Property tax abatement program

The Property Tax Abatement Program helps owners of heritage properties save on property taxes when they restore or repair their properties. If the property’s assessed value increases due to approved improvements, it can have a portion of the additional provincial and municipal property taxes forgiven over four years:

Year 1: Pay taxes based on your property’s value before the project.

Year 2: Pay taxes based on the new value, but with a 75 per cent reduction in the increased amount.

Year 3: Pay taxes based on the new value, but with a 50 per cent reduction in the increased amount.

Year 4: Pay taxes based on the new value, but with a 25 per cent reduction in the increased amount.

Year 5: Pay the entire property tax based on the new value.

This program is designed to support the conservation of our heritage while making it more affordable for property owners to maintain these important sites.

Please note: all renovations or restorations must be approved by the Archaeology and Heritage Branch before they are undertaken. You cannot apply for this program after completing a project.

There is no deadline for this program.

Eligible properties

• properties listed in the New Brunswick Register of Historic Places
• properties listed as a National Historic Site under the Historic Sites and Monuments Act (Canada)

Eligible Projects

To qualify for the Property Tax Abatement Program, projects must meet the following criteria: 

Significant restoration: The project must have construction costs of at least $100,000 or 20 per cent of the property’s current assessed value (whichever is greater). Costs can include both interior and exterior work.

Other property tax credits: At least 75 per cent of the finished floor area of the property shall not be eligible for the Provincial Residential Property Tax Credit (i.e., primarily a residence).

Compliance with guidelines: The restoration project must follow the guidelines outlined in paragraph 53(3)(e) of the Heritage Conservation Act, if applicable.

Adherence to standards: Projects must comply with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.  Proponents will need to consult the Statement of Significance guidelines in the Canadian Register of Historic Places (publication). A Statement of Significance is based on research and consultation and describes the core values and key characteristics of a historic place.

Timely completion: The project must be completed by the date specified in your application.

Applications submitted to this program are evaluated according to the program objectives and criteria.

Additional Considerations:

• the project should clearly extend the life of the property
• projects that prevent the heritage property from being demolished or deteriorating will receive favorable consideration
• the applicant must demonstrate the project’s viability and its positive impact on the community’s vitality

Fill out the application form (PDF 254 KB), ensure it is signed by someone with signing authority, and send it and all supporting documents to [email protected] or to Archaeology and Heritage Branch, Attn: Built Heritage Program, Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1.

The Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture is subject to the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Applicants must accept and agree that, if they receive a grant, their name, community and the grant amount will be published on the provincial government website and in the department’s annual report.