Calgary roof rebate program receives more than 500 applications in 1st month

The City of Calgary's new roof rebate program has received more than 500 applications in its first month.

The first year of the program, which opened June 1, allows Calgarians to apply for $3,000 to cover some costs of replacing roofs damaged by hail in 2020 with hail-resistant materials.

It's retroactive from June 2020, when a destructive hailstorm swept through the city causing more than $1 billion in damages.

In 2022 the program will expand to include all Calgary homeowners who want to upgrade their roofs with resilient materials. The city set aside $2 million for the first year of the program.

Kris Dietrich, with the City of Calgary's building services, said the majority of the applications have come from addresses in the city's northeast, where most of the damage occurred last year.

"I'd say it's quite successful at this point. We've had lots of interest," Dietrich said.

Dietrich said each application takes a few weeks to process and the first cheques are already in the mail. He said it's possible the money for the first year of the program could be fully subscribed.

City council will decide next year how much money to put into the second year of the program. The program will be reviewed next year, and if continuation of the program is approved, its third year would include roofing for new homes. 

Details on eligibility and how to apply for the program can be found on the city's website.