The City of Saint John offer heritage property owners a ‘Grants for Heritage Conservation’ program. The Heritage Development Board approves grants for Conservation Plans or for the preparation of Conservation Work. 

Objectives of the Grants for Heritage Conservation Program

Primary:
 

• To encourage retention of heritage buildings and their character-defining elements, including their traditional materials and details
• To maximize conservation of the heritage fabric, using an approach of understanding, documenting, planning (for proposed use) and then intervening

 
Secondary:
 

• To create employment opportunities for the citizens of Saint John
• To discourage demolition of heritage buildings
• To reduce landfill and the impact on the environment
• To encourage owners to undertake necessary but costly major projects involving structure (masonry work) and openings (windows and doors)

 
Categories of Grants
 
All heritage conservation projects must be on buildings in Heritage Conservation Areas designated by Council.
 

1. Heritage Maintenance Grant
   20%, up to $1,000 per year, based on $5,000 or more spent;
   May be approved without a Conservation Plan in place
2. Heritage Conservation Grant
   20% - 40% (40% applies only to masonry and windows/ doors), up to $10,000 per year, based on $25,000 or more spent;
   Must have a Conservation Plan in place to be eligible
3.  Heritage Conservation Plan Grant
   based on size and complexity of building, typically:

• 50%, up to $1000, for one unit (single family)
• 50%, up to $1250, for 2-3 units
• 50%, up to $1500, for 4 or more units
• 50%, up to $1750, for full commercial façade, including storefront, or for residential, if significant technical/structural work is required.

 
Policy on Approval of Grants
 
The Grants for Heritage Conservation Program is an incentive program designed to encourage owners to meet the spirit and letter of Saint John’s Heritage Conservation Areas Bylaw, as expressed in the national Standards for Conservation of Historic Places and Saint John’s own series of Practical Preservation Guidelines.  Heritage Grants are not construction subsidies; they are intended to assist owners to retain traditional materials and details and, if necessary, replace them with new to match the original materials and profiles:
 

1. A grant will only be approved if Certificate of Appropriateness (Heritage Permit) was approved before work started;
2. A grant will only be approved if there are no outstanding violations and/or Building Permit warrants;
3. Heritage Conservation Grants will only be approved if a Conservation Plan has been prepared by a design professional;
4. Grants will not be approved for work involving the use of contemporary or alternate materials;
5. Grants will only be released if work is completed as indicated on the approved Certificate of Appropriateness (Heritage Permit);
6. Grants will only be released if work is completed in a professional manner and shows good craftsmanship and attention to detail;
7. Grants will only be released if the owner and contractor acknowledge acceptance of the condition of the grant to do the work as outlined on the approved Certificate of Appropriateness, when notified of approval of the grant; and
8. Grants will only be released if the owner and contractor confirm that the work was completed in accordance with the conditions of approval and as indicated on the Certificate of Appropriateness, when submitting receipts and a request for payment of the grant.