What the City actually pays
The amount hinges on a single criterion: the width of your front façade. Three brackets, set by the municipal regulation:
The percentage applies to the eligible works only, and the grant is paid within the limits of the municipal budget available that year. So it isn't an automatic entitlement: with an equivalent file, applying early in the year beats applying late.
Who can apply
Two conditions — and the second is the one most people misread.
- Holding a real property right over the building — owner, usufructuary, long-lease holder. Both individuals and private companies qualify.
- The building must sit within the City of Brussels.
"City of Brussels" does not mean "Brussels Region". It refers to one of the 19 communes: the Pentagon, Laeken, Neder-Over-Heembeek and Haren. If your building is in Ixelles, Schaerbeek, Saint-Gilles or Uccle, this particular grant doesn't apply — but your own commune very likely runs its own, with its own amounts.
Which ironwork qualifies
The regulation lists admissible works. Where metal and façade meet, these are explicitly named:
- Repairs to balconies — sills, railings and brackets. This is the line that covers restoring a cast-iron balustrade.
- Repairs to mouldings and loggias.
- Painting of metalwork, which includes anti-corrosion treatment and the finish on a restored railing.
- Ancillary reinstatement work tied to the façade project.
Low-pressure façade cleaning, lime-based renders, and re-varnishing window frames and doors are covered as well. PVC shutters and casings, however, are excluded — a detail that often catches people out during a full renovation.
The procedure, in order
This is where it's won or lost. The sequence isn't negotiable.
Until you have written approval from the City, the job cannot begin. Work started too early makes the application inadmissible, however perfect the rest of the file. It's the costliest mistake, and there's no way back from it.
- Get your quotes drawn up. You need a detailed, line-by-line costing to build the file. Ours is free and carries no obligation.
- Submit the application to the relevant City department, with the official form and the supporting documents.
- Wait for confirmation that your file is complete, then for approval. Erecting scaffolding beforehand is generally tolerated; the works themselves are not.
- Carry out the work. You have two years from the complete-file notification to finish.
- Send in the invoices and end-of-works evidence to trigger payment.
The official form and full regulation are on the City of Brussels page. If you're unsure where your case falls, the regional information service 1819 answers free of charge by phone.
This grant and regional support
There are two layers of support that are easily confused: the regional schemes (Renolution, including its F4 façade strand) and this municipal grant. They follow different rules and go through different desks.
The municipal grant comes in two variants, depending on whether you obtained regional support for the same project. If you don't qualify for the regional scheme, or it isn't accessible when you apply, the municipal route remains open on its own. Since the regional scheme has changed recently, check the status of both at the moment you apply rather than relying on a dated article.
Our part in your file
We don't assemble the file for you — that's between you and your commune. What we provide is the technical side the file needs:
- A free on-site assessment of the cast iron's real condition: what's salvageable, what has to be remade.
- A detailed quote, line by line, legible to the administration.
- Photo documentation before and after the works, useful as supporting evidence.
Restoring antique cast iron is a rare specialty: the material is brittle and doesn't weld like steel. It's the heart of what we do, and the reason Brussels owners call us rather than replace a period piece.
Frequently asked questions
Does the façade grant apply across all 19 Brussels communes?
No. This is a municipal grant: it only covers buildings within the City of Brussels — the Pentagon, Laeken, Neder-Over-Heembeek and Haren. If your property is in Ixelles, Schaerbeek, Uccle or elsewhere, your own commune has its own scheme, with different amounts and conditions. Check with your local administration.
Can I start the work before I get an answer?
No, and this is the costliest mistake. Work cannot begin until you have written approval from the City. Starting early makes the application inadmissible, even if every other criterion is met. Build that waiting period into your planning.
Is restoring a cast-iron balustrade genuinely eligible?
Yes. The regulation explicitly covers repairs to balconies, including sills, railings and brackets. That is precisely the kind of work we restore. Mouldings and decorative façade elements are covered too.
Restore or replace?
As far as the grant goes, repair is what the regulation targets. In heritage terms, period cast iron has a finesse modern manufacturing doesn't reproduce: once replaced, it's gone for good. In the vast majority of cases it remains restorable, even when badly damaged.
How long do I have to complete the work?
Work must be finished within two years of the notification that your file is complete. That's comfortable for ironwork, but worth tracking if the restoration sits inside a wider façade renovation.
Information verified against the City of Brussels municipal regulation in August 2026. Amounts and conditions can change: always confirm with your local administration before submitting a file.
Can your balustrade be saved?
Free on-site assessment and detailed quote, usable for your grant application. Reply within 48h.