Facade Improvement Design Rebate Program

Intended to encourage commercial, residential or institutional properties in the Downtown Core to make improvements, rehabilitate and improve their facades. The Municipality will provide a rebate for 50% of costs associated with design-related professional fees up to a maximum of $3,000.

Overview of the Incentive

The Façade Improvement Design Rebate Program is intended to encourage commercial, residential or institutional properties in the Downtown Core to make improvements, rehabilitate and improve their facades.

Eligible Costs Covered

The Municipality will provide a rebate for 50% of costs associated with design-related professional fees up to a maximum of $3,000.

Specific Eligibility Criteria

The property is within the eligible area (see map in "Information Applicable to ALL Programs" tab below)
The property is zoned Industrial, Commercial or Residential
The proposed work aligns with the costs described in the ‘Eligible Costs Covered’ section

Project Conditions

The applicant has received permission from the owner of the property to undertake this work (if applicable)
Applicants must attend a pre-consultation meeting with staff to discuss the work they wish to undertake
Applicants must submit a complete written application to be reviewed by municipal staff. At the Municipality’s discretion, documentation required to support the application may include:

Photographs of the existing building;
- Historical photographs of the building, if available;
- Confirmation of an approved Heritage Permit, if applicable;
- Elevation drawings to illustrate the full scope of the proposed façade improvements;
- Architectural or Urban Design drawings.
Façade designs are prepared by a qualified professional adhering to the Ontario Building Code, and best practices in façade design, including any Municipal design guidelines where applicable

Other Considerations

This application must be completed, submitted and approved in writing by Municipal staff before work commences. Without approval from municipal staff, funding will not be received. Any work commenced after applying but prior to application approval is done at the applicant’s risk. Funding will only be provided after an agreement is executed.
The Municipality is not responsible for any costs incurred by applicant in relation to applying for any of the incentive programs
Applications which address traditional façades will be evaluated first. No application is guaranteed approval. Municipal staff will review applications based on the criteria provided to applicants.

Complete Program Policies and Conditions

Eligible program participants include registered owners, assessed owners, tenants and assignees as identified in Section 28(7) of the Planning Act.
All proposed development shall conform to the County and Municipal Official Plans, Zoning By-law, Council approved design guidelines, and other planning requirements.
CIP applications related to affordable housing projects will involve pre-consultation with the County of Northumberland Housing Office.
Grant amounts exclude HST.
The Municipality may acquire lands in the implementation of this CIP program, including purposes of supplying affordable housing, improving deficient infrastructure, underutilized land or buildings, buildings not meeting property standards or occupancy requirements, off-street parking, specialized use public buildings, establishing parkland or active transportation areas, civic spaces, or environmental restoration.
All improvements shall be made pursuant to a building permit and constructed in accordance with the Ontario Building Code where required.
Property taxes shall be in good standing at the time of application and throughout the length of any incentive or grant commitment. Where arrears exist, an application will not be approved and/or grants will not be advanced until arrears are eliminated.
The lands subject to the CIP project shall have no outstanding work orders issued by the Municipality against the property. Outstanding work orders or requests against the property must be complied with prior to the consideration of any application or must be rectified through the proposed improvements.
Applications may be received for CIP projects that fall outside the scope of this CIP Plan. Such applications will demonstrate a justification of the request for project support in the context of municipal benefits regarding fiscal, environmental, social, and economic contributions.
A CIP program will be activated through Council’s budget and a project-specific bylaw under Section 28 of the Planning Act. During preparation of its annual budget Municipal Council will determine the contribution to be made available to the various programs under this CIP for the following year. The financial incentive programs available under this CIP will be administered by Municipal staff within the budget established by Council. Projects will not be approved that result in over-expenditure to what has been allocated to the CIP’s program(s) by Municipal Council.
Eligibility is based on the criteria laid out in the individual CIP programs. If the number or quality of applications exceed available funding, the group of submitted applications will be Municipality of Brighton - Draft Community Improvement Plan – Community Development Initiatives 7 evaluated and only the applications that have been evaluated as offering the highest quality of the proposed property enhancement and/or development project, or community benefits will be awarded. In addition, the decision to fund and the amount of funding will generally be determined through the application of minimum criteria which measures each application based on the quality of the proposed property enhancement and/or development project. Such criteria as may be updated without amendment to this CIP Plan will be determined by staff, or an Evaluation Committee as may be established by Council;
Only lands and buildings that are a legal use, including legal non-conforming/legal non-complying uses under Section 34 of the Planning Act, will qualify under the CIP Plan. Expansions of such buildings or changes of uses to such buildings or lands will need to address conformity to the Zoning by-law. Exceptions may apply where the Municipality is acquiring the non-conforming lands or buildings, or re-development of the lands or buildings is improving conformity;
The Municipality is not responsible for any costs incurred by an applicant in relation to applying for any of the incentive programs.
The Municipality reserves the right to peer review/audit any studies and/or works approved under an incentive program.
If the applicant is in default of any program requirement, or any other requirement of the Municipality, the Municipality may delay, suspend, cancel, or reduce the amount of its program approval and/or the financial incentive(s).
The Municipality may, at its discretion, and without further amendment to the CIP, extend or discontinue any program when and as deemed appropriate. Notwithstanding this, participants in various programs prior to their discontinuation may continue to receive approved incentives/grants after the closing of the program as determined through individual agreement with the Municipality and subject to available funding approved by the Municipality.
No application is guaranteed approval, the Municipality has full authority over all decisions, and final decisions with respect to applications.
As a condition of approval, the applicant and/or owner of the property may be required to enter into agreements with the Municipality. Depending on the nature of the program application, the agreement may be registered on the title of the applicable property. The agreement may specify terms, duration, default, penalty, and termination provisions of the financial incentive.
Funding will only be provided after an agreement is executed, if required, and once all other conditions have been met.
If the funding is recurring over multiple years, then funding will only be issued if appropriate documentation is provided and accepted by the Municipality each year, as required.
Works commenced after applying but prior to application approval are done at the applicant’s risk.
In accordance with Section 28(7.3) of the Planning Act, the total amount of all financial incentives (including any tax assistance) given by the Municipality to a specific development shall not exceed the eligible cost with respect to those lands and buildings.

Submit an Application

This year’s (2026) CIP Applications will be open from January 1st to March 31st, 2026.

If there is remaining funding following the evaluation of the applications received, a second intake period may occur to evaluate applications at the discretion of the Municipality.

How to Submit an Application

Arrange a pre-consultation meeting with the Economic Development Department to discuss the program and work you are looking to undertake. Meetings can be arranged in person or via Zoom. Please contact cbirch@brighton.ca to make an appointment.
Complete an Application Form for the CIP Program you wish to apply for. Applications can be downloaded from the Municipal website or you can pick up an application from the Municipal Centre at 35 Alice Street during regular business hours.
Collect supporting paperwork outlined in the program’s Required Documentation section.
Submit your application to the Municipality of Brighton’s Economic Development Department via email (cbirch@brighton.ca) or in-person at 35 Alice Street. If you are sending electronically, please make sure all documents submitted are legible.
Applications will be reviewed by staff in the Economic Development Department following the application deadline using the criteria provided (see individual program for specific criteria). We thank all businesses for applying by only businesses that are successful will be contacted with further information.

Application Form for the Façade Improvement Design Rebate Program - Download Here

Application Checklist for the Façade Improvement Design Rebate Program - Download Here

Application Evaluation Criteria

CIP Applications will be evaluated based on the criteria listed below:

Application Completion - The application is fully complete with clear, detailed information. Details are well developed, and all supporting documentation has been submitted.
Enhancement of the Downtown visual aesthetic - The proposed improvements will enhance the overall downtown aesthetic through thoughtful design and integration with existing structures. The changes are clearly positive and contribute to the area’s overall appeal.
Contribution to a modernized business look and feel for residents and tourists - The proposed improvements positively modernize the business look, improving both the aesthetic and functional aspects for residents and tourists, with evident consideration for both groups’ needs.
Commitment to sustainability and efficiency - The proposed improvements integrate sustainable practices into its design and execution, addressing key environmental concerns and demonstrating a solid commitment to sustainability.
Use of local professionals/vendors/contractors - The proposed improvements engage a significant number of local professionals, fostering collaboration with local talent in multiple aspects of the project.

Evaluations will be completed by an evaluation committee comprised of two Economic Development staff and the chair of the Economic Development Advisory Committee. Applications that receive approval from the evaluation committee will be presented to the Economic Development Advisory Committee to receive endorsement before going to Council for final funding approval.

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