historic buildings can apply for a grant from the Heritage Restoration Assistance Program. In the City of Quebec, grant applicants must own a building built before 1955. In Montreal, only buildings unoccupied for more than 4 years and located in a declared heritage site are eligible. Such sites include the Vieux Montréal and the Mont-Royal.
Subsidies and grants to renovate old buildings are also available in other regions of Quebec. For more information, contact your district or city licensing office and request the official application form. Be sure you do your homework, as the amount of the subsidy can vary greatly depending on the region in which you live. Up to 50% of work-related costs may be eligible, depending on the type of property to be renovated or restored.
To obtain a heritage home grant for your renovations, it’s important to apply for one before the work begins. And, as with any renovation project, you’ll need to apply for a permit before starting the work. Your municipality must approve your renovation project before you can begin. By law, you can only start work once you have your renovation permits in your pocket.
We advise you to submit a request for a grant for heritage homes, as it could be worth it.
The Financing Available in Certain Cities
Some cities also offer tax incentives, such as property tax credits, to owners of heritage buildings who undertake major renovations. To find out more about the financial assistance offered by municipalities, we suggest you read this page.
The conservation of historic places in Canada is a matter of national interest. If you love outside the province of Quebec, we recommend you research the subsidy available in your province. We also recommend looking into your provincial legislation. As an example, in Ontario, the Ontario Heritage Act aims to protect heritage properties.
Eligible Work
Restoration
The purpose of restoration projects is to ensure its preservation and highlight its unique character. This type of work can include repairing or protecting the exterior appearance as it was originally. In Quebec, it’s common practice to repair doors, windows, cornices, mansards and siding.
Similarly, it is crucial to preserve or restore the interior appearance, as it was originally when protected by law. To achieve this objective, it’s possible to restore lost historic elements. Installing a fire detection system or sprinklers may also be in order.
Renovation
Renovation work encompasses all operations aimed at ensuring the durability of the building. This includes work required to bring the building into line with current housing improvement standards and regulations. It also covers changes for residential use, as well as renovations and conversions for uses other than housing.
Choose Expertise
At FinDécor, we are often trusted to restore antique doors and wooden cornices of great aesthetic value. Moreover, the restoration of churches and cathedrals requires a particular expertise for which FinDécor is renowned. The interior dome paintwork, stone bell towers and stucco facades of these buildings sometimes require a complete refurbishment. For these restorations, we hand-mix the stucco to match the old facade.
We also do masonry staining so that new bricks have the same hue as old ones. At FinDécor, you will work with professional painters that always take the time to listen to you. That way, we can propose solutions tailored to your needs and show you the real costs, with no surprises.
Get a free estimate today by contacting the FinDécor team. Personalized service guaranteed to last, every time.
