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1
Heritage Property Grant Policy
1.0 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the awarding of cash and in-kind
grants to owners of registered Heritage Properties in the Town of Mahone Bay. The goal
of this policy is to preserve the built heritage of the Town of Mahone Bay, to treat all
applicants fairly and consistently, and to promote transparency in government decision-
making.
2.0 Definitions
2.1
Façade - the face of a building, especially the side that faces onto a street or open
space.
2.2
Heritage Advisory Committee - the committee of the Town of Mahone Bay
established in accordance with the Heritage Property Bylaw.
2.3
Registered Heritage Property - a municipally registered heritage property
registered with the Town of Mahone Bay pursuant to the Heritage Property Bylaw
of commercial or residential use and not exempted from taxation.
3.0 Policy
It is the policy of the Town of Mahone Bay to provide, within its financial capacity,
financial support to owners of registered heritage properties under the Heritage
Property Act, in support of their efforts to protect the built heritage of the Town of
Mahone Bay.
Owners of registered heritage properties within the Town of Mahone Bay may make
application for funds from the Heritage Property Grant program toward the cost of
repair or restoration work on the exterior façade of registered heritage properties within
the Town of Mahone Bay.
Eligible applicants may apply for a matching grant of 50% of costs up to a total cost of
$2000, exclusive of HST, for a maximum grant of $1,000. Grants will be disbursed upon
review of appropriate receipts for completed work.
4.0 Basic Eligibility Requirements
a) Applications will be accepted from owners of Registered Heritage Properties. A
completed, signed and dated application must be received by the Town before a
project can be considered for funding.
b) Applications will be accepted until March 1st of each fiscal year and on a first-
come-first-served basis thereafter until funds for the year have been expended.
c) Applications must be submitted prior to the commencement of work. Work must
be completed within the fiscal year the grant was awarded.
d) Eligible projects are limited to pre-approved repair or restoration work on the
exterior façade.
e) All grants are provided at the discretion of Council.
f) Property Owners will be eligible to apply to the Heritage Property Grant annually,
but any one property would be eligible for only one grant under the Heritage
Property Grant program once in any two-year period.
5.0 Application Process
a) Applications must include:
i.
Completed Application Form
ii.
Building permit approval where required
b) Applications will be reviewed by the Heritage Advisory Committee for
recommendation to Council. Applications will be reviewed at the next available
Committee meeting following the receipt of an application.
6.0 Prioritization of Applications
All applications will be given fair consideration and priority will be assigned as follows:
a) Preference will be given to first-time applicants.
b) Preference will be given to preservation and restoration of historic structural and
weather-proofing elements than to cosmetic improvements, e.g. The restoration
of cladding, windows, doors or roof has greater priority than painting.
c) Preference will be given to restoration of publicly visible features (e.g. Restoration
of a front porch would have greater priority than a rear porch).
d) Preference will be given to applicants with a family income level below the
maximum qualifying income level specified by Council in the Low Income Tax
Exemption for the fiscal year in which the application is received. Applicant(s) shall
provide proof of income. Income from all persons of the same family residing in
the household shall be taken into account when determining family income
levels.
7.0 Council Approval
An annual budget for the Heritage Property Grant Program will be established at the
discretion of Council as part of the annual budget process.
Council reserves the right to grant partial requests or grant or reject any application
that may or may not qualify in accordance with the guidelines set out in this policy.
Applicants are not guaranteed funding. Grants under the Heritage Property Grant
program will be considered public information.
Applicants will be notified following Council's approval with a Letter of Award which
will state, if any, restrictions apply to the grant.
Clerk's Annotation for Official Policy Book
Date of notice to Council Members of Intent to Consider
[minimum 7 days notice]
July 8, 2025
Date of Passage of Policy
July 31, 2025
______________________________
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Town Clerk
Date