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**
All 2025 Curb Appeal Program acceptance and denial letters have been sent out.
If you received an acceptance letter and are now unable to complete your project, please reach out to Curb Appeal Program Specialist Jasmyne Romero at CurbAppeal@cityoffortwayne.org to let us know because there is a current waitlist.
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
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
In order to be eligible for Curb Appeal, your home must fall within the eligble area on the map below.
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.
Curb Appeal is a REIMBURSEMENT program.
This means:
The reimbursement check could take up to 60 days after the reimbursement request is submitted.
Curb Appeal reimburses 80% of project costs, up to $2,500.
For example:
| 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.
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.
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.
For 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.
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.
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.
NO, Curb Appeal will not pay for projects in the backyard.
The only exceptions are:
Projects that are behind a fence line are NOT eligible for Curb Appeal (see diagram below).
Fences themselves ARE an eligible expense.
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.
Alleys are NOT considered streets. Therefore, if you live on an alley, your home is ONLY eligible for projects in the same area as a home off a single street.
Those who received Curb Appeal assistance in the past ARE NOT eligible for the program again in 2025.
YES, Curb Appeal will reimburse a tree being cut down in the backyard.
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.
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.
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.
NO. Curb Appeal will only pay for plants that live longer than one year, also called perennials.
NO. Curb Appeal will not pay for any lawn chemicals.
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.
NO, 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.
NO, unfortunately Curb Appeal cannot reimburse the cost of permits.
NO. Only residential properties are eligible for Curb Appeal.
YES! 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.
NO. Unfortunately vacant properties are NOT eligible for Curb Appeal.
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.
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.
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.
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:
You can apply in the following ways:
Applications for 2025 are now closed.
The application portal closed on Friday, April 25th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
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.
After a complete application is received, the City will:
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.
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.
Projects must be completed AND Reimbursement Request Forms must be turned in by Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 at 4:59pm.
The Request for Reimbursement forms are now available.
The following things are needed 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:
All projects must be completed and COMPLETE reimbursement requests must be submitted by WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th at 4:59pm.
No extensions will be granted.
Reimbursement checks may take up to 60 days after a completed reimbursement is submitted.
Curb Appeal funds come from the Unsafe Building Fund, which is a fund from Code Compliance fees.
The funds are not collected through taxes.
The total Curb Appeal budget for 2025 is $250,000.
NO, elected officials are not eligible for the Curb Appeal Program.
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