Community heritage grants
To help promote heritage conservation in the District, we provide grants to individuals or organizations who are interested in heritage planning, conservation, or educational projects.
In July 2021, Council approved updates to the Community Heritage Grant program to increase funding amounts and add eligible categories.
Project categories
There are three Community Heritage Grant categories:
| Project category | Description | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage planning | Includes preparation of a Statement of Significance, conservation and maintenance plan, or both. | Up to $1,000 based on 50% of project costs |
| Heritage conservation | Includes repair and restoration to heritage property, or maintenance of designated heritage trees. |
Legally protected heritage properties: Up to $10,000 based on 50% of project costs Heritage Register properties: Up to $5,000 based on 50% of project costs Other heritage properties: Up to $1,000 based on 50% of project costs |
| Heritage awareness and education | Includes events or materials that increase public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of our built, natural, cultural, and social heritage. | Up to $1,000 |
Not-for-profit and charitable organizations are eligible to receive grants of up to 75% of project costs.
Key dates
The Community Heritage Grants application period is now open until Sunday, September 25, 2022.
Is my project eligible?
To qualify for grant funding under the Heritage Planning and Heritage Conservation project categories, your property must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Be listed on the DNV Heritage Inventory (1993)
- Be listed on the DNV Modern Inventory (1997)
- Be listed on the DNV Community Heritage Register
- Be a legally protected heritage property
If your property is not identified as one of these heritage resources, you can still be considered for grant funding if you provide a Statement of Significance from a registered heritage professional which identifies that the property has heritage character and value.
Heritage Awareness and Education projects must be open to the public in the District and can include:
- Heritage events (such as workshops, seminars, festivals, walking tours, and cultural performances)
- Information materials (such as brochures, posters, webpages, and websites)
An overview of grant conditions
Heritage Planning or Heritage Conservation projects
- You must be the property owner (District staff will confirm ownership for complete applications before awarding grants), or a tenant with the property owner’s permission to submit a grant application
- Your property taxes must be fully paid when you apply
- Your property must currently conform with all applicable bylaws
- Any conservation or restoration work must be done with appropriate permits and comply with applicable bylaws
- The work must be done within one year of receiving grant approval, or have been completed within one year before your grant application
- One grant application per property per year may be considered
Heritage Awareness and Education projects
- Location of the project is preferred to be within the District of North Vancouver (outside but near the District will be considered)
- The project must be done within one year of receiving grant approval, or have been completed within one year before your grant application
- One grant application per individual, group, or organization per year may be considered
You will be required to submit photos and itemized paid invoices for eligible costs upon project completion to receive grant funding.
Please review the Community Heritage Grants Policy and Terms of Reference for the complete list of conditions.
Apply for a heritage grant
The Community Heritage Grants application period is open until Sunday, September 25, 2022.
What to submit with my application?
Please be sure you have digital copies of these support documents ready to submit with your application, if applicable:
- Detailed estimate of costs
- 'Before' photos of the property or building
- ‘After’ photos of the property or building, if the work is already completed
- Historical photos (if available)
- Foundation, building, elevation and floor plans
- Statement of Significance
- Property owner's written permission to submit a grant application
What happens after I apply?
After you submit the application form, you should receive an email confirming we successfully received your information. If you did not get an email a few minutes after clicking the 'submit' button, please contact us.
Preserving our heritage
Ensuring we have a clear sense of identity and place — and a legacy that links our past, present, and future — is one of the objectives of our Official Community Plan.