Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator Pilot (City of Victoria)
Run by City of Victoria (applications guided by LandlordBC) · Also called RARA
Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator Pilot (City of Victoria) gives landlords a tax credit for heat pumps and water heaters. You need an energy assessment before any work starts.
Up to
Municipal property tax exemption up to 100% of eligible costs, up to 10 years
Verified
At a glance
| Maximum amount | Municipal property tax exemption up to 100% of eligible costs, up to 10 years |
|---|---|
| Funding type | Tax credit |
| Status | Open |
| Who can apply | Landlords |
| Energy assessment required | Yes, before you start |
| Income-tested | No |
| Deadline | No end date published |
| Where | Victoria, British Columbia |
| Level | Municipal |
| Run by | City of Victoria (applications guided by LandlordBC) |
| Official page | victoria.ca/community-culture/climate-action/rebates-resources |
| Last verified | |
| Verified by | Rebate Researcher, RebateHub |
| Confidence | MediumOfficial pages are incomplete or inconsistent on some details. |
Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator Pilot (City of Victoria). RebateHub.ca, https://rebatehub.ca/rebates/bc-victoria-rental-apartment-retrofit-accelerator#key-facts. Last verified October 17, 2026. Official source: https://www.victoria.ca/community-culture/climate-action/rebates-resources
What you can get
| Upgrade | What you get | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Gas to electric space heating and/or hot water (GHG Emissions Reduction Stream)Municipal tax exemption up to 100% of eligible costsTerm of up to 10 years. Limited to three buildings in this stream. | Municipal tax exemption up to 100% of eligible costs | Varies |
How it works
The City of Victoria's Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator pilot, launched in May 2024, offers a revitalization tax exemption to owners of market rental buildings that switch from gas to electric space heating, hot water or both. The exemption can cover up to 100% of eligible costs, spread over a term of up to 10 years. Only municipal property taxes are exempted, not school or other levies.
The bylaw limits the pilot to five buildings in total, with up to three in the emissions reduction stream. LandlordBC guides owners through planning and the application.
Who qualifies
- Market rental building within City of Victoria boundaries, three to six storeys, with at least 10 dwelling units.
- Uses natural gas for hot water, space heating or both, and was built before January 1, 2000.
- No active building or development permit for the work, and no outstanding taxes or charges owing to the City.
- Work must be completed within two years of the City accepting the application.
How to apply
Step 1: Contact LandlordBC through LandlordBC.ca/RARA to plan the project and prepare the application.
Step 2: Apply to the City in writing with the required documents, such as a BC Hydro program application or an engineer's energy study, and an electrical capacity assessment.
Step 3: Questions can go to sustainability@victoria.ca.
Get quotes from British Columbia installers
Free, no obligation. We pass your request to up to 3 independent installers who serve your area and, where a program requires it, are registered with it.
- 1. Your project
- 2. Your contact details
- Installers checked against your program’s contractor list, where it has one
- Installers pay us, never you
- Sent to up to 3 installers who serve your area. We don't sell or rent lists.
Book an energy assessment
Many rebates need an EnerGuide assessment before any work starts. We'll pass your request to up to 2 energy advisors who serve your area. Free to ask, no obligation; the advisor quotes their fee, and some programs rebate part of it.
- 1. Your project
- 2. Your contact details
- Book it before you sign any contract. Work done before the assessment can disqualify you.
- Energy advisors pay us, never you
- Sent to up to 2 installers who serve your area. We don't sell or rent lists.
Related programs
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CleanBC Energy Savings Program Condo and Apartment Rebate
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PST Exemption on Heat Pumps
Heat pumps bought in B.C. are exempt from the 7% provincial sales tax, while fossil-fuel heating equipment is taxed at 12%.
Varies
Instant discount
Sources
Other sources we checked