Early accessYou found us early — Done By the Book is free while we finish testing, and the app tells you plainly what's still being verified.
The renovation money list
that tells you the truth.
Grants, rebates, loans, and tax credits for Alberta home projects — every single one checked against its official page, with the date we read it. Including the closed programs that ads are still selling.
Seen ads for an $80,000 federal suite loan?
The Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program was announced in December 2024 and cancelled in Budget 2025 before it ever took an application. Contractor marketing still sells it. It's in our closed list below so you don't plan a project around money that isn't there — that's the standard this whole page is held to.
The real list
Programs you can use right now
- OPENCMHC
CMHC insured refinance for secondary suites
Refinance up to 90% of your home's as-improved value (property value under $2M, amortization up to 30 years) to fund building a self-contained suite. Funds must go to the suite — no cash-out.
Who it's for: Existing homeowners adding a legal, long-term-rental suite where the owner or a close relative lives in one unit.
Checked 2026-08-27 at cmhc-schl.gc.ca
- WAITLISTMunicipal
Calgary Secondary Suite Incentive Program
Up to $10,000 per qualifying homeowner for safety features (egress windows, alarms, smoke-tight barriers, protected exiting, split heating), plus up to $1,900 for energy-efficient equipment and up to $7,500 for accessibility features.
Who it's for: Calgary homeowners building or legalizing/registering a secondary suite.
Since June 24, 2026 the city places NEW applications on a waitlist — funding is nearly all claimed and may not be available. Don't budget around this money until the city confirms yours. Suites funded can't get a short-term-rental licence for 2 years.
Checked 2026-08-27 at calgary.ca
- OPENTax credit
Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit
A refundable tax credit on up to $50,000 of qualifying renovation costs for creating a self-contained suite for a senior (65+) or a disability-tax-credit-eligible adult relative.
Who it's for: Homeowners building a suite so a qualifying family member can live with them.
Claimed on your tax return. CRA currently states 14.5% of costs up to $7,250 per claim (the rate tracks the lowest federal tax rate, so it can shift year to year).
Checked 2026-08-27 at canada.ca
- OPENTax credit
Home Accessibility Tax Credit
A tax credit on up to $20,000 per year of eligible accessibility renovation expenses — ramps, grab bars, walk-in tubs, doorway widening, and other lasting changes that improve access or safety.
Who it's for: People 65+ or disability-tax-credit-eligible (and supporting relatives).
Checked 2026-08-27 at canada.ca
- OPENCMHC
CMHC Eco Improvement premium refund
A 25% partial refund of your CMHC mortgage-insurance premium if you spend at least $20,000 on eligible energy-efficient renovations (envelope, HVAC, or renewables). Apply within 24 months of closing.
Who it's for: Homeowners with a CMHC-insured mortgage doing energy retrofits.
CMHC currently lists application processing at approximately 8–10 weeks.
Checked 2026-08-27 at cmhc-schl.gc.ca
- OPENAlberta
Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program (SHARP)
A home-equity loan up to $40,000 (rate 4.45% as checked, reviewed twice yearly; no monthly payments — repaid when the home sells) for adaptations and repairs, including furnace and water-heater replacement and accessibility work.
Who it's for: Alberta homeowners 65+ with household income up to $75,000 and at least 25% home equity.
Checked 2026-08-27 at alberta.ca
- OPENAlberta
Residential Access Modification Program (RAMP)
Grants up to $12,000 per person per year (up to $24,000 over 10 years) for accessibility modifications — ramps, lifts, bathroom and doorway changes.
Who it's for: Lower-income Albertans who use wheelchairs, seniors 65+ using 4-wheel walkers, or people with progressive conditions (income limits apply).
Checked 2026-08-27 at alberta.ca
- CHECK STATUSMunicipal
Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP)
Financing up to 100% of eligible energy upgrades (solar, heat pumps, windows/doors, insulation, water heating) repaid via property taxes over up to 20-25 years; Calgary up to $50,000 at ~5.7%, Edmonton $3,000-$50,000 at 6.00% fixed.
Who it's for: Homeowners in participating municipalities, using CEIP-qualified contractors.
Financing, not a rebate — you repay it all through your property tax bill. Runs city-by-city and intakes open and close: Calgary's intake was closed when checked and reopens September 22, 2026; Edmonton was taking pre-qualifications onto a WAITLIST. Check your city's CEIP page.
Checked 2026-08-27 at ceip.abmunis.ca
- OPENMunicipal
HAT Smart — Existing Homes Incentive (Medicine Hat)
Up to $5,000 per home for energy upgrades: windows/doors, heating and ventilation, water heaters, insulation, solar.
Who it's for: Medicine Hat utility customers (city-owned utility program).
Open for 2026; completion and rebate request deadline December 15, 2026. Requires a pre-renovation EnerGuide evaluation — and, new for 2026, a post-renovation evaluation too.
Checked 2026-08-27 at medicinehat.ca
- OPENTax credit
GST/HST New Housing Rebate (substantial renovation)
A rebate of part of the GST paid when a house is substantially renovated (gutted) or gets a major addition — not routine basement developments; talk to your accountant.
Who it's for: Owners doing whole-home-scale renovations.
Checked 2026-08-27 at canada.ca
Closed — but still being advertised
Over, paused, or never launched — listed so old ads and stale articles can't cost you a planning mistake.
- CLOSEDFederal
Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program
Closed — the program paid up to $10,000 toward replacing an oil furnace with a cold-climate heat pump.
Who it's for: Nobody (new applicants) — only those who applied before July 31, 2026.
July 31, 2026 was the last day to apply — the official page now says applications are closed. Applicants who got in before the deadline have until January 31, 2027 to upload their documents.
Checked 2026-08-27 at natural-resources.canada.ca
- CLOSEDFederal
Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program ($80K at 2%)
Nothing — the program was cancelled before launch.
Who it's for: Nobody.
Announced December 2024, then CANCELLED in Budget 2025 before ever launching — it never accepted a single application, though many websites still describe it. The CMHC suite refinance (above) is the route that exists.
Checked 2026-08-27 at budget.canada.ca
- CLOSEDFederal
Canada Greener Homes Grant
Closed to new applicants.
Who it's for: Nobody (new applicants).
The official page says: "This program is closed." Contractors still advertise it — the $5,000 grants are gone for new applicants.
Checked 2026-07-19 at natural-resources.canada.ca
- CLOSEDFederal
Canada Greener Homes Loan (interest-free $40K)
Closed to new applicants.
Who it's for: Only previously approved applicants.
Official page: funding is fully committed and "new loan applications cannot be approved" (closed October 2025). Previously approved applicants can still draw funds.
Checked 2026-08-27 at natural-resources.canada.ca
- CLOSEDMunicipal
Edmonton Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator & Solar Rebate
Closed — fully subscribed.
Who it's for: Nobody (new applicants).
The city's page says both are "now fully subscribed." Edmonton's remaining option is CEIP (waitlist).
Checked 2026-08-27 at edmonton.ca
Almost all of this money requires a legal, permitted project
Suite incentives and refinancing pay for permitted, inspected work — that's the fine print on nearly every program above. Done By the Book walks you from a pencil sketch to inspection day, and shows you these programs matched to your own project and city. Free to start, no signup.
Start my project — freeDone By the Book is independent, source-linked guidance for homeowners. We don't administer any of these programs and can't guarantee eligibility — each program's official page and application process has the final say. Dollar figures are each program's own published terms.