Accessibility grants in Canada (2026): what you can apply for now
15 other programs are open now and pay for ramps, accessible entrances, door openers or washrooms: 14 grants for businesses, most of them run by cities, and 1 for arts and heritage nonprofits.
One Enabling Accessibility Fund stream is taking applications: Express Workplace Accessibility Grants, up to $50,000. Its big-project call closed March 16, 2026. The small-projects stream (up to $200,000) last opened in 2024, and no next date has been announced.
Which one are you?
I own or rent a shop or office
City and provincial grants from $1,000 to $100,000. Most cover half the cost, and your city decides which ones you can use.
See what's open by cityI run a nonprofit arts or heritage space
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund pays up to half of a renovation, including ramps, lifts and accessible washrooms. A for-profit studio or gallery: use the shop door.
See the nonprofit optionI need to adapt a workplace
The Enabling Accessibility Fund's Express Workplace grant (up to $50,000) is open now. What it pays for and how to apply.
See the Express Workplace grant
Also searching for
Open now: grants that pay for accessibility work
14 business grants open on November 2, 2026 that say in their rules they pay for ramps, accessible entrances, door openers or washrooms. Most are run by one city, so start with yours.
Ontario (7)
- Hamilton Commercial District Revitalization GrantPays: Up to $25,000 (50% match)Where and what: Hamilton · Accessible entrance upgrades
- Hamilton Commercial Vacancy Assistance ProgramPays: Up to $10,000Where and what: Hamilton · Barrier-free interior work, including elevators
- Kitchener Façade Grant ProgramPays: Up to $10,000 per storefrontWhere and what: Kitchener · Ramps, accessible entrances, door openers
- London Vacant Commercial Space Fit-Out GrantPays: Up to $50,000 (50%)Where and what: London · Ramps, accessible washrooms, door openers
- Urban Growth Centre CIP: Façade and Accessibility Improvement GrantPays: $3,000–$30,000Where and what: Oshawa · Façade and accessibility improvements
- Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement ProgramPays: Up to $75,000 (75%)Where and what: Ottawa (Centretown) · Accessible entrance on a heritage building
- Sarnia Building Façade Improvement GrantPays: Up to $10,000Where and what: Sarnia · Barrier-free entrance changes
Alberta (3)
- Corner Store Exterior Commercial Renovation GrantPays: Up to $90,000/building (50%)Where and what: Edmonton · Accessibility features and accessible sidewalks
- Storefront Improvement GrantPays: Up to $50,000Where and what: Edmonton · Ramps, handrails, automatic doors
- Storefront Refresh GrantPays: Up to $1,000 (50%)Where and what: Edmonton · Minor ramps and railings
Quebec (2)
- Subvention pour l’accessibilité universelle aux commerces (PAAC)Pays: Up to $40,000Where and what: Montréal · Universal accessibility for shops, 90% of costs
- Québec: Programme d'accessibilité des établissements touristiques (PAET) 2024-2027Pays: Up to $100,000Where and what: Quebec (tourism businesses) · Accessibility work at tourist establishments
Manitoba (1)
- West End BIZ Business Development GrantPays: Up to $3,000Where and what: Winnipeg (West End) · Accessibility upgrades
Northwest Territories (1)
- Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) - Micro-businessPays: Up to $6,000Where and what: Northwest Territories · Workspace changes and accessibility upgrades
Arts and heritage nonprofits, anywhere in Canada (1)
- Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF)Pays: Up to 50% of the renovationWhere and what: Canada-wide · Ramps, lifts, accessible washrooms in an arts or heritage space
Not sure which of these you qualify for? The quiz asks where your business is, what it does and who owns it, then lists the grants your business can apply for.
Find grants for my businessGrants for wheelchair ramps, accessible doors and washrooms: which ones pay for your fix?
As of November 14, 2026, 7 open grants in the GrantCompass catalogue name a ramp or step-free entrance, 2 name an accessible washroom and 2 name a lift or elevator. The biggest for each: Ottawa's Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Program (up to $75,000, heritage buildings), London's Vacant Commercial Space Fit-Out Grant (up to $50,000) and Montréal's Subvention pour l’accessibilité universelle aux commerces (up to $40,000). Searched as handicap accessibility grants or wheelchair ramp grants, the rules call it barrier-free or accessibility work.
Tap the barriers in your building. The number is how many open grants name that fix in the place you pick.
Across the cities in the table below, a door is the fix open grants name most often (9 grants in 8 cities) and an entrance step next (7). A counter and signs have 1 each, both in Montréal.
All 8 barriers in one table
| Barrier | Open grants that name it | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk or parking (2 open) | Corner Store Exterior Commercial Renovation Grant, Kitchener Façade Grant Program | Edmonton, Kitchener |
| Step at the entrance (7 open) | Centretown Heritage Façade, London Fit-Out Grant, Hamilton Commercial District Revitalization, Kitchener Façade, Sarnia Façade, Edmonton Storefront Refresh, Montréal PAAC | Ottawa, London, Hamilton, Kitchener, Sarnia, Edmonton, Montréal |
| Heavy or narrow door (9 open) | Corner Store Renovation Grant, Edmonton Storefront Improvement (intake to November 30, 2026), Centretown Heritage Façade, London Fit-Out Grant, Hamilton Commercial District Revitalization, Kitchener Façade, Sarnia Façade, Oshawa Façade and Accessibility, Montréal PAAC | Edmonton, Ottawa, London, Hamilton, Kitchener, Sarnia, Oshawa, Montréal |
| Inside step or narrow aisle (2 open) | Montréal PAAC, Hamilton Commercial Vacancy Assistance | Montréal, Hamilton |
| Counter or service desk (1 open) | Montréal PAAC | Montréal |
| Washroom (2 open) | London Fit-Out Grant, Montréal PAAC; arts and heritage nonprofits: Canada Cultural Spaces Fund | London, Montréal; Canada-wide for nonprofits |
| Upper floor, lift or elevator (2 open) | Montréal PAAC, Hamilton Commercial Vacancy Assistance; arts and heritage nonprofits: Canada Cultural Spaces Fund | Montréal, Hamilton; Canada-wide for nonprofits |
| Signs and wayfinding (1 open) | Montréal PAAC | Montréal |
For any barrier staff face: the Express Workplace Accessibility Grants, Canada-wide, up to $50,000, open. Ramps, doors, washrooms, lifts and signs are also on the Enabling Accessibility Fund's list for its larger grants, which are between calls.
See every grant your business can use, not only the accessibility ones.
Find grants for my business
Who this guide is for
You run a café, salon, or boutique and a customer or employee can't get through the front door or use the washroom. The Enabling Accessibility Fund's Express Workplace Accessibility Grants (up to $50,000, continuous intake) are open now for workplace retrofits like this; its Small Projects stream, with a flat-rate calculator for 14 common activities, has no open call. Also check the grants open now: several city façade grants (Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Edmonton and others) pay for the same ramp as part of a bigger renovation.
An employee needs a wider doorway, an accessible washroom, or an automatic door opener to do their job. EAF funds exactly this kind of workplace retrofit, and for-profit businesses with 99 or fewer full-time employees can apply. The program's own guidance is specific: frame the project around the barrier a named accommodation removes, not as a general renovation — that distinction is the single most common reason for-profit applications get turned down.
Your organization runs a drop-in centre, service office, or community space that isn't fully accessible. Non-profits are EAF's most common applicant type, and a letter of support from a disability organization or an employee with a disability strengthens the community-impact section of the application — advice that comes directly from the program's own guidance. See our complete guide to nonprofit grants in Canada for funding beyond accessibility.
You're building a product — software, hardware, or a digital service — designed to help Canadians with disabilities, not retrofitting your own office. That's a different program: the Accessible Technology Program funded up to $4,000,000 per project, covering up to 50% of costs for for-profit developers and 80% for non-profits. It's closed today — the last round ran April 2023 to March 2024, and a Phase 3 hasn't been announced — so this one is worth bookmarking, not applying to.
If the funding gap is you — a founder who lives with a disability and needs capital to start or grow your own business, not a facilities project — that's a different question than this guide answers. Our complete guide to disability entrepreneur funding covers PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program and other founder-focused options in full.
The Enabling Accessibility Fund (one stream open): what it pays for and how to be ready
View the full Enabling Accessibility Fund profile →The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) is Employment and Social Development Canada's flagship grant for accessibility retrofits. Its Express Workplace Accessibility Grants (up to $50,000) take applications now on a continuous intake; its larger streams are between calls, so use this section to be ready for the next one. EAF runs through periodic Calls for Proposals rather than a single annual deadline, split across size tiers. The Small Projects stream funds simple retrofits — ramps, accessible doors, washrooms, elevators — with most awards landing between $20,000 and $80,000 (ESDC now lists grants of up to $200,000 per project). The large-project stream funds $500,000 to $1,000,000 capital projects; the most recent Call ran January 16 to March 16, 2026 and is now closed, with no next call yet announced. Eligible applicants include Canadian businesses, non-profits, municipalities, and Indigenous organizations; for-profit applicants must have 99 or fewer full-time employees and must contribute at least 50% of total project costs (the Small Projects stream has a lower cost-share requirement).
| Stream | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Express Workplace Accessibility Grants | Up to $50,000 | Open, continuous intake until funds run out |
| Small Projects | Up to $200,000 (typically $20K–$80K) | Closed — no reopen date announced |
| Large/mid-size (2026 CFP) | $500,000–$1,000,000 | Closed March 16, 2026 — next call TBD |
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Application difficulty | 2/5 (low-moderate) |
| Where you apply | Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) |
| Approval rate | Moderate (20-40%) |
| Payment model | Advance / milestone-based, not reimbursement-after-the-fact |
What EAF actually pays for (and doesn't)
Eligible expenses include:
- Renovation, construction, or redesign work to improve physical accessibility (ramps, doors, washrooms, elevators)
- Acquisition and installation of accessible equipment or devices
- Information and communication technologies for improved program or service access
- Accessible signage, wayfinding, and navigation systems
- Automatic door operators and accessible entry modifications
- Accessible washroom construction or renovation
- Elevator or lift installation
Ineligible: general renovations that don't address a specific accessibility barrier, ongoing operational costs, costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed, land or building acquisition, and — for mid-sized for-profit projects — activities that generate commercial profit.
How to apply, step by step
- Verify eligibility. Confirm your organization type and which EAF component is currently accepting applications.
- Create a GCOS account. Register for Grants and Contributions Online Services at canada.ca/gcos — allow several days for approval.
- Complete the EAF Calculator. Enter your project specifications; the calculator uses flat rates for 14 common accessibility activities.
- Gather supporting documents. CRA Business Number, photographs of each project space, and the Calculator summary PDF.
- Submit the application. Describe how the project removes a specific barrier and include evidence your organization serves or employs persons with disabilities.
- Await a decision. Small Projects: roughly 3–6 months. 2026-style CFPs: roughly 6–9 months.
Two pieces of guidance carry real weight here. First, use the flat-rate calculator for the 14 common activities it covers — it simplifies your budget and removes guesswork from the application. Second, name the specific accommodation your project enables and include a letter of support from a disability organization or an affected employee; EAF's own guidance flags vague "general renovation" framing as the most common reason for-profit applications fail.
Past recipients illustrate the typical range: Sunshine Coast Community Services Society received $29,312 for an accessible emergency-response project, and Mayday Club Youth Choir for Autism Advocacy received $23,159 for an accessible radio-broadcasting project supporting neurodivergent youth — both well inside the Small Projects stream's typical $20,000–$80,000 band.
Verdict: If your organization has any physical or digital barrier a person with a disability would hit — a step, a heavy door, a washroom that doesn't work for a wheelchair — EAF should be the first program you check, regardless of whether you're a business, non-profit, or municipality. Skip it only if your project doesn't remove a specific, describable barrier; EAF routinely rejects applications framed as general renovations.
Not sure where your accessibility project fits?
GrantCompass tracks 850+ Canadian funding programs, free to search. Use our eligibility map to see which accessibility, inclusion, and business programs actually match your organization — no forms, no sales calls.
Explore the eligibility map →When will the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) open again? (2026 and 2027)
One part of it is open now. As of November 14, 2026, the Enabling Accessibility Fund's Express Workplace Accessibility Grants take applications on a continuous intake that closes when the money runs out: up to $50,000 per project, for up to 12 months of work. The fund's larger grants (up to $200,000) and contributions (up to $3 million) have no open or announced call.
- Small projects call: grants for community and workplace barriers. Closed.
- Workplace call for mid-sized projects, $500,000 to $1,000,000. Closed.
- Express Workplace Accessibility Grants: continuous intake, open.
- Grants and contributions: no call announced. We do not guess a date.
The express grant is for employers removing a barrier that employees with disabilities face at work, through construction, renovation, a retrofit or accessible equipment. Nonprofits, for-profit organizations with up to 99 full-time equivalent employees, Indigenous organizations and municipal and territorial governments can apply.
Three moves while the larger grants are between calls
- Your staff face the barrierApply to the Express Workplace grant now, up to $50,000.
- Customers or members face itRegister for GCOS now and get two contractor quotes per barrier, so the activity list for the fund's flat-rate calculator is ready on day one.
- You cannot waitUse an open city or provincial grant for the same fix: find yours by barrier.
Check the fund's full profile, then set up your government login.
See the Enabling Accessibility Fund Register for GCOS on canada.ca
5 More Accessibility Funding Sources in Canada
Nova Scotia's own accessibility grant covers two-thirds of eligible project costs, up to $50,000, for businesses improving physical or digital accessibility — renovations, equipment, or website accessibility upgrades. Unlike EAF, which serves all of Canada but caps small awards near $80,000 in practice, this program is Nova Scotia-only and can stack on top of an EAF award to cover the remaining cost. The February 14, 2026 deadline has passed; the next intake hasn't been announced — watch cch.novascotia.ca. See our full guide to Nova Scotia business grants for the rest of the province's programs.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $50,000 (2/3 of project cost) |
| Deadline | Between intakes — Feb 14, 2026 window closed |
| Applicant contributes | At least 1/3 of eligible costs |
| Stacks with EAF | Yes, the two programs are explicitly compatible |
Verdict: Nova Scotia businesses already applying to EAF should apply here too — the two programs are explicitly compatible and cover different portions of the same project. Skip it if you're outside Nova Scotia. The only other provincial accessibility grant in the catalogue is Quebec's PAET, which is for tourism businesses.
Kitchener's downtown façade grant matches 50% of exterior renovation costs — up to $10,000 per storefront, $30,000 for multi-storefront buildings — and lists AODA accessibility upgrades (ramps, accessible entrances, door openers) as an eligible cost alongside windows, masonry, and signage. Unlike EAF, this isn't an accessibility-specific program: accessibility work rides along with a broader renovation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but pre-approval is required before any work begins.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $10,000/storefront ($30,000 multi-storefront) |
| Deadline | Ongoing (rolling; pre-approval required) |
| Accessibility-eligible costs | Ramps, accessible entrances, door openers |
| Level | Municipal — Kitchener, ON only |
Verdict: Worth checking if you're already planning a storefront renovation in downtown Kitchener — folding a ramp or accessible entrance into that scope is close to free money. Not worth applying to for an accessibility retrofit alone; EAF's Express Workplace Accessibility Grants (up to $50,000) are the better fit for that.
London's façade program is a 0%-interest loan — not a grant — covering up to 50% of exterior renovation costs to a maximum of $50,000, with AODA accessibility upgrades (ramps, accessible entrances, door openers) named as an eligible expense. Portions of the loan are forgivable in designated Community Improvement Project Areas, which functionally converts part of it into non-repayable funding. Like Kitchener's program, applications are rolling and pre-approval is mandatory before work starts.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $50,000, 0% interest, partly forgivable |
| Deadline | Ongoing, subject to budget availability |
| Accessibility-eligible costs | Ramps, accessible entrances, door openers |
| Level | Municipal — London, ON only |
Verdict: The forgivable portion makes this worth layering onto a London storefront renovation that already includes accessibility work. Confirm your address falls inside a designated CIPA before counting on the forgivable piece — outside those zones, it's a straight 0% loan you repay in full.
Toronto's façade grant matches 50% of exterior renovation costs up to $12,500, and its eligible-expense list includes the same category as Kitchener's and London's programs — AODA accessibility upgrades like wheelchair ramps, accessible railings, and accessible door openers. The 2026 intake opened March 2 and funds typically run out quickly; there's no fixed deadline, just first-come allocation. It is now between intakes, so plan for the next round.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $12,500 (50% of costs) |
| Deadline | Between intakes — 2026 round opened March 2, funds allocated first-come |
| Accessibility-eligible costs | Wheelchair ramps, accessible railings, door openers |
| Level | Municipal — Toronto, ON only |
Verdict: Move fast if you want in — Toronto's façade fund is annual and demand-driven, so an accessibility upgrade folded into an early application has a real shot; a late application usually doesn't. Combine with EAF if your project scope goes beyond the exterior.
The Accessible Technology Program funds up to $4,000,000 per project for developing market-ready assistive technology — communication tools, learning aids, workplace tech, daily-living devices — covering up to 50% of costs for for-profit developers, 75% for small businesses, and 80% for non-profits. This is the one program on this list for companies building an accessibility product, not organizations retrofitting their own space. It's closed: the most recent round ran April 2023 to March 2024 with a $5.8 million budget, and ISED has not announced a Phase 3 or a reopening timeline.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $4,000,000 per project |
| Status | Closed — no Phase 3 announced |
| Cost-share | 50% for-profit / 75% small business / 80% non-profit |
| Level | Federal |
Verdict: Bookmark this one rather than build a timeline around it — there's no announced reopening, and ISED's own page says to keep checking rather than expect a specific date. If you're developing assistive technology today, look at IRAP or the Strategic Innovation Fund for interim R&D funding instead.
Accessibility grants for nonprofits, churches and community halls
A nonprofit's first door depends on what the building is for. As of November 14, 2026, an arts or heritage nonprofit can apply now to the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, which names ramps, lifts and accessible washrooms. A church or community hall has one open federal option, the Enabling Accessibility Fund's Express Workplace grant, and only for barriers its staff face.
| Who you are | First door | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Arts or heritage space | Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, open year-round | Incorporated arts and heritage nonprofits only. In Vancouver, the Cultural Spaces Grant Program (up to $250,000) is between intakes; its 2026 deadline was March 4. |
| Church or faith building | Express Workplace grant, if staff face the barrier | The ESDC pages we read do not mention places of worship. Ask your province's Service Canada office before you apply. |
| Community hall or social service | Express Workplace grant now; the fund's community grants later | ESDC names a Community Accessibility stream, with no call open or announced. Get ready with the three moves above. |
| Need a loan, not a grant | Community Forward Fund, $50K to $1.25M | A repayable loan for charities and nonprofits, rolling intake. It lists accessibility improvements under equipment financing. |
Picking the barrier map's "A nonprofit" button shows which city grants above are for businesses only. For funding beyond buildings, see nonprofit grants in Canada.
Running an arts or heritage space? Start with the federal fund that names your fix.
See the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Which accessibility funding program fits your organization?
- Yes, and you're a business, non-profit, municipality, or Indigenous organization anywhere in Canada → Start with the Enabling Accessibility Fund. Confirm which stream is currently open before applying.
- Yes, and you're specifically in Nova Scotia → Also check the NS Business ACCESS-Ability Grant — it can cover the 1/3 of costs EAF's Small Projects stream doesn't.
- Yes, and you're a for-profit business in Kitchener, London, or Toronto already planning a storefront renovation → Your city's façade grant lists accessibility upgrades as an eligible cost — apply alongside or instead of EAF.
- Yes → That's the Accessible Technology Program's territory. It's currently closed with no Phase 3 announced — monitor ISED's funding page rather than applying today.
- Yes → That's a different intent than this guide covers. See our complete guide to disability entrepreneur funding for PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program and other founder-focused options.
If the stairs are in your home, not your business
Searching for stairlift grants? Every program on this page pays for a business, nonprofit or workplace building, not a house. For a home, the federal help is the home accessibility tax credit: as of November 14, 2026, the CRA lets a qualifying person claim up to $20,000 a year of eligible expenses on line 31285 of their return.
Your home
It is a non-refundable tax credit, not a grant: it lowers tax you owe. In Ontario, March of Dimes Canada runs the province's Home and Vehicle Modification Program; ask it whether your stairlift or vehicle change qualifies.
Your business or rented shop
A step, door, washroom or upper floor in a shop, office or hall is what the grants here pay for. Tap it on the barrier map to see the open grants in your city.
A founder who lives with a disability and needs money for the business itself: see disability grants and funding for entrepreneurs.
Eligibility, funding amounts, deadlines and how to apply
Eligibility requirements
EAF accepts Canadian businesses, non-profits, municipalities, and Indigenous organizations; for-profit applicants need 99 or fewer full-time employees. The Ontario façade programs restrict eligibility to a specific city's designated improvement area. Nova Scotia's ACCESS-Ability grant is open to any registered NS business.
Funding amounts and cost-share
EAF requires the applicant to cover at least 50% of project cost (lower for Small Projects); Nova Scotia covers two-thirds, leaving the applicant one-third. Ontario's façade grants match 50% of renovation cost, with accessibility upgrades folded into that same 50/50 split rather than funded as a separate line.
Application process and timeline
EAF applications go through Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) and use a flat-rate calculator for common activities; decisions take 3–9 months depending on stream. Municipal façade grants require pre-approval before work starts and move faster — typically weeks, not months.
Key deadlines right now
EAF's 2026 large-project Call closed March 16, 2026; the Small Projects stream has no open intake. Nova Scotia's February 2026 deadline has passed. Kitchener and London accept applications on a rolling basis; Toronto's 2026 round opened March 2 and is now between intakes.
Stacking these programs
EAF and Nova Scotia's ACCESS-Ability grant are explicitly compatible — different funders, no overlap restriction. A municipal façade grant can fund the same ramp EAF doesn't fully cover, since façade programs treat accessibility as one line item within a broader renovation budget.
How to use this guide
Accessibility funding in Canada is thin compared to R&D or export funding. Of the 650+ programs GrantCompass tracks, just 5 carry an explicit Accessibility or Disability tag, and two of those — PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program and Rise Asset Development's microloans — fund the entrepreneur directly rather than a facilities project. That leaves a short, real list: EAF federally, one dedicated provincial program in Nova Scotia, and a handful of Ontario municipal façade grants where accessibility rides along with a broader renovation. This guide is that short list, not a padded one.
The most common mistake is treating an accessibility project like a general renovation grant application. EAF's evaluation criteria weigh community impact and clarity of barrier removal heavily — a vague "we're upgrading our space" framing scores worse than "we're installing a ramp and automatic door opener so a specific employee or class of customer can enter." The same discipline helps with the municipal façade programs, even though accessibility is just one eligible line item there.
Geography matters more here than in most funding categories. Outside Nova Scotia and the Ontario façade cities above, EAF is usually your main option for a facility retrofit. The catalogue now also lists a few local ones: Montréal's PAAC (90% of accessibility renovation costs, up to $40,000, for commercial buildings), Oshawa's Urban Growth Centre façade and accessibility grant, and Quebec's PAET for tourism businesses. Most provinces still have no dedicated accessibility grant. That's a real gap, not an oversight on our part; new provincial and municipal accessibility programs do appear periodically, so it's worth checking back.
Because EAF runs through periodic Calls for Proposals rather than a standing deadline, timing is more about being ready than about hitting an exact date. Have your barrier clearly described, your cost estimate built from the flat-rate calculator, and your community-impact letters lined up before a Call opens — Small Projects intakes have historically closed within weeks once the fund is exhausted.
Looking for funding for yourself, not your facility? If you're an entrepreneur who lives with a disability and need capital to start or grow your own business, see our complete guide to disability entrepreneur funding — it covers PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program, Rise Asset Development, and more from the founder's side. If you're a small business owner more broadly, our small business grants guide covers the wider catalog.
Ready to see every program you qualify for?
GrantCompass helps you find money you didn't know you qualified for, and makes application prep up to 150× cheaper than hiring a grant consultant. Take the free quiz to see your full match list.
Take the free quiz →Accessibility grant questions, answered
An accessibility grant is money you do not repay that covers part of the cost of removing a barrier a person with a disability would hit, such as a step at the door, a heavy door or a washroom a wheelchair cannot use. As of November 14, 2026, most open ones in Canada are run by cities and fold the work into a façade or fit-out grant.
Is the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) open in 2026?
Partly. As of November 14, 2026, its Express Workplace Accessibility Grants take applications on a continuous intake: up to $50,000 per project, for up to 12 months of work. Its larger grants (up to $200,000) and contributions (up to $3 million) have no open or announced call.
Can a private, for-profit business get the Enabling Accessibility Fund?
Yes. As of November 14, 2026, ESDC's Express Workplace Accessibility Grants accept for-profit organizations with up to 99 full-time equivalent employees, as well as nonprofits, Indigenous organizations and municipal and territorial governments. The grant pays up to $50,000 to remove barriers that employees with disabilities face at work.
I rent my shop. Can I still apply?
Often, yes. Hamilton's Commercial District Revitalization Grant accepts owners and tenants, and Hamilton's vacancy program and London's fit-out grant are built for tenants moving into empty space. Edmonton's Corner Store grant is for building owners only.
Is there an accessibility grant in Alberta, Ontario or Nova Scotia?
This page's open list shows 7 city grants in Ontario and 3 in Edmonton, Alberta. Nova Scotia's Business ACCESS-Ability Grant pays up to $50,000 but is between intakes after its February 14, 2026 deadline. Pick your city in the barrier map.
Are there grants for hiring people with disabilities?
Yes, as wage programs rather than building grants. In Atlantic Canada, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre's ACCESS-Ability wage subsidy pays $9 an hour for up to 700 hours, up to $6,300 per participant. For more, see disability grants and funding.
I'm opening a new storefront. Do these apply to a fit-out?
Two do. London's Vacant Commercial Space Fit-Out Grant pays 50% of fit-out costs up to $50,000 in the Core Area and names ramps, accessible washrooms and door openers. Hamilton's Commercial Vacancy Assistance Program pays up to $10,000 for a new tenant's interior work. More in startup grants in Canada.
Is a lift or elevator paid by a grant or a loan?
Grants exist for it. Montréal's PAAC (90% of costs, up to $40,000) names lifting platforms and elevators, Hamilton's vacancy program names elevators, and the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund names lifts for arts and heritage nonprofits. For the rest of the cost, see equipment and capital financing.
What's Changed in 2026
- EAF's 2026 large-project Call closed: The Enabling Accessibility Fund's workplace-focused Call for Proposals ($500,000–$1,000,000) ran January 16 to March 16, 2026 and is now closed, with no next call announced. The Small Projects stream remains closed as well. Source: Employment and Social Development Canada — Enabling Accessibility Fund
- Digital accessibility regulations amended: On December 17, 2025, the federal government published amendments to the Accessible Canada Regulations covering digital accessibility. Federal public sector organizations and large or medium-sized federally regulated businesses will need new and updated web pages to meet a digital accessibility standard starting December 5, 2027, with staff training requirements taking effect the same date. This doesn't create new grant funding, but it raises the compliance bar the programs on this page can help you meet. Source: Government of Canada — Summary of changes to the Accessible Canada Regulations
- Accessible Technology Program stays closed: ISED's Accessible Technology Program remains closed with no Phase 3 announced as of mid-2026; the most recent round funded $5.8 million across projects running April 2023 to March 2024. Continue checking ISED's program page rather than budgeting around a specific reopening date. Source: ISED — Accessible Technology Program
- Nova Scotia ACCESS-Ability's February intake closed: Nova Scotia's Business ACCESS-Ability Grant's February 14, 2026 deadline has passed and the next intake hasn't been announced. Businesses with an accessibility project ready to go should watch cch.novascotia.ca for the next window — the program doesn't run on a fixed annual calendar. Source: NS Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage