If you priced new windows last spring, the rebate on that quote may be gone. The window rebates BC homeowners can claim shrank this year. The income-qualified CleanBC offer for windows and doors closed on July 6, 2026, and the federal Canada Greener Homes Grant has fully wound down. One program is left: the Home Renovation Rebate Program, which pays $100 per window or door, up to $2,000 per home.

That’s still worth having heading into the heating season. Here’s what the program covers as of October 15, 2026, who’s left out (every home in the City of Vancouver, for a start), and how to set up your quote and invoice so the claim gets paid.

The window rebates BC homeowners can still claim

The Home Renovation Rebate Program is run by the Province’s CleanBC Better Homes program with BC Hydro and FortisBC. Its current requirements apply to invoices dated on or after October 15, 2026. For windows and doors:

• $100 per window or door, to a maximum of $2,000 per home. That’s 20 openings.
• The product label has to show a U-factor of 1.22 W/m²·K or lower (the program calls this “Tier 2”).
• Rebates are counted per rough opening. A bay window made of several sections counts as one.
• Exterior doors count too, so a patio door can go on the same claim. Skylights don’t.

There’s a bonus if you do more than one upgrade. Get at least $250 in window and door rebates (three openings or more) plus one other bonus-eligible upgrade, such as qualifying insulation or a heat pump, within 18 months, and you can claim a $300 Two Upgrade Bonus. The alternative is the Home Energy Improvement Bonus: it needs EnerGuide evaluations before and after plus at least three bonus-eligible upgrades, and pays $20 per percentage point of improvement, from $750 up to $2,000. A home gets one bonus or the other, not both.

What ended this year

• CleanBC Energy Savings Program (income-qualified): window and door rebates were dropped as of July 6, 2026. The program’s requirements page notes that some rebates are no longer available, and its fenestration FAQ confirms windows and doors were removed. The grace period for quotes submitted by July 5 ended July 31.
• Canada Greener Homes Grant: Natural Resources Canada lists the grant as closed. December 31, 2025 was the last day to upload documents.

If a quote or flyer still promises a federal window grant or the larger income-qualified amounts, it’s out of date. Ask which program they mean and check it against the official page.

Who qualifies, and the big Lower Mainland catch

City of Vancouver homes are excluded

In the program’s words, homes within the City of Vancouver municipal boundary are not eligible for the Tier 2 window and door rebates. BC Hydro and FortisBC say the same.

That rule covers the City of Vancouver only. Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, New Westminster and the North Shore are separate municipalities, so it doesn’t apply to them, though everything else below still does. If you’re planning window replacement in Burnaby or Surrey, the rebate is on the table if your home and heating fit. Not sure which side of the boundary you’re on? Ask the program before you book.

The house

It has to be a year-round primary residence, at least 12 months old. Eligible types include:

• detached houses, plus secondary suites if the suite is separately metered
• duplexes, triplexes, row homes and townhomes where each unit has its own meter and the utility account is in the resident’s or owner’s name, not the strata corporation’s
• small multiplexes: three storeys or less, up to five units, each with its own exterior entrance, and no shared hallways or elevator
• mobile homes on a permanent foundation

Condos, apartments and high-rises are out for windows. So are homes under a year old, additions, and homes that count as “substantially reconstructed” under the Homeowner Protection Act.

The heating

Your primary heat has to come from electricity (BC Hydro, FortisBC or a participating municipal utility such as New Westminster’s), FortisBC natural gas or piped propane, Pacific Northern Gas, tank propane or oil. “Primary” means the system can heat at least half the home to 22°C for the whole heating season. A fireplace doesn’t count, and homes heated mainly by wood can’t get the window rebate.

The utility account holder applies. If that’s not you (a rental, say), BC Hydro and FortisBC both have a consent form for the account holder to sign.

The paperwork that decides whether you get paid

Every item below is a program requirement, so sort it out at the quote stage, not after the old windows are in the bin.

Check the U-factor before you sign

The rebate line is 1.22 W/m²·K, a metric number. Some labels and spec sheets show imperial values. To convert, multiply the imperial number by 5.678. An imperial 0.21 works out to about 1.19 and qualifies. An imperial 0.22 is about 1.25 and doesn’t.

New doesn’t automatically mean eligible. B.C.’s Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation only requires a U-value of 1.61 or lower for windows and sliding glass doors made on or after January 2, 2022. A window can be legal to sell here and still miss the rebate by a wide margin.

The product also has to be listed with a recognized certification body: CSA, Intertek, Labtest, QAI, Keystone, NFRC or NAMI. Low-E coatings, gas fill and double versus triple glazing all move the U-factor, which we cover in Windows for Winter: Which is Most Efficient?.

Who installs it, and what gets replaced

• A licensed contractor with a GST number and a valid B.C. business licence for the trade has to do the install. Self-installs aren’t eligible. (Robertson Windows is licensed and has a GST number, so our installs meet this rule.)
• The new units must replace existing windows or doors between heated space and the outdoors (or another unheated space), and they must be new, not salvaged from another building.
• FortisBC’s wording is that you replace the existing windows or doors including the frames. By that standard, swapping only a fogged sealed unit wouldn’t qualify. If you’re considering an insert-style retrofit, confirm with the program that your scope counts before you commit.

What the invoice has to show

FortisBC’s list makes a good checklist whichever utility you apply through:

• a description of the work, including how many windows and doors were installed
• the U-factor from the manufacturer label for each one, and its model number
• the NRCan reference number or Certified Products Directory (CPD) number
• itemized equipment and labour, paid in full ($0 balance owing)

You’ll also need a photo of the manufacturer label on every window and door. Take them on install day, before anyone peels the labels off.

The six-month deadline

Apply within six months of the invoice date, so an invoice dated this October gives you until April 2027. FortisBC says applications can take up to 90 days to process.

Electrically heated homes on BC Hydro (including New Westminster electric customers) apply through BC Hydro. FortisBC gas or electric customers apply through FortisBC. If you heat with oil or propane, or you’re not sure, Better Homes BC’s energy coaches are at 1-844-881-9790.

What $2,000 means on a real project

Ten windows and a patio door are 11 rough openings, so $1,100. The cap kicks in at 20. The rebate can’t exceed the paid cost on your invoice, and it can’t be combined with the CleanBC or FortisBC income-qualified programs.

Treat it as a discount, not the reason for the project. Upgrading the glass package to clear 1.22 makes sense when you’re close. Choosing a style that doesn’t suit the house to chase $100 an opening doesn’t. For the bigger budget picture, see our guide to window installation cost in Canada.

Double-check the rules the week you sign

Rebate rules change, and they’re tied to your invoice date. Better Homes BC already keeps a separate set of past requirements for upgrades installed before October 15, 2026. Read the official requirements page right before you sign and save a copy with your quote.

A quick checklist before you book

1. Confirm your home is outside the City of Vancouver and is an eligible type.
2. Confirm your primary heat source and who holds the utility account.
3. Confirm every window and door is rated U-1.22 or lower and certified by a listed body.
4. Use a licensed installer with a GST number.
5. Photograph every manufacturer label on install day.
6. Get an itemized, paid-in-full invoice with model and NRCan or CPD numbers.
7. Apply within six months. Planning insulation or a heat pump too? Do it within 18 months for the $300 bonus.

Getting a quote you can claim against

Robertson Windows installs Vinyltek windows and doors across the Lower Mainland. We’re a licensed contractor with a GST number, so our installs meet the program’s contractor rule. Before you commit, check that the windows you pick are rated U-1.22 or lower. Call 778.725.2345 or request a free estimate.