Home Improvement Grants in Wilmington.

Find grants, rebates, forgivable loans, and free programs for Wilmington, NC, filtered to your situation.

As of June 2026, 24 home improvement grant, rebate, and forgivable loan programs are open to homeowners in Wilmington, NC, with individual awards up to $126,526. 7 programs target seniors, 2 serve veterans, and 9 require no income limit.

Data last verified 2026-06-09. How we verify our data.

Types of help in this city

Funding typeProgramsRepaid?Best for
Grants18Never repaidIncome-qualified homeowners
Forgivable loans1Forgiven after a residency periodLarger repairs with no money down
Rebates3Refunded to you after purchaseEnergy-efficiency upgrades

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Showing 24 programs
Varies, no individual cap; projects typically $10K-$200K+

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

HMGP provides funding after a presidentially declared disaster to help communities reduce future disaster losses. Homeow...

Disaster
Up to $30,000

FEMA Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Coverage

ICC coverage is built into every National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy and pays up to $30,000 to help bring a s...

Disaster
Varies by jurisdiction, typically $5,000-$15,000 per unit

HUD Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes

HUD funds state, county, and city governments to identify and fix lead-based paint hazards and other health hazards (mol...

Seniors & Disability
Varies, full line replacement cost covered in many programs

EPA / WIIN Act Lead Service Line Replacement

EPA's WIIN Act grants and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) fund lead service line replacement programs in...

Seniors & Disability
Up to $8,000 in weatherization services

North Carolina Weatherization Assistance Program

Federally funded weatherization program that reduces energy costs by improving home energy efficiency through insulation...

Weatherization
Forgivable loan up to $40,000

Wilmington Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program

Provides deferred forgivable loans for major home repairs to low-income homeowners in Wilmington city limits. Loan is fo...

Home Repair
Up to $10,000 grant

Wilmington Emergency Home Repair Grant

Grant program for emergency repairs that pose immediate threats to health and safety for very low-income homeowners. Pri...

Emergency
Up to $25,000 grant

Wilmington Home Accessibility Modification Program

Provides grants for accessibility modifications to homes occupied by disabled or elderly residents. Covers ramps, widene...

Seniors & Disability
Free lead hazard removal

New Hanover County Lead Hazard Control Program

HUD-funded program to reduce lead-based paint hazards in homes built before 1978 with children under age 6. Services inc...

Home Repair
Up to $50,000 loan

NC Housing Finance Agency Rehabilitation Loan

Low-interest loan program for major home repairs and improvements available statewide. Loans have favorable terms with i...

Home Repair
Up to $10,000 grant (age 62+) and $40,000 loan, $50,000 combined

USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loan & Grant

Provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas near Wilmington to repair, improve, or m...

Home Repair
Up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA), FY2026

VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant

Grant for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities to adapt or purchase a home to meet accessibility needs. ...

Veterans
Up to $25,350 (SHA), FY2026

VA Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant

Grant for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities to adapt a family member's home where they will reside. A...

Veterans
Up to $600 rebate

Duke Energy Heat Pump Rebate

Rebate for residential customers who install qualifying high-efficiency heat pumps. Must meet minimum efficiency ratings...

Energy
Up to $1,200 in rebates

Duke Energy Smart $aver Program

Comprehensive home energy efficiency program offering rebates for insulation, air sealing, duct improvements, water heat...

Weatherization
35% of system cost (commercial only)

NC Solar Energy Tax Credit (Commercial)

State tax credit for solar photovoltaic systems. Note: residential credit expired in 2015, but homeowners can still clai...

Solar/Renewable
Up to $5,000 grant

Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Lateral Repair Assistance

Grants to assist low-income homeowners with the cost of repairing or replacing failing private sewer laterals. Priority ...

Home Repair
Up to $10,000 matching grant

Wilmington Historic Preservation Grant

Matching grant for exterior restoration and preservation work on contributing structures in designated local historic di...

Historic
Up to $50,000 grant

North Carolina Disaster Recovery Program

State disaster recovery assistance for homeowners affected by federally-declared disasters (hurricanes, floods). Provide...

Disaster
Up to $3,000 grant

New Hanover County Senior Home Repair Program

Provides minor home repairs and safety modifications for low-income seniors age 60+ in New Hanover County. Covers grab b...

Seniors & Disability
Up to $30,000 grant

Wilmington HOME Investment Partnerships Program

Federal HOME funds for owner-occupied rehabilitation addressing code violations, health and safety hazards, and accessib...

Home Repair
Free efficiency upgrades

Duke Energy Residential Customer Assistance

Free energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified Duke Energy customers including LED bulbs, weatherization kits, wat...

Energy
Up to $20,000 for repairs

North Carolina Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS

Federal HOPWA program providing housing assistance including home repairs for low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS. C...

Home Repair
Up to $300 rebate

Cape Fear Public Utility Water Heater Rebate

Rebate for CFPUA water customers who install high-efficiency water heaters. Covers tankless gas, tankless electric, and ...

Energy

Stack programs to maximize your savings

Many of these programs can be combined. For example, you can use a city repair grant for the work, a utility rebate for the energy savings, and a federal tax credit on top, all for the same project.

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Grant-Approved Contractors in Wilmington

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Frequently asked questions

What home improvement grants are available in Wilmington, NC?

24 programs are currently listed for Wilmington, including FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), FEMA Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Coverage, HUD Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes.

Do home improvement grants in Wilmington have to be repaid?

Grants do not have to be repaid. Forgivable loans are forgiven over a residency period, and rebates refund your money after the purchase. In Wilmington, 18 programs do not require repayment, 1 is forgivable loan, and 3 are rebates.

How do I apply for home repair grants in Wilmington?

Every program listing carries the official application link and phone number for the administering agency. Homeowners apply directly with that agency; there is no middleman and no fee.