Quick answer
The BC Home Owner Grant lowers the property tax on the home you live in. For 2026, a Surrey homeowner can get up to $570, or up to $845 if they are 65 or older, a veteran or a person with a disability. The full grant is for homes assessed at $2,075,000 or less. You must apply every year online with the Province, ideally before Surrey's July 2 property tax due date.
Many Surrey homeowners pay more property tax than they need to because they forget to claim the Home Owner Grant. The grant is not automatic, and your bank or mortgage lender will not claim it for you. This guide explains the 2026 amounts, who qualifies, and how to apply.
All figures below come from the Government of BC website and were checked on September 25, 2026. Amounts are for the 2026 tax year unless we say otherwise.
What is the Home Owner Grant?
The Home Owner Grant is a Province of BC program. It reduces the property tax you pay each year on your principal residence (the home you live in). It is not a cheque. Instead, the grant counts as a payment toward your property tax bill.
In Surrey, the grant is applied to your City of Surrey property tax account. The City sends your tax notice, but the Province handles the grant application.
2026 grant amounts for Surrey
Surrey is in the Metro Vancouver Regional District. The Province sets different amounts for Metro Vancouver, the Capital Regional District and the Fraser Valley Regional District than for the rest of BC.
| 2026 grant | Metro Vancouver (includes Surrey) | Northern and rural areas (outside those three regions) |
|---|---|---|
| Regular (basic) grant | Up to $570 | Up to $770 |
| Additional grant (seniors 65+, veterans, people with disabilities) | Up to $845 total | Up to $1,045 total |
The additional grant replaces the regular grant. It is not added on top of it. You can get the additional grant if you are:
- 65 or older in the current year
- A person with a disability, or living with a spouse or relative who has a disability (you must meet the Province's disability rules)
- An eligible veteran (the Province's veteran rules apply)
- A spouse or relative of a deceased owner who would have qualified for the additional grant
From January 1, 2027, the Province is ending the extra $200 for northern and rural areas. The regular grant will be $570 everywhere in BC, and the seniors grant will be $845. For Surrey homeowners, the amounts stay the same.
The 2026 home value threshold
The grant depends on your home's assessed value from BC Assessment. For 2026, the threshold is $2,075,000.
- $2,075,000 or less: you can get the full grant.
- Over $2,075,000: the grant goes down by $5 for every $1,000 of value above $2,075,000.
- Regular grant ends: at a value over $2,189,000 in Metro Vancouver (over $2,229,000 in northern and rural areas).
- Additional grant ends: at a value over $2,244,000 in Metro Vancouver (over $2,284,000 in northern and rural areas).
Example: a Surrey home assessed at $2,100,000 is $25,000 over the threshold. That is 25 × $5 = $125 less. The regular grant would be $570 − $125 = $445.
The 2025 threshold was higher, at $2,175,000. If your home is above the threshold, the Province also offers a way to "partition" (split) the value in some cases, and low-income supplements for some seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. See the official pages below for details.
Who qualifies
To get the grant, you must:
- Be the registered owner of the home (or the spouse or relative of a deceased owner)
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- Live in BC
- Live in the home as your principal residence
- Have a home assessed at or below the threshold (or get a reduced grant above it)
Your principal residence is the usual place you make your home. It is where you live, pay bills and receive mail. It is usually the address on your income tax, MSP, driver's licence and vehicle registration. You can only have one principal residence for the grant.
The home must be taxed as an improvement. Houses, strata condos, townhouses, strata duplexes, and manufactured or modular homes can qualify.
You must also pay a minimum amount of property tax: at least $350 for the regular grant, or at least $100 for the additional grant.
Important: Renters cannot claim the Home Owner Grant. Only a qualifying owner who lives in the home can claim it, and only one grant can be claimed per property each year.
How to apply for the Home Owner Grant
You must apply every year. The City of Surrey no longer accepts grant applications. You apply with the Province.
- Wait for your Surrey property tax notice. Surrey mails notices at the end of May.
- Find your jurisdiction and roll number. They are on your property tax notice, your BC Assessment notice, or the BC Assessment website. For Surrey, the jurisdiction number is 326 and the roll number is your folio number.
- Have your social insurance number (SIN) ready.
- Apply online through the Province's Home Owner Grant page (eTaxBC). You can also apply by phone at 1-888-355-2700, 24 hours a day.
- Save your confirmation number. You can use it to check your application status online.
- Pay the rest of your property tax to the City of Surrey by the due date.
If you do not have a computer, you can visit a Service BC location for help. Anyone with your permission can apply for you. Phone agents are available Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and translation services are available.
If the owner is a senior, veteran or person with a disability, that person must be the one named as the applicant to get the higher grant.
When to apply: deadlines and late claims
The best time to apply is after you get your property tax notice and before your property tax due date. In Surrey, the due date is July 2.
- If you apply before your notice is ready, the application stays "pending" until the notice is available.
- If you apply after July 2, the City of Surrey can charge a late penalty on the part of your tax the grant would have covered. The Province treats the grant as a payment, so a late claim is a late payment.
- Final deadline for this year: you can still apply up to December 31 of the current tax year.
Important: If you pay only part of your tax because you expect the grant, and your grant is denied, Surrey may charge late penalties on the amount still owing.
Forgot to apply last year? Claim it retroactively
You may be able to claim last year's grant if:
- You qualified for the grant on December 31 of last year
- You are still the registered owner
- You did not claim a grant on another property
- A previous owner did not claim the grant on your home last year
Your retroactive application must be received by December 31 of the current year. You apply the same way, online or by phone, and choose the previous tax year on the form.
How the grant shows up on your Surrey tax bill
The grant reduces the amount you owe the City of Surrey. You can log in to the City's MyPropertyAccounts website to check your tax balance and Home Owner Grant status. You need the folio number and access code from a Surrey tax notice.
If your mortgage lender pays your property tax, you still need to claim the grant yourself by July 2. The lender will not claim it for you.
For due dates, penalties and payment options, read our Surrey property tax guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Home Owner Grant in Surrey for 2026?
Up to $570 for the regular grant. Seniors 65 or older, eligible veterans and people with disabilities can get up to $845 in total. Homes assessed over $2,075,000 get a reduced grant.
Do I apply for the Home Owner Grant with the City of Surrey?
No. Surrey no longer accepts grant applications. Apply online with the Province of BC or call 1-888-355-2700.
Does the grant apply automatically every year?
No. You must apply every year, even if nothing has changed.
Can I apply if I have not paid my property taxes yet?
Yes. You can apply up to December 31 of the current tax year even if you have not paid. But if you apply after July 2, Surrey may charge a penalty on the unpaid part.
I just bought my home. Can I claim the grant this year?
Possibly. You may qualify if the previous owner did not claim the grant, you did not get a grant on another property this year, and you live in the home as your principal residence when you apply.
Will the Province check my application later?
Yes. Grant applications can be audited for up to 7 years. You may need to show proof that you were eligible.
Official sources
- Home owner grant — Government of BC
- Apply for the home owner grant — Government of BC
- Retroactive home owner grant — Government of BC
- Home owner grant for seniors — Government of BC
- Home owner grant for people with disabilities — Government of BC
- Home owner grant for veterans — Government of BC
- Homeowner grant provides tax relief for British Columbians (2026 amounts) — BC Gov News
- Applying for a Home Owner Grant — City of Surrey
- Changing Your Address Information (jurisdiction and roll number) — City of Surrey
General information only, not professional advice. Rules and prices change, so check the official sources above before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.