A Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA) is a designated zone within a municipality aimed at strengthening communities and business districts. It provides financial incentives and loans to help businesses and property owners make improvements to their buildings, fostering growth and development in the area. Ontario’s Planning Act defines these areas as locations where community improvement is deemed necessary by the local council.
To guide these improvements, a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is developed, outlining strategies for revitalization, such as changes to land use policies, land acquisition and rehabilitation, and the provision of financial incentives.
How to Apply
Email CIPIncentives@london.ca for program details and application form. City staff will respond to your request within working business hours.
If you have questions, please call 519-930-3500 or email CIPincentives@london.ca.
After project approval
Once a project is approved, the City will provide a Commitment Letter outlining the approved work, associated costs, and the City’s financial commitment to the project.
How to receive funding after completing the project:
Funding will be issued once the Loan or Grant Agreement is signed and the City verifies that the work is complete. This verification may include, but is not limited to:
- A letter from the owner certifying the completion of the work
- Photos of the completed work
- Contractor payment records
- Confirmation that all applicable permit sign-offs have been obtained
Learn more about the different loans and grants outlined below.
Façade Improvement Loan
The Façade Improvement Loan offers financial support for enhancing building exteriors, covering upgrades to windows, doors, brick repairs, painting, lighting, and signage attached to the façade.
What is the maximum loan amount?
The loan covers 50% of the improvement costs, up to a maximum of $50,000. It is repaid over 10 years with 0% interest. In some areas, a portion of the loan may be forgiven.
Eligibility criteria
To qualify for the Façade Improvement Loan, the applicant, property, and project must meet all relevant criteria, including:
- The applicant must be the registered property owner or an authorized agent.
- The application must be approved before any work begins.
- The property owner must maintain at least 10% equity in the property after the improvement.
- All City of London property taxes must be paid in full when the loan or grant is issued and remain current for the duration of the loan or grant.
- The property owner must have no outstanding debts to the City of London.
- The property must be located within an approved Community Improvement Project Area.
Additional eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact City staff to confirm your eligibility.
Upgrade to Building Code Loan
The Upgrade to Building Code Loan offers financial support for interior improvements to your building, including upgrades to plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC, mechanical systems, roofing, fire protection systems, and other work required to meet Building Code standards.
What is the maximum loan amount?
The loan covers 50% of the improvement costs, up to a maximum of $200,000. It is repaid over 10 years with 0% interest. In certain areas, a portion of the loan may be forgiven.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Upgrade to Building Code Loan, the applicant, property, and project must meet the following conditions:
- The applicant must be the registered property owner or an authorized agent.
- The application must be approved before any work begins.
- The property owner must maintain at least 10% equity in the property after the improvement.
- The property owner must have no outstanding debts to the City of London.
- The property must be located within an approved Community Improvement Project Area.
Additional eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact City staff to confirm your eligibility.
Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Tax Grant
The Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Tax Grant refunds a portion of the municipal tax increase resulting from the rehabilitation of an existing building or the construction of a new one. A percentage of this tax increase is refunded to the property owner annually for a 10-year period.
What is the maximum grant amount?
There is no maximum grant amount for this program. The total grant value is determined by the MPAC re-assessment of the redeveloped property. The grant amount will vary depending on the project and will decrease over the 10-year payback period. It is based on the increase in the municipal portion of property taxes directly resulting from the eligible project.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Tax Grant, the applicant, property, and project must meet the following conditions:
- The applicant must be the registered property owner or an authorized agent.
- The application must be approved before work begins.
- The application must be submitted before or at the same time as the building permit application.
- The property owner must maintain at least 10% equity in the property after the improvement.
- City of London property taxes must be paid in full when the grant is issued and remain current for the duration of the grant.
- The property owner must have no outstanding debts to the City of London.
- The property must be located within the Downtown, Old East Village, or SoHo Community Improvement Project Area.
- The annual grant cannot exceed the municipal portion of the property tax collected for the property in any given year.
Additional eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact City staff to confirm your eligibility.
Residential Development Charges Grant
The Residential Development Charges Grant program is designed to encourage private sector investment in residential property development in the Downtown and Old East Village areas. A grant, equal to a rebate of residential Development Charges (DCs), is offered for each new residential unit constructed.
What is the maximum grant amount?
The maximum grant amount per property is equal to the net residential DCs paid. The program reimburses a portion of the residential DCs paid by the applicant over a 10-year period, until 100% of the residential DCs have been refunded.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Residential Development Charges Grant, the applicant, property, and project must meet the following conditions:
- The applicant must be the registered property owner or an authorized agent.
- The application must be approved before any work begins.
- The application must be submitted before or at the same time as the building permit application.
- The property owner must maintain at least 10% equity in the property after the improvement.
- The property owner must have no outstanding debts to the City of London.
- The property must be located within the Downtown or Old East Village Community Improvement Project Areas.
- Applicants who choose to pay development charges over 21 annual installments are not eligible for this grant program.
Additional eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact City staff to confirm your eligibility.
Office-to-Residential Construction Conversion Grant
The Office-to-Residential (OTR) Construction Conversion Grant offers a per-unit incentive grant, functioning as a forgivable loan, for eligible office-to-residential conversion projects.
What is the maximum grant amount?
The maximum grant is $35,000 per unit, subject to available funding. This grant applies to all unit types, including bachelor, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Office-to-Residential Construction Conversion Grant, the applicant, property, and project must meet the following conditions:
- The applicant must be the registered property owner or an authorized agent.
- The application must be approved before any work begins.
- The application must be submitted before or at the same time as the building permit application.
- The property owner must maintain at least 10% equity in the property after the improvement.
- The property owner must have no outstanding debts to the City of London.
- The property must be located within the Downtown Community Improvement Project Areas.
Additional eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact City staff to confirm your eligibility.
All funding under this program must be disbursed by September 8, 2027, meaning applicants must obtain their building permit and receive the grant by that date.
Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Loan
The Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Loan offers financial assistance to property owners to help offset the costs of creating new additional residential units.
What is the maximum loan amount?
The loan amount is the lesser of $20,000 or the cost of eligible works.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Loan, the applicant, property, and project must meet the following conditions:
- The main dwelling on the property must be owner-occupied.
- The property owner must have a valid Residential Rental Unit License (RRUL), which must be maintained and renewed annually with the City.
- The ARU cannot operate as short-term rental accommodations. All tenants must enter into a formal residential lease agreement with a minimum term of 31 days.
- The application must be approved before any work begins.
- The loan is issued after the ARU has been created and paid for in full.
- The loan is repaid over 108 equal monthly payments, starting one year after the loan is advanced.
Additional eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact City staff to confirm your eligibility.