The Accessibility Enhancement Grant Program is inviting applications to support commercial and mixed-use property owners and tenants in improving accessibility within existing buildings and their surrounding façades.
The focus areas of this program include the development of barrier-free entrances such as ramps, wider doorways, and automatic door openers, along with accessibility improvements like handrails, guards, doorbells, and visibility strips. It also supports non-slip surfacing at entrances and walkways, upgrades to existing bathrooms to enhance accessibility, installation of elevators or lifts, anti-glare window treatments, braille, tactile and wayfinding signage, as well as other approved measures aimed at removing barriers and improving accessibility.
This grant provides funding covering 75% of eligible project costs, with a maximum support limit of up to $15,000 per project. In certain cases, full coverage of eligible expenses may be considered, reaching up to 100%, where justification is provided through a prior request for consideration before project completion.
Eligible applicants include owners and tenants of commercial properties and mixed-use commercial buildings, including existing businesses and properties undergoing accessibility-related upgrades or adaptive reuse. All projects must comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Building Code, and applicable municipal standards, and they must meet barrier-free requirements confirmed during the building permit stage.
Projects must obtain all required approvals, permits, and clearances from relevant municipal departments and external agencies, including building, signage, or heritage approvals where applicable. Properties designated or listed under the Ontario Heritage Act must follow conservation standards and secure necessary heritage permissions. Any project involving removal or demolition of heritage attributes is not eligible.
For more information, visit City of Waterloo.
