Curb Appeal Program (Fort Wayne)

Curb Appeal Program (Fort Wayne) is sponsored by City of Fort Wayne's Community Development Division. This pilot program provides matching funds to residents in select Fort Wayne neighborhoods to incentivize property owners to repair or enhance their property's exterior appearance. Participants must provide a minimum of 20 percent matching funds.

Curb Appeal | Engage Fort Wayne The Curb Appeal Program reimburses homeowners for eligible improvements to the front of their home in order to encourage neighborhood beautification. Funding constraints caused by SEA-1 have resulted in the City to re-evaluate the use of funds. The Curb Appeal program has been paused and is not anticipated to occur in 2026.

The Curb Appeal Program reimburses homeowners for eligible home improvements to the front of their home. Curb Appeal aims to encourage neighborhood beautification in areas that are undergoing plans with the City. Eligible projects can be reimbursed for 80% of project costs, up to $2,500.

**PROPERTIES THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDS IN PRIOR CURB APPEAL PROGRAMS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE 2025 CURB APPEAL PROGRAM** 1. To assist in neighborhood revitalization and improve its appearance 2. To help improve the value of housing within eligible neighborhoods 3.

To provide property owners with resources to make improvements to the exterior of their homes and their property 4. To assist with improvement projects and investment that may not otherwise take place 5. To encourage further investment by neighboring and nearby property owners 6.

To promote safe housing 2025 Curb Appeal Reimbursement Form 2025 Curb Appeal Program Guidelines 2025 Curb Appeal Reimbursement Form 2025 Curb Appeal Program Guidelines What kind of projects are eligible for Curb Appeal?

The following projects are eligible for Curb Appeal that are within the front of the home (see diagram below): Landscaping : Tree, flower, shrub, bush, vegetation, other landscaping materials (mulch, stone, pavers, etc) Trim, Removal : Tree, stump, or shrub Power Washing : Exterior only House : Siding repair , replacement, painting, staining Fencing : Installation, repair, painting, staining Deck, Porch, Step, Railing : Installation , repair, replacement, painting, staining Windows, Doors, Trim : Installation, repair, replacement Roof, Gutter, Soffit, Fascia : Installation, repair, replacement Lighting, Security Camera : Installation, repair, replacement Tuck-pointing, Masonry: Reconstruction of the building / existing masonry Private Walk, Driveway, or Driveway Apron : Installation, repair, replacement Handicap Accessible Needs : Exterior only Location of Eligible Projects aria-label="Diagram of Curb Appeal eligible areas - Enlarge image"> In order to be eligible for Curb Appeal, your home must fall within the eligble area on the map below.

Why is my home not in the eligible area? Areas eligible for the Curb Appeal Program are those that have ongoing plans with the City of Fort Wayne. If you would like to create a plan and be eligible for the program, speak to your neighborhood association leadership or contact the Department of Neighborhoods .

Who pays for the project? Curb Appeal is a REIMBURSEMENT program. You apply & receive an approval letter.

You will pay for everything first . Your project is completed. You will submit a reimbursem e nt request to the City.

If it is an eligible project , the City will send you a reimbursement check. The reimbursement check could take up to 60 days after the reimbursement request is submitted . How much money will Curb Appeal reimburse?

Curb Appeal reimburses 80% of project costs, up to $2,500. If your project costs $500 , Curb Appeal will reimburse $400. If your project costs $1,000 , Curb Appeal will reimburse $800 .

If your project costs $3,125 , Curb Appeal will reimburse $2,500 . If your project costs $5,000 , Curb Appeal will reimburse $ 2,500 . The maximum amount that will be reimbursed is $2,500.

Can I complete more than one project? YES , you can complete multiple projects for Curb Appeal. The maximum TOTAL reimbursement for ALL projects is $2,500.

To receive $2,500, the total project cost must be AT LEAST $3,125. Will Curb Appeal pay for labor? Curb Appeal will only pay for professional licensed labor .

That means that you CANNOT be reimbursed for work that you do yourself , OR for work that you pay someone else to do IF that person is NOT a licensed professional in the field that they are working for your project. You CAN be reimbursed for any work that you pay a licensed professional to do .

F or example, you CAN be reimbursed for a professional painter who paints your house, a professional tree trimmer who trims your tree, a professional concrete worker who lays new sidewalk, or a professional landscaper who installs landscaping . What if I change my mind on the project I am doing? This is completely fine!

As long as your project is listed under Eligible Projects, you do not need to contact us. If you change your project after receiving an approval letter, it does NOT affect how much money you can be reimbursed for. You also do NOT need to tell the City that you have changed your project.

That being said, if you do have questions about the eligibility of your new project we encourage you to call 260-427-2524. Can I start my project now? NO .

Any projects started before getting an approval letter will NOT be paid for by Curb Appeal. Anything bought before getting an approval letter will NOT be paid for by Curb Appeal. Can I do a project in my backyard?

N O , Curb Appeal will not pay for projects in the backyard. Trees can be cut down in the backyard with Curb Appeal . If you are painting your house or replacing siding , the ENTIRE house will be covered, including the back .

If you are replacing your roof, g utters, fascia, and soffits , the ENTIRE house will be covered, including the back . If you are replacing at least one window in the eligible area, Curb Appeal will cover to replace windows on the ENTIRE house, including the back . What if the project is behind a fence?

Projects that are behind a fence line are NOT eligible for Curb Appeal (see diagram below). Fences themselves ARE an eligible expense. What if I live on a corner?

Homes on corners of streets can complete projects on the sides of the home that are facing the street. This does NOT include alleys. Homes on alleys are eligible for the same area as homes off a single street.

If you live on a corner and have a fence, projects behind the fence line are NOT eligible. Fences themselves ARE an eligible expense. What if I live on an alley?

All e y s are NOT considered streets. Therefore, if you live on an all e y , your home is ONLY eligible for projects in the same area as a home off a single street. What if I received Curb Appeal last year?

Those who received Curb Appeal assistance in the past ARE NOT eligible for the program again in 2025. What is different from last year? Photos are NOT required with applications.

Photos will still be required AFTER the project is complete. A specialist from the City will come by your house to take pictures of the work PRIOR to the work being done. Contractor quotes are NOT required with applications, although we will ask you about how much you think you'll ask for in reimbursements.

This is just to help us track our potential commitments. You do NOT have to tell us exactly what you plan to do. You do NOT have to tell us if you have changed your project UNLESS your project is NOT on the list of approved projects, then you MUST contact us to verify if your project is eligible You will be approved for the maximum amount ($2,500), so if you wish to and are able to do more projects, please do!

You CAN complete projects on the side of your home so long as they are in the Eligible Area Please note: Projects behind fence lines are NOT eligible Houses on corners CAN complete projects on the side of the home off of both streets If you are painting your home, replacing siding , installing a roof, gutters, soffets, and fascia , or replacing window s , so long as some portion of the work is visible from the front, Curb Appeal will pay for the costs for your ENTIRE house, not just the front.

Trees anywhere on the property can be cut down, including the backyard. Rental properties are still eligible, but current tenants must be Housing Choice Voucher recipients . The Neighboring Properties amount no longer applies.

You and your neighbors will all enjoy the same amount of reimbursement, regardless of whether you live directly next to one another. Can I cut down a tree in my backyard? Y ES , Curb Appeal will reimburse a tree being cut down in the backyard.

Can I replace windows on the back of my home? YES , Curb Appeal will pay for windows to be replaced on the back of your house IF at least one window being replaced is in the Curb Appeal approved area . Can I replace gutters & fascia that are not on the front?

YES , Curb Appeal will pay for gutters & fascia around the entire home as long as there are gutters & fascia being replaced/installed on Curb Appeal approved sides of the home as well. What about detached garages or accessory buildings? Detached garages and accessory buildings will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

If you intend to do work on a detached garage or accessory building, you must contact us BEFORE you begin your project. N O . Curb Appeal will only pay for plants that live longer than one year, also c all e d perennials.

Can I buy fertilizer, pesticides, or other lawn chemicals? NO . Curb Appeal will not pay for any lawn chemicals.

Can I pay for routine landscaping maintenance? NO . Curb Appeal will not pay for routine lawn maintenance.

Landscaping is eligible, but not routine services that come to mow your lawn throughout the summer, for example. N O , unfortunately Curb Appeal cannot reimburse for any tools. So , for example, Curb Appeal will NOT pay for the cost of paintbrushes, hammers, or power tools.

However, Curb Appeal WILL cover the cost of renting specialized equipment, such as scaffolding . Will Curb Appeal reimburse permits? N O , unfortunately Curb Appeal cannot reimburse the cost of permits.

What about commercial properties? NO . Only residential properties are eligible for Curb Appeal.

Y ES ! Landlords are welcome to apply IF you are currently renting to a Housing Choice Voucher recipient . A maximum of 4 properties in common ownership to the same person will be eligible for Curb Appeal.

What about vacant properties? NO. Unfortunately vacant properties are NOT eligible for Curb Appeal. What about duplexes and triplexes?

Duplexes and triplexes CAN qualify for this program. Duplexes and triplexes qualify for the same amount as a single-family home (maximum $2,500). Only one unit of the duplex or triplex needs to be income-verified.

If owner-occupied : then income is verified by the owner’s income as normal If renter-occupied : then proof of Housing Choice Voucher will be required What about apartment buildings? Apartment buildings up to 4 units CAN qualify. The entire building is eligible for the same amount as a single-family home (maximum $2,500).

Only one unit of the apartment needs to be income-verified. If owner-occupied : then income is verified by the owner’s income as normal If renter-occupied : then proof of Housing Choice Voucher will be required The 2025 Curb Appeal applications opened Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 9:00 a. m.

and closed Friday, April 25, 2025 at 5:00 p. m. We are no longer taking applications for 2025.

Who can apply for Curb Appeal? You need three things to be eligible for Curb Appeal: 1. Owner-occupied properties must have an annual household income of less than the amount listed in the table below based on household size: OR if not owner-occupied: currently renting to Housing Choice Voucher recipient.

2. Live in the eligible area (see Eligible Map tab). 3.

Property owner does not owe the City of Fort Wayne or Allen County any delinquent taxes. You need the following things to apply: Completed application form (included in online application) Applicant's ID (driver's license, passport, or other official photo ID) A completed & signed W9 , which can be found here.

The following for all adults in the household: Federal Tax Return (Form 1040) OR Benefit Award Letter from SSA OR if the home is not owner-occupied, proof of Housing Choice Voucher You can apply in the following ways: Online , form will be available on this page In-person at Citizens Square 200 E Berry St, Suite 320 Community Development, Third Floor Applications for 2025 are now closed. When do applications close?

The application portal closed on Friday, April 25th, 2025 at 5:00 p. m. What if I work for the City?

City employees are eligible for Curb Appeal, upon review that there is no conflict of interest. A Conflict of Interest form must be completed AND SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION . What happens after I apply?

After a complete application is received, the City will: Make a site visit to take before photos You do NOT need to be home when the photo is taken, and the City employee will NOT come onto your property to take the photo. Issue an approval or rejection letter to you How long until I receive my approval letter? Completed applications will be reviewed on a first –completed, first-reviewed basis.

We cannot guarantee an exact timeframe , but we will work as quickly as possible to get back to you. How will I get my approval or rejection letter? If you have provided an email on the Curb Appeal application, the letter will be emailed to you.

If you have not provided an email on the application, the letter will be mailed to you. Can I start my project now? NO, Projects started BEFORE receiving an approval letter will NOT be reimbursed.

Purchases made BEFORE receiving an approval letter will NOT be reimbursed. Once you receive an approval letter, please move forward and complete your project. Be sure to keep all receipts.

Projects must be completed and reimbursement request forms must be turned in by Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 at 4:59pm . How long do I have to complete my project? Projects must be completed AND Reimbursement Request Forms must be turned in by Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 at 4:59pm .

When will Request for Reimbursement forms be available? The Request for Reimbursement forms are now available. What do I need to submit for reimbursement?

The following things are needed for reimbursement: Completed reimbursement form All receipts for supplies and contractors Please note: if you have an invoice from a contractor, there must be some indication that the invoice was paid in full . P hotos of the completed project Please submit at least one clear picture that shows your ENTIRE house, front yard, etc. f rom the street . Multiple pictures are preferred.

Pictures will be submitted with the reimbursement form, which will be available once applications have closed Where do I submit my Request for Reimbursement? You can submit your Request for Reimbursement in the following ways: If you submitted your application through Submittable, you can submit your reimbursement forms through there.

If you submitted your application in-person, you can download the reimbursement form here and: Email the completed form to Curb Appeal Program Specialist Jasmyne Romero at [email protected] OR drop it off in-person at Citizen Square 200 East Berry St. Suite 320 Community Development, Third Floor What is the deadline for reimbursement?

All projects must be completed and COMPLETE reimbursement requests must be submitted by WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th at 4:59pm . No extensions will be granted. How long will it take to get my reimbursement check?

Reimbursement checks may take up to 60 days after a completed reimbursement is submitted . Where does the Curb Appeal budget come from? Curb Appeal funds come from the Unsafe Building Fund, which is a fund from Code Compliance fees.

The funds are not collected through taxes. What is the total budget for Curb Appeal? The total Curb Appeal budget for 2025 is $25 0,000.

Are elected officials eligible for Curb Appeal? NO , elected officials are not eligible for the Curb Appeal Program. Ignore this field.

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