Historic Homeowner Grant Program

The Historic Homeowner Grant Program is a financial assistance initiative administered by the District of Columbia's Historic Preservation Office (HPO) to support low- and moderate-income homeowners in preserving and rehabilitating their historic residences. Established under the Targeted Historic Preservation Assistance Amendment Act of 2006, the program aims to safeguard the architectural integrity of the District’s historic housing stock by subsidizing structural and exterior restoration work for eligible homeowners. Grants are available for all contributing historic buildings and landmarks across Washington, D.C.’s designated historic districts. Applicants must meet several eligibility criteria. To qualify, homeowners must own and reside in a historic property within the District and receive the Homestead Deduction for property taxes. The grant program is specifically designed for low- and moderate-income households, defined by thresholds set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development based on area median income (AMI). Proof of household income and residency is required during the application process. Condominiums and cooperatives are ineligible, as are modern or non-contributing structures not recognized as historically significant. The grant program supports a wide array of historically appropriate repairs, focusing on major exterior work that enhances the visual presence and architectural integrity of the home. Common qualifying projects include restoration or reconstruction of original porches, windows, doors, roofs, cornices, and siding—especially when visible from public streets. Major structural repairs, such as foundation stabilization or floor reconstruction, are also eligible. However, interior renovations (except structural fixes), HVAC systems, plumbing, solar panels, insulation, or any work already started or completed are not eligible for reimbursement. Applicants follow a two-part application process. Part I is a preliminary eligibility check requiring property photos and a description of proposed work. If deemed potentially eligible, applicants receive a Part II packet containing project specifications from HPO. In Part II, homeowners must obtain contractor bids based on these specifications and submit them with household financial information. HPO reviews these submissions competitively, evaluating projects on urgency, architectural value, contribution to the historic district, and geographic equity in funding distribution. The grant awards are subject to funding availability and can be as high as $50,000. A matching contribution may be required, based on income level. Applicants in higher income brackets may be required to cover up to 50% of project costs. All recipients must sign a covenant with the District of Columbia agreeing to maintain the funded improvements for at least ten years. This obligation carries over if the property is sold during that period. Grant payments are disbursed in stages, starting with an initial deposit upon execution of the contract and progressing as construction milestones are met. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no formal deadline. The full process from application initiation to project launch typically takes four to six months, depending on contractor procurement and homeowner responsiveness. For more information, interested parties may contact the HPO directly by emailing [email protected] or calling 202-442-7600. The program’s FAQ and income eligibility tables are also available online for review.

Priority given to visible architectural repairs and features; do not begin work before approval; repairs must match historic appearance.