For condo & apartment owners in Victoria
Cool, Quiet, Efficient.
Heat Pump Rebates for Your Condo.
Up to $1,000 standard (any income) or $5,000 for income-qualified households — plus a separate heat pump water heater rebate.
Red Fox is HPCN-registered (required for these rebates) and we walk you through the strata approval process — from contractor quote to council package to installation.
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Is Your Building Eligible?
Eligible buildings
- Apartment buildings 6 storeys or fewer (purpose-built rental or strata condo)
- Stacked townhomes (one unit above another, no shared corridors)
- Multiplexes with 6+ units (no shared internal corridors)
- Building at least 12 months old
- Your unit is your year-round primary residence
- Currently electrically heated (baseboards, radiant, or electric forced-air)
Different program needed
- Single-family home → see homeowner rebates
- Duplex, triplex, row home, or side-by-side townhome
- Multiplex with 5 or fewer units
- Mobile home, secondary suite, or long-term care
- Building heated primarily by gas (different programs may apply — call us)
- Building over 6 storeys (CleanBC has a separate larger-building program)
Not sure if your building qualifies? Call us and we'll check before any work is quoted.
Two stackable programs
What You Can Receive
There are two rebate programs for condo and apartment heat pumps in BC. The first is open to any income level. The second is for income-qualified households and pays substantially more — but you can only use one or the other for the same heat pump.
Open to all incomes
BC Hydro Condo & Apartment Rebate
| Ductless mini-split (single zone) | $1,000 |
| Ductless multi-split | $750/head (max 3 heads = $2,250) |
- • No income qualification
- • Must be on BC Hydro account
- • Pre-approval required before install
Income-qualified — much bigger
CleanBC ESP Condo & Apartment Rebate
| ESP 1 | ESP 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mini-split heat pump | $5,000 | $4,000 |
| Multi-split heat pump | $5,000 | $4,000 |
| Heat pump water heater (separate) | $3,500 | $2,800 |
- • Property assessed value cap: $754,000
- • Income limits scale with household size
- • Income docs required (we help)
CleanBC ESP Income Thresholds (annual household, pre-tax)
| People in household | ESP 1 limit | ESP 2 limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $47,007 | $61,697 |
| 2 | $58,522 | $76,810 |
| 3 | $71,945 | $94,428 |
| 4 | $87,350 | $114,647 |
| 5 | $99,072 | $130,032 |
| 6 | $111,735 | $146,653 |
| 7+ | $124,402 | $163,277 |
Combined pre-tax annual income of all adults in the home (excluding dependants). Verification documentation required.
Beyond the rebate
Why Condos Are Going Heat Pump
Real cooling for hot summers
Victoria summers are getting hotter. A heat pump gives you proper air conditioning — no rattling window unit, no roll-around portable, no eyesore on the balcony.
300% more efficient
Modern heat pumps deliver up to 3× more heat per dollar than electric baseboards. Year-round energy bills drop noticeably.
Whisper-quiet
Modern ductless indoor heads run at 19-24 dB — quieter than a whisper. Neighbours won't hear it; you'll barely notice it.
Adds value to your suite
In Victoria's resale market, a unit with a heat pump (cooling included) commands a real premium over one with baseboards only.
The actual hard part
Strata Approval — How We Help
For most condo owners, the rebate itself is straightforward. The real work is getting your strata council to approve the install — which usually means a detailed application package, sometimes a bylaw discussion, and approval at a council meeting.
Where stratas typically push back:
- • Outdoor unit placement on the balcony (climb hazards, exterior appearance, balcony railing setback)
- • Noise levels (decibel rating must meet strata bylaws and any municipal noise bylaw)
- • Wall penetrations for the refrigerant line set (need building envelope spec)
- • Aesthetic consistency if multiple units start installing
- • Maintenance responsibility (yours vs. strata's for any common-property impact)
- • Indemnity / alteration agreements required by the strata
What we prepare for your strata package:
- Detailed scope of work and installation plan
- Heat pump specifications (AHRI number, model, decibel rating)
- Proposed outdoor unit placement with photos/visuals
- Compliance confirmation (BC Building Code, Electrical Code, strata bylaws, local permits)
- Wall penetration and sealing method documentation
- Contractor qualifications (HPCN membership, business license, WorkSafeBC, liability insurance)
You submit the package to your strata; we make sure everything they'll ask for is in it.
5 steps, 4-12 weeks
How It Works
Free in-home assessment
We come to your suite, measure, check your electrical, confirm your building qualifies, and walk you through which rebate program fits your situation.
Strata application package
We prepare a complete package for your strata council: quote, equipment specs, placement plan, compliance docs. You submit it to your council.
Strata approval + rebate pre-approval
Once your strata signs off in writing, we apply for the rebate pre-approval code together. Don't install before this code arrives — applications after install aren't eligible.
Installation
Most condo heat pump installs are a single day. We coordinate with you on access, respect common areas, clean up after, and walk you through how the system works.
Rebate submission
For CleanBC ESP, we submit on your behalf and deduct the rebate from your invoice. For BC Hydro, you submit online with our paperwork — we make sure you have everything you need.
Why Red Fox
The Right Team for a Condo Install
Common questions
FAQ
Can I get a heat pump if I'm renting?
Yes — but you'll need a Landlord Consent Form completed by your property owner, plus the standard strata approval. The rebate is paid to whoever is on the utility account (typically the resident). We can help you and your landlord navigate the conversation.
How long does strata approval usually take?
Anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months. Faster if your strata already has heat pump bylaws and the council meets soon. Slower if bylaws need updating, which may require a 3/4 vote at an Annual or Special General Meeting. The cleaner your application package, the faster it moves.
What if my building is over 6 storeys?
The Condo & Apartment Rebate Program is capped at 6 storeys. Larger buildings have a different path through the CleanBC Multi-Unit Residential Building Retrofit Program, which usually means a building-wide project. Call us and we'll point you in the right direction.
What if my unit has gas heating, not electric?
The condo rebate programs specifically require electric primary heating to qualify. If you're a FortisBC gas customer, the homeowner-stream FortisBC Heat Pump Rebate ($5,000) may apply — but the program design is different for condos. Worth a call to confirm what fits your situation.
Do I need a separate electrical panel upgrade?
Most condo heat pump installs don't require a panel upgrade — electric-heated buildings usually have enough capacity. We confirm this during the assessment by checking your panel and breaker layout. If an upgrade IS needed, we'll tell you upfront with the cost.
Can I stack the BC Hydro and CleanBC ESP rebates?
No — you pick one or the other for the same heat pump. If you qualify for the income-based CleanBC ESP rebate, that's the better choice ($4,000–$5,000 vs. $1,000–$2,250). The heat pump water heater rebate is a separate program and can be claimed alongside either.
What if a few units in our building want to install together?
Coordinated installs can reduce costs (shared mobilization, bulk equipment pricing) and make strata approval easier (one bylaw discussion covers multiple suites). If 5+ units are interested, your strata may qualify for a free Feasibility Study through BC Hydro. Call us — we'll talk through how to coordinate.
Free, no obligation
Book Your In-Home Assessment
Fill out the form below and we'll get back to you within a day. Tell us a bit about your building and we'll bring relevant info to the appointment — including a quick read on which rebate program fits your situation.
Or Just Pick Up the Phone
Talking through your situation directly is usually faster than the form.
Call 250-888-6570