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:

• 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, gutters, 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.

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.

• 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 windows, 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.

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.

• 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

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

Applications went live on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. We anticipate closing the application window by Friday, April 25, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. due to high demand.

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:

1. Completed application form (included in online application)
2. Applicant's ID (driver's license, passport, or other official photo ID)
3. A completed & signed W9, which can be found here.
4. The following for all adults in the household:
   1. Federal Tax Return (Form 1040)
   2. OR Benefit Award Letter from SSA
   3. OR if the home is not owner-occupied, proof of Housing Choice Voucher

Once applications open in April, you can apply in the following ways:

1. Online, form will be available on this page
2. In-person at Citizens Square
   200 E Berry St, Suite 320
   Fort Wayne, IN 46802
   Community Development, Third Floor

Application portal will close 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:

1. Review the application
2. Make a site visit to take before photos
   1. 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.
3. Issue an approval or rejection letter to you

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.

• 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.

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 will be available once applications have closed.

The following things are needed for reimbursement:

1. Completed reimbursement form
2. All receipts for supplies and contractors
   1. Please note: if you have an invoice from a contractor, there must be some indication that the invoice was paid in full.
3. Photos of the completed project
   1. Please submit at least one clear picture that shows your ENTIRE house, front yard, etc. from the street. Multiple pictures are preferred.
   2. Pictures will be submitted with the reimbursement form, which will be available once applications have closed

Once applications close, you can submit your Request for Reimbursement in the following ways:

1. Online, form will be available on this page
2. In-person at Citizens Square
   200 E Berry St, Suite 320
   Fort Wayne, IN 46802
   Community Development, Third Floor

REQUESTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APPLICATIONS CLOSE.

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.