Community Improvement Plan

The City of St. Catharines' 2020 Community Improvement Plan (2020CIP) offers property owners financial incentives to help offset a portion of project costs incurred for redevelopment projects, brownfield remediation, building façade improvements, and accessory dwelling units. If your project qualifies for funding, it will be paid after the project has been completed.

Apply for an incentive program

There are six financial incentive programs as part of the 2020CIP. Review each of the programs and learn how to apply, the eligibility process and application deadlines.

Tax Increment Finance Program

The Tax Increment Finance Program (TIF) provides financial incentives to offset project costs for redevelopment projects. This incentive is given as an annual property tax rebate of 45 per cent of the increase of the City's portion of property taxes. It is provided for a period of up to 10 years after the project is completed.

Apply for the TIF

Please complete the Tax Increment Finance Program Application and submit it by email or address it to Planning Services and deliver it via the James Street drop box at City Hall located at 50 Church St.

Applications can also be submitted via mail to:

City of St. Catharines Planning Services, City Hall
50 Church St., P.O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L7R 7C2

We accept applications prior to the below intake dates. Please submit before these deadlines:

Dec. 19, 2025
Feb 6., 2026

The 2020CIP is currently under a comprehensive review. A new version of the Community Improvement Plan will be proposed in early 2026. The City will be seeking the community’s comments on the new version of the Plan beginning in February 2026. Should the new and amended Plan be adopted by Council, the City will accept applications to the new TIF & BTIF programs prior to the below intake dates:

Aug. 28, 2026
Dec. 18, 2026

Applicants interested in applying to the 2020CIP programs must submit a complete application before the Feb 6., 2026 deadline.

Application guidelines

View the Tax Increment Finance Program Guidelines before you apply to learn more about the eligibility requirements and complete program details.

View the most recent Affordable Rental Dwelling Unit (ARDU) Threshold for projects with a minimum of five ARDU's.

Brownfield Tax Increment Finance Program

The Brownfield Tax Increment Finance Program (BTIF) provides financial incentives to offset project costs for redevelopment projects. This incentive is given as an annual property tax rebate of 80 per cent of the increase of the City's portion of property taxes. It is provided for a period of up to 10 years after the project is completed.

Apply for the BTIF

Please complete the Brownfield Tax Increment Finance Program Application and submit it by email or address it to Planning Services and deliver it via the James Street drop box at City Hall located at 50 Church St.

Applications can also be submitted via mail to:

City of St. Catharines Planning Services, City Hall
50 Church St., P.O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L7R 7C2

We accept applications prior to the below intake dates. Please submit before these deadlines:

Dec. 19, 2025
Feb 6., 2026

Aug. 28, 2026
Dec. 18, 2026

Applicants interested in applying to the 2020CIP programs must submit a complete application before the Feb 6., 2026 deadline.

Application guidelines

View the Brownfield Tax Increment Finance Program Guidelines before you apply to learn more about the eligibility requirements and complete program details.

View the most recent Affordable Rental Dwelling Unit (ARDU) Threshold for projects with a minimum of five ARDU's.

Brownfield Tax Assistance Program

The Brownfield Tax Assistance Program (BTA) provides financial incentives to offset the cost of environmental site remediation on previously developed properties that are now underutilized, derelict or vacant. This includes up to 100 per cent rebate on the City portion of property taxes for up to three years.

Apply for the BTA

Please complete the Brownfield Tax Assistance Program Application and submit it by email or address it to Planning Services and deliver it via the James Street drop box at City Hall located at 50 Church St.

Applications can also be submitted via mail to:

City of St. Catharines Planning Services, City Hall
50 Church St., P.O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L7R 7C2

We will assess all applications on a first-come, first served basis.

Application guidelines

View the Brownfield Tax Assistance Program Guidelines for more information about eligibility and complete program details.

Façade Improvement Program

The Façade Improvement Program (FIP) grant is up to 50 per cent of the project costs to a maximum of $10,000 per building façade.

Apply for the FIP

Please complete the Façade Improvement Program Application and submit it by email or address it to Planning Services and deliver it via the James Street drop box at City Hall located at 50 Church St.

Applications can also be submitted via mail to:

City of St. Catharines Planning Services, City Hall
50 Church St., P.O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L7R 7C2

We will assess all applications on a first-come, first served basis. Potential applicants are encouraged to reach out prior to the application process.

Application guidelines

View the Façade Improvement Program Guidelines for full details about eligibility requirements, project evaluation and the application process.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Program

The Accessory Dwelling Unit Program (ADU) grant is up to 70 per cent of eligible project costs to a maximum of $40,000, for the construction of interior accessory dwelling unit(s), and to a maximum of $80,000, for the construction of exterior accessory dwelling unit(s), subject to available funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund. Only on properties in compliance with the location and regulatory use permissions established in the Official Plan and Zoning By-law for ADUs are eligible for the ADU grant.

Apply for the ADU

Due to the popularity of the program, funding has been depleted for 2025. Please check back in March 2026 for information about additional funding.

June 18, 2025, Update: The Accessory Dwelling Unit Program is now closed.

Application guidelines

View the Accessory Dwelling Unit Program Guidelines and the Accessory Dwelling Unit Program Application for full details about eligibility and the application process.

Downtown Forgivable Loan Program

The Downtown Forgivable Loan Program (DFLP) provides a one-time, interest-free loan of up to $100,000 per property (with an additional $50,000 available for barrier-free units) to building owners who convert vacant upper-floor, rear, or basement spaces into new residential units within the Downtown Priority Neighbourhood.

This program is intended to increase housing options and address vacancies by helping to cover project costs for these conversions.

Apply for the DFLP

Please complete the application form and submit it to Planning Services via the James Street drop box at City Hall located at 50 Church St. Applications can also be submitted via mail to:

City of St. Catharines Planning Services, City Hall
50 Church St., P.O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L7R 7C2

We will assess all applications on a first-come, first served basis.

Application guidelines

View the Downtown Forgivable Loan Program Guidelines for full details about eligibility and the application process. A blank costs sheet can be found here.

Want more information? Contact the program coordinator at CIP@stcatharines.ca.

Community Improvement Plan Updates

On Aug. 26, 2024, administrative amendments to the 2015 Community Improvement Plan (2015CIP) and 2020 Community Improvement Plan (2020CIP) were approved to allow for extensions of project completion deadlines and to enable the City to revoke projects that have not entered into an agreement. The amendment also increased the grant value for the Accessory Dwelling Unit program. The Notice of Decision is linked here.

On Sept. 23, 2024, the second administrative amendment to the 2015CIP was approved. The amendment changes when remediation and / or redevelopment costs become eligible, permits TIF grant assignment, establishes a maximum five per cent variance limit for the post-development property tax assessment, and clarifies retroactive eligibility for legal fees, consulting fees, financing costs, Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, and Site-Specific Risk Assessment. The Notice of Decision is linked here.

On April 29, 2025, the amendment to the 2020CIP was approved to address Council directive to allow the property owner of 142 Queenston St. to incur retroactive project costs prior to entering into a CIP agreement. The Notice of Decision is linked here.

On Aug. 11, 2025, the amendment to the 2020CIP was approved by Council to add a new financial incentive, the Downtown Forgivable Loan. The Notice of Decision is linked here.

On Aug. 11, 2025, the amendment to the 2020CIP was approved to address Council's directive to allow Lally Homes Ltd. to incur retroactive project costs prior to entering into a CIP agreement for the property 527 Glendale Ave. The Notice of Decision is linked here.