Financial Incentives & Community Improvement Plans

For more information on the financial incentive programs available under this CIP, contact:
Housing Services Division
Healthy and Safe Communities Department
Call 905-546-2424
Email [email protected]
Visit hamilton.ca/HAF

For more information on the financial incentive programs available under this CIP, visit the following:

Hamilton offers a range of grants and loans designed to support the revitalization of the City’s commercial districts and corridors through business growth, property improvements, redevelopment, housing creation, and heritage preservation across the city. These programs help stimulate investment in commercial districts, brownfields, mixed use corridors, and heritage areas.

Eligibility varies by program, but applicants generally include:

• Property owners including businesses when a registered owner;
• Developers, if not property owners, with the registered property owner’s permission;
• Commercial tenants, with owner’s permission;
• Owners of designated heritage properties.

Hamilton’s Economic Development Division provides several categories of financial support, including:

• Fee Rebates for planning and building applications;
• Cost-Sharing Grants for façade improvements, accessibility upgrades, interior and exterior renovations, conversions of office space, graffiti removal and eligible improvements for designated heritage buildings;
• Tax Increment Grants based on the increase in municipal taxes after redevelopment;
• Housing Loans to support new housing units.

In some cases, yes. Certain programs may be “stacked” with other municipal, provincial, or federal incentives. However, specific restrictions apply and vary by program. Staff assess each application to ensure total funding complies with program rules and that the funding/grants received are not being used for the same eligible cost. Applicants should consult program guidelines or contact Economic Development staff for clarification.

Most incentives are available within designated Community Improvement Project Areas (CIPAs), including:

• Downtown Hamilton; 
• Community downtowns/village cores of Ancaster, Binbrook, Dundas, Stoney Creek and Waterdown;
• Each of the City's 12 Business Improvement Areas;
• Various strategic urban commercial corridors; 
• Mount Hope/Airport Gateway.

In addition to the above, some programs, including those focused on heritage preservation, remediation of contaminated lands or that support suitable development, may be eligible across the City's urban area and/or across the entire city.

A Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA) is a designated geographic area identified by a municipality where community improvement measures are targeted and eligible for financial incentives under a Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

To confirm that the subject property is located within a CIPA, search our CIPA map.

The City of Hamilton offers several tax increment grant programs, including the Revitalizing Hamilton Tax Increment Grant Program. The programs provide grants equal to a portion of the increase in municipal property taxes that result from redevelopment or major improvements. Grants are paid out in annual payments and require City Council approval.

Yes, Hamilton offers a variety of heritage financial incentives for properties that are designated under either Part IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act to support:

• Restoration
• Preservation
• Rehabilitation
• Adaptive reuse of designated heritage buildings

Yes, the Environmental Remediation and Site Enhancement (ERASE) Community Improvement Plan provides support for Phase II Environmental Site Assessment reports and the remediation of brownfields and environmentally impaired lands.

Yes, there are additional programs offered by the City's Housing Secretariat. These programs are funded by the federal Housing Accelerator Fund and are designed to help accelerate the development of new housing. To learn more about available programs and supports, visit:  www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/housing-secretariat.

No, these programs are limited to supporting physical building and property improvements in accordance with provincial legislation. As such, costs that are not directly tied to permanent physical improvements are not eligible under any program.

Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• Rent
• Staff wages
• Any improvements deemed temporary and not permanent to a property (e.g., outdoor patio seating)
• Program application fees
• Subsidies for lost business revenue
• Other non-capital or operational expenses

No, improvements/developments commenced prior to applying are ineligible for funding under the programs. Works commenced after applying but prior to approval of an application may be eligible for funding; however, an applicant shall assume the risk of any costs incurred after an application has been submitted but prior to approval. 

Applicants generally must:

1. Review the Council-approved program terms and eligibility criteria for the specific program.
2. Complete and submit the application form along with the identified application fee, where applicable. Application forms are available on the Invest in Hamilton website - https://investinhamilton.ca/incentives.
3. Provide the required supporting documentation, outlined on the application form (plans, quotes, financial information, etc.).
4. Submit to the City for review via email to [email protected].            

Staff will review the application against the program requirements and submit a recommendation report to the delegated staff or City Council for approval.

For certain grants, applicants must provide two cost estimates to ensure fairness, transparency, and value for money. Obtaining multiple quotes:

• Helps confirm that project costs are reasonable
• Protects both the applicant and the City from inflated pricing
• Supports consistent evaluation across all applications

This requirement aligns with best practices for publicly funded programs.

Yes – The application fees are outlined on the application form for each program. The application fee can be paid by cheque or credit card.

Timelines vary based on the program and complexity of the project. Factors such as outstanding fire, building or property standard orders, heritage considerations, detailed design work, or coordination with external agencies (e.g., CMHC) may extend processing times.

More background on the grant approval process.

For most grants, payments are issued by cheque or electronic funds transfer after the required work is verified complete. 

For tax increment grants, the initial annual payment is issued after the first full year following the completion of the redevelopment and the reassessment of the property by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Following this, any remaining annual payments, if applicable, are generally paid out in the first quarter of the year.

We are here to help! You may contact the specific program administrator or the general Economic Development Incentives mailbox [email protected].