Home Improvement Incentive Program

How it works

Stephenville’s Home Improvement Incentive Program is a city rebate program for homeowners who improve single-family residential properties. The city says the program’s goals are to prevent blight, improve property values, encourage neighboring reinvestment, and improve quality of life.

What the money covers

The program offers three incentives for approved projects:

• a 5% rebate on qualifying home-improvement costs, capped at $5,000 per project
• a waiver of residential remodel building permit fees
• after the project is complete and inspected, the city will repair or replace sidewalks in public rights-of-way for participating properties based on the condition of the existing sidewalk

Qualifying improvements

The official program lists these qualifying improvements:

• replace existing windows with energy-efficient windows
• replace exterior doors, including the garage door
• replace soffit and/or fascia with fiber-cement material such as Hardiplank
• replace the entire driveway with concrete to city specifications, if it is located at the front of the house
• replace or repair fence to city specifications
• replace siding using fiber-cement material such as Hardiplank
• add or repair garage
• repaint the house
• install or replace front gutters
• add or repair front porch
• foundation repair, subject to added rules
• removal of accessory buildings, such as detached garages or storage sheds
• re-shingle roof with 30-year shingles
• other improvements that result in aesthetic improvements and/or correction of housing deficiencies may also be approved by city staff

Amounts and matching

• Minimum project value: $20,000
• At least $10,000 of project cost must be related to exterior remodeling improvements of single-family detached homes
• Rebate: 5% of qualifying costs
• Maximum rebate: $5,000 per project
• Multiple elements may be included in a single agreement, but applicants are limited to three incentive agreements per calendar year

How to apply

Applications must be received and approved before any work starts. The city says incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants submit to the Development Services Department.

Timing and deadlines

• Project must be completed within 12 months of approval, as determined by final inspection
• All incentives are first-come, first-served and subject to fund availability
• The city says the program may be suspended or terminated at any time

Important restrictions

• The property must have a total value of $250,000 or less
• The existing structure must be at least 20 years old
• The property must be free of nuisance code violations at application time
• Applicant must be current on mortgage obligations, property taxes, utility payments, and judgments, and the property must be free of liens other than allowed mortgage liens
• Applicant must be the owner, and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a Social Security card and state-issued ID or driver’s license
• City council members and city employees are ineligible
• Receipts are required for the rebate