Ontario Spray Foam Rebates: CGHR, OAIR & HELP Explained

Ontario homeowners installing spray foam insulation in 2026 can access $1,250 to over $10,600 in combined rebates, grants, and low-interest financing — depending on which programs they stack. Three programs currently accept spray foam projects: the Canada Greener Homes Grant (CGHR), the new Ontario Attic Insulation Rebate (OAIR), and the Toronto Home Energy Loan Program (HELP). A fourth — Enbridge’s Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) — closed to new applications on February 5, 2024, but remains worth understanding for historical stacking context. This hub covers every active program, maps spray-foam-specific eligibility, and gives you real GTA cost examples net of rebates.

Which Rebate Program Is Right for Your Spray Foam Project?

Answer four questions to identify your best-fit program before reading the detail sections below.

1. Is your home in the City of Toronto?
   → Yes: All five programs potentially apply — prioritize HELP financing (up to $50,000) plus OAIR or CGHR grants.
   → No (Mississauga, Markham, Vaughan, Brampton, etc.): CGHR + OAIR + CMHC refund are your primary stack.
2. Has your home had a pre-retrofit EnerGuide audit?
   → Yes: You’re positioned for CGHR — the audit is the longest-lead item and must precede installation.
   → No: OAIR requires no audit and pays out in 2–4 weeks. Start there while deciding on CGHR.
3. Is your project attic-only, or are you bundling with another upgrade (heat pump, windows, basement foam)?
   → Attic only: OAIR ($1,250) + CMHC refund is the fastest path.
   → Bundled project: CGHR grants scale per upgrade added — attic + basement + air sealing can reach $2,250–$3,500 in CGHR grants alone.
4. Do you need financing, or are you paying cash?
   → Need financing: HELP offers low-interest loans up to $50,000; the CGHR companion loan is interest-free up to $40,000.
   → Paying cash: Maximize upfront grants (OAIR + CGHR) and stack the CMHC refund if you carry a CMHC-insured mortgage.

Ontario Spray Foam Rebate Comparison Matrix

Canada Greener Homes Grant (CGHR) for Spray Foam Insulation

The Canada Greener Homes Grant remains the largest available rebate for spray foam insulation in Ontario. Grant amounts for spray-foam-relevant applications:

• Attic/ceiling insulation: Up to $1,250
• Basement/crawl space insulation: Up to $500 per zone
• Exterior wall insulation: Up to $500
• Air sealing (combined application): Up to $1,000
• Total across all insulation upgrades: Up to $5,600

A companion program — the Canada Greener Homes Loan — provides up to $40,000 interest-free, repayable over 10 years. A full-envelope spray foam project (attic + basement + rim joist) can access over $10,600 in combined financial support when the grant and Year-1 loan savings are counted together.

Spray-foam-specific eligibility for CGHR:

• Attic must reach ≥R-50 post-install
• Basement walls must reach ≥R-12 effective
• Work must be performed by a CGHR-registered contractor — Spray Foam Kings is CUFCA-certified and fully compliant
• Pre-retrofit EnerGuide audit must occur before any work begins; post-retrofit audit follows within 6 months
• EnerGuide audit cost: $600–$1,200 in the GTA; CGHR reimburses up to $600

Timeline: budget 3–6 months from pre-audit to grant payment. If speed matters, file OAIR first (2–4 weeks) and run CGHR simultaneously — they do not conflict.

Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) — Closed February 2024

Enbridge’s Home Efficiency Rebate Plus officially closed on February 5, 2024. We include it because it remains the most-searched Ontario rebate term and homeowners with applications submitted before closure may still be awaiting payment.

When active, HER+ offered up to $5,000 for insulation — no EnerGuide audit required, with approvals in 4–8 weeks. Spray foam was fully eligible and it stacked with CGHR: a Toronto attic + basement spray foam project could combine HER+ ($5,000) and CGHR attic grant ($1,250) for $6,250 total. No equivalent program at that scale currently exists. The active alternatives are OAIR (fast, $1,250) and CGHR (slower, up to $5,600).

New Ontario Attic Insulation Rebate (OAIR): Up to $1,250

The Ontario Attic Insulation Rebate is the fastest spray foam rebate available in 2026:

• Maximum rebate: $1,250 for attic insulation reaching ≥R-50
• No EnerGuide audit required — homeowner submits contractor invoice + R-value attestation
• Approval timeline: 2–4 weeks
• Eligible foam types: Open-cell (≥14 inches for R-50) and closed-cell (≥8–9 inches for R-50)
• Available to: Ontario homeowners, owner-occupied principal residence
• Stacks with: CGHR, CMHC, HELP

For a typical GTA attic spray foam project costing $3,500–$6,500, the OAIR rebate reduces net cost to $2,250–$5,250 — a 19–35% reduction before any additional stacking. Spray Foam Kings handles OAIR paperwork and submission at no additional charge.

Toronto Home Energy Loan Program (HELP): Finance Up to $50,000

For homeowners in the City of Toronto — including Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke — HELP provides low-interest financing up to $50,000:

• Loan range: $5,000–$50,000 at below-market rates (typically 2–3%)
• Repayment: Attached to property via property tax instalments over up to 20 years
• Eligible retrofits: Attic, basement, walls, and rim joist spray foam; air sealing; mechanical upgrades
• No audit required
• Approval timeline: 3–5 weeks

The key advantage: HELP is a loan, not a grant, so it stacks cleanly with OAIR and CGHR grants. A Toronto homeowner could secure a HELP loan to finance the full project, then apply $2,500 in grants (OAIR + CGHR) directly to the loan principal — financing a major retrofit with no down payment and net borrowing below $5,000 on a typical attic project.

CMHC Green Home Premium Refund

If your home has a CMHC-insured mortgage, completing qualifying energy-efficiency upgrades — including spray foam insulation — entitles you to a 15–25% refund on your CMHC mortgage insurance premium:

• 15% refund for existing home energy retrofit (most common scenario)
• 25% refund for certified new build or Passive House standard
• Spray foam to closed-cell or open-cell standards qualifies with EnerGuide documentation

On a $700,000 home with a $35,000 CMHC premium, a 15% refund returns $5,250. This is often the most overlooked program on this list — and it stacks with every other program above.

Rebate Stacking Strategy: How to Maximize Your Savings

Stack 1: Fastest Payout (No Audit Required)

OAIR + CMHC Refund
Project: $5,200 attic spray foam (open-cell, ≥R-50), North York semi-detached.
OAIR: −$1,250 | CMHC refund on $300K insured mortgage: −$1,800
Net cost: ~$2,150 — 58% reduction. Timeline: 4–8 weeks.

Stack 2: Maximum Grant Value (Audit Required)

CGHR + OAIR + CMHC
Project: $9,800 attic + basement + rim joist spray foam, Vaughan detached.
CGHR grants (attic $1,250 + basement $500 + air sealing $500): −$2,250 | OAIR: −$1,250 | CMHC: −$2,100 | Net audit cost: +$600
Net cost: ~$3,700 — 62% reduction. Timeline: 4–6 months.

Stack 3: Full Financing + Grant (Toronto Only)

HELP Loan + OAIR Grant
Project: $7,500 attic + basement spray foam, Scarborough detached.
HELP loan finances full amount at 2.5% over 15 years: ~$50/month. OAIR grant at close: −$1,250 applied to principal.
Effective monthly cost: ~$42/month. Typical energy savings: $80–$140/month — positive cash flow from day one.

Removal eligibility: Removal of deteriorated existing insulation before spray foam application qualifies as eligible prep under most programs and counts toward minimum project spend thresholds. Include removal costs on your submitted invoice.

Spray Foam Costs Before and After Rebates — GTA Price Examples

Installed Cost by Foam Type

Project-Level Cost Examples (GTA)

• 1,200 sqft attic, open-cell, Etobicoke bungalow: $4,800 → −$1,250 OAIR → $3,550 net
• 800 sqft basement walls, closed-cell, Mississauga semi: $4,000 → −$500 CGHR → $3,500 net
• Attic + rim joist, closed-cell, Markham detached: $7,200 → −$1,250 OAIR −$500 CGHR → $5,450 net
• Full envelope (attic + basement + walls), Vaughan detached: $14,500 → −$2,250 CGHR −$1,250 OAIR −$2,000 CMHC → ~$9,000 net

Downtown Toronto premium: Add 10–15% for properties in the core, Annex, Leslieville, or Rosedale (access constraints, parking, older home complexity). Brampton, Markham, and outer suburbs run 5–10% below GTA average — meaning rebates cover a higher percentage of total project cost in those markets.

Insulation Comparison: Spray Foam vs Fiberglass vs Cellulose

Spray foam qualifies for more rebate programs and higher grant amounts than other insulation types because it achieves both thermal resistance and air sealing in one application — the two metrics weighted most heavily by EnerGuide audits.

We are spray-foam specialists — we don’t install fiberglass or cellulose. For rebate details on those materials, we refer homeowners to gni.ca/rebates.

Ontario Building Code Compliance and Rebate Eligibility

Ontario Building Code Supplementary Standard SB-12 sets minimum envelope performance thresholds — and these minimums directly determine rebate eligibility. Key SB-12 benchmarks for spray foam in Climate Zone 6 (GTA):

• Attic: ≥RSI-8.67 (≈R-49). Spray foam to ≥R-50 satisfies both SB-12 and OAIR in a single install.
• Basement walls: ≥RSI-2.11 (≈R-12). Closed-cell at 2 inches meets code exactly; 3 inches (R-18) unlocks higher CGHR tiers.
• Rim joists: Closed-cell at ≥2 inches (R-12) is the GTA industry standard and CGHR-eligible.

Every Spray Foam Kings install is documented to OBC SB-12 standards with R-value certificates suitable for building permit sign-off and rebate applications. Our CUFCA certification and $5M liability satisfy installer credentialing requirements across all five programs.

GTA Neighbourhood Pricing Breakdown

Spray foam pricing across the GTA varies by 15–25% depending on access, travel, and local demand:

• Toronto (downtown core, Annex, Rosedale): +10–15% above GTA average — tight access, complex older-home attics.
• Scarborough / North York: GTA average — high volume of 1960s–1980s bungalows well-suited to attic foam.
• Etobicoke: GTA average to +5%.
• Mississauga / Brampton: 5–10% below GTA average — easier access, post-1990 standard geometry.
• Vaughan / Markham: GTA average — newer stock, standard access, complex rooflines on some builds.

Rebate amounts do not vary by neighbourhood. This means percentage savings are highest in lower-cost suburban markets where a $1,250 OAIR rebate covers a larger share of total project cost.

Why Choose Spray Foam Kings for Your Rebate Project

Rebate programs are only valuable if the paperwork gets done correctly. We’ve seen homeowners forfeit $2,000–$4,000 in approved rebates because their installer missed R-value attestation requirements, wasn’t registered under CGHR, or started work before the mandatory pre-audit. Here’s what we bring to every rebate-eligible project:

• CUFCA Certified — required credentialing for CGHR and OAIR
• $5M liability + WSIB — mandatory documentation for HELP financing approval
• 15+ years of GTA installs — we know which Toronto building types need extra prep and how to document it for EnerGuide auditors
• End-to-end rebate paperwork — R-value certificates, contractor registration numbers, invoice formatting — all handled, no charge
• No order-of-operations errors — we flag CGHR pre-audit requirements at the quote stage, before a single inch of foam is applied
• OBC SB-12 compliant documentation — every install satisfies both permit sign-off and rebate auditor requirements simultaneously

“We applied for OAIR and CGHR on our Vaughan attic project. Spray Foam Kings had all the paperwork ready before we even asked — R-value certificate, contractor registration, formatted invoice. OAIR rebate came back in 3 weeks. Couldn’t have navigated this alone.”
— David M., Vaughan homeowner, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stack the Canada Greener Homes Grant and the Ontario Attic Insulation Rebate on the same spray foam project?

Yes. CGHR is federal and OAIR is provincial — different levels of government with no stacking exclusion. A 1,000 sqft GTA attic project yields $2,500 in combined grants ($1,250 CGHR + $1,250 OAIR). File both simultaneously to avoid delays; neither requires the other to be completed first.

Does closed-cell spray foam qualify for the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

Yes. Both open-cell and closed-cell qualify for CGHR insulation grants provided R-value minimums are met (≥R-50 attic, ≥R-12 basement). Closed-cell reaches R-50 in ~8–9 inches; open-cell requires ~14 inches. Both are fully eligible — foam type does not affect qualification, only total installed depth and resulting R-value.

How long does it take to receive my rebate after installation?

Program-by-program: OAIR pays in 2–4 weeks after submission. CGHR takes 3–6 months (post-retrofit audit + NRCan review). CMHC refund processes in 4–8 weeks. HELP loans disburse in 3–5 weeks from application approval.

What does an EnerGuide audit cost in Ontario?

EnerGuide audits cost $600–$1,200 in the GTA. CGHR reimburses up to $600, so net cost is $0–$600. No audit is required for OAIR, HELP, or CMHC — only for CGHR. Budget for the audit as part of CGHR project planning; it must be completed before installation begins.

Can Spray Foam Kings help with the rebate paperwork?

Yes — we manage all required contractor documentation at no extra charge: R-value certificates, CUFCA credentials, contractor registration numbers, and invoice formatting for each program. We also coordinate EnerGuide advisor scheduling for CGHR pre-audits. No surprise delays from missing forms on our projects.

Do I need to apply for rebates before or after the spray foam work is done?

CGHR requires a pre-retrofit EnerGuide audit before any work begins — starting without the audit permanently disqualifies the project. OAIR applies after completion. CMHC processes post-project. HELP can be applied before or after. We walk through the exact sequence at the quote stage to prevent order-of-operations errors.

Does the Toronto HELP program cover spray foam insulation?

Yes. Attic, basement, rim joist, and crawl space spray foam are all eligible retrofits under HELP. The loan is property-attached (repaid via tax instalments), making it accessible regardless of personal debt ratio. HELP is available in Toronto proper — Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke are included.

What is the difference between CGHR and OAIR?

CGHR is federal, covers multiple insulation zones, and offers up to $5,600 in grants — but requires an EnerGuide audit and takes 3–6 months. OAIR is provincial, covers attic insulation only, pays up to $1,250, requires no audit, and processes in 2–4 weeks. They are complementary: run OAIR for speed, CGHR for maximum value. Stack both when your attic project qualifies.

Can old insulation removal costs be included in my rebate application?

Yes. Removal of deteriorated existing insulation (blown-in, fiberglass, or old foam) is an eligible preparatory measure and can appear on the invoice submitted to OAIR, CGHR, and HELP. These costs count toward minimum project spend thresholds and contribute to the total retrofit value assessed by EnerGuide auditors.

Is DIY spray foam eligible for Ontario rebates?

No. Every Ontario rebate program requires installation by a licensed, registered contractor. DIY kit-foam does not qualify regardless of R-value achieved. Professional installation by a CUFCA-certified contractor like Spray Foam Kings is a hard requirement across CGHR, OAIR, HELP, and CMHC.

What R-value does spray foam need to qualify for the CGHR attic grant?

≥R-50 (RSI-8.83) post-install. Open-cell at 14 inches reaches R-51.8; closed-cell at 8–9 inches reaches R-48–R-54. Combined applications (spray foam air-seal layer + open-cell fill layer) are common and fully eligible. Your EnerGuide advisor measures and confirms the final R-value at the post-retrofit audit.

Does open-cell spray foam qualify for the same rebates as closed-cell?

For attic applications, yes — CGHR, OAIR, and CMHC all recognize both types provided R-value minimums are met. For below-grade and rim-joist applications, closed-cell is required (vapour control) but qualifies equally for all programs. Open-cell is typically more cost-effective for attic projects; closed-cell adds moisture protection value in basement and crawl space applications.

Get Your Free Quote Today

Spray Foam Kings serves Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Mississauga, Markham, and Brampton. We assess your rebate eligibility at the quote stage, prepare all program documentation, and schedule your project around pre-audit requirements. CUFCA certified. $5M liability. WSIB covered. 15+ years of GTA installs.

Call: 647-641-6881

Need help fast?

If you’re searching for spray foam service on a deadline, these area-specific options can help:

• Emergency Spray Foam Insulation Vaughan
• 24 Hour Spray Foam Insulation Etobicoke