Sustainable Municipal Buildings

Municipally owned buildings like fire stations and community centres provide critical services. By upgrading the energy performance of existing buildings or constructing new, efficient facilities, municipalities can address today’s budget pressures while preparing for long-term sustainability and a thriving future. These improvements create local jobs, lower energy costs and enhance building comfort, all while helping municipalities achieve their climate goals.

Funding update

We have had substantial interest in these offers and due to high demand, GMF has stopped accepting new applications for:

- Capital project: Construction of new sustainable municipal and community buildings
- Study: New construction of municipal and community buildings
- Study: Retrofit pathway for municipal buildings

Submitted applications already in our queue will continue to be processed.

Capital project: Retrofit of existing municipal buildings

The deadline to submit a full application is December 19, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

We encourage you to contact a GMF representative at gmfinfo@fcm.ca to discuss your project. Our team will help assess whether you have the necessary time and information to submit a full funding application ahead of the December 19, 2025, deadline.

Funding applications reopen in 2026

Applications for the Sustainable Municipal Buildings offer will close temporarily after December 19, 2025, and reopen in early 2026 with expanded eligibility to include both municipal and community buildings.

This transition will provide municipalities with a clear, streamlined path to fund retrofits and new construction projects for municipally owned buildings.

More information

GMF staff is available to guide municipalities through this transition. For more information, please contact a GMF advisor at gmfinfo@fcm.ca, 1-877-417-0550, or book a meeting.

Stay informed about new and returning funding opportunities by subscribing to GMF’s newsletter, Connect.

What we fund

New builds of municipal buildings and community buildings.
Deep-energy retrofits of municipal buildings.
Feasibility studies that plot a pathway to reduce GHG emissions in municipal buildings over time.
New construction feasibility studies for highly efficient municipal and community buildings.

Benefits

Reduce heating, cooling and energy costs.
Accelerate energy savings and keep energy dollars in the community.
Increase comfort, health and quality of life for residents.
Lower operating costs which can be utilized for community benefits.
Create local jobs.
Reduce strain on local energy grids and increase resilience to climate events.

What we do not fund

Retrofits of community, recreational or cultural buildings. See Community Buildings Retrofit for funding in this area.
Plans or studies to establish net-zero/zero-carbon targets for municipal building inventories.
Upgrading or renewal of fossil fuel-based heating systems.
New builds or stand-alone retrofits of long-term care homes.
- Retrofits of long-term care homes may be considered as part of a portfolio of eligible municipally-owned buildings.

Available funding

We support projects at various stages of development through grants and loans. Funding amounts are based on total eligible costs. Further details on eligible costs are provided on individual funding pages.

Capital project: Retrofit of existing municipal buildings

Funding for municipal building upgrades that improve energy performance and reduce costs.

Capital project: Construction of new sustainable municipal and community buildings

Commission and construct a new high-efficiency municipal or community building

Study: New construction of municipal and community buildings

Outline the design of a proposed new high-efficiency municipal or community building

Study: Retrofit pathway for municipal buildings

Outline the design of a proposed retrofit of an existing municipal building or portfolio of existing municipal buildings

What is a municipal building?

A municipal building is a workplace that is:

Owned by a municipal government.
Primarily used by administrative or service staff to carry out their duties to the public.
Not necessarily accessible to the public, but may have a public interface.

What is a community building?

A community building is an enclosed public place or an enclosed workplace that is:

Primarily used to deliver athletic, recreational, cultural and community programs or services to the local community.
Widely accessible to everyone, offering services that enhance the health and well-being, skills development and economic development of individuals and communities.

Have a project that goes above and beyond?

GMF’s Net-Zero Transformation offer funds the development and demonstration of new solutions to support the municipal transition to net-zero. We provide funding for plans, studies, pilots and capital projects for a wide range of innovative and replicable initiatives that have significant GHG reduction benefits.

Learn more

Featured Resources

Our free learning resources build your knowledge in developing sustainable projects and accelerate your community’s transition to a resilient, net-zero future.