Facade Improvement Program

 

The City of Sebastopol offers a program aimed at encouraging local businesses and property owners to improve commercial and industrial buildings.  Upgrades, maintenance, and aesthetic enhancements will benefit the entire community and enhance the local economy.
 
With these objectives in mind, subject to funding availability, the Sebastopol Façade Improvement Program will provide a rebate for expenses incurred on new exterior property improvements made to commercial or industrial buildings within the City of Sebastopol.
 
The program will reimburse a property owner or tenant for 75% of new improvements up to $2,500.  Eligible improvements include painting, new signage, awnings, landscaping, exterior lighting, and local permit fees. Façade building improvements (new windows, changing materials, etc.) are also eligible; however, please note that larger changes may require Design Review approval as well.
 
The objective of the Façade Improvement Program is to provide an incentive to property owners and/or tenants to enhance the physical appearance of buildings and landscapes.  This public/private partnership investment is intended to leverage private capital with public funds for greater community economic benefit. 
 
To apply for the program a building owner or tenant, with the owner’s approval, should fill out the attached application and include bid estimates for the proposed improvement(s). The Planning Department then reviews the submitted application for completeness and batches them to be reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Design Review Board for approval. Deadlines for applications for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 are:                                           

  • August 15, 2022  (DRB Review/Awards scheduled for September 7)
  • October 10, 2022 (DRB Review/Awards scheduled for November 2)
  • January 9, 2023 (DRB Review/Awards scheduled for February 1)
  • March 13, 2023 (DRB Review/Awards scheduled for April 5)

Note, funding is limited based on the adopted City Budget. Funding may be entirely allotted in early rounds.

If an application is submitted after the above deadline it may be pushed to the following meeting.
 
If you would like to apply for or discuss the program in more detail, please contact John Jay, Associate Planner at (707) 823-6167 or  jjay@cityofsebastopol.org 


Facade Improvement Program Application Packet