Tile Loan Program
by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
Also known as: Tile Drainage Loan Program · Tile Drain Loans
Ontario's Tile Loan Program lends agricultural property owners up to 75% of the value of tile drainage work, capped at $50,000 in loans per person per fiscal year. Terms are fixed: 10-year loans, annual repayments, provincially set interest rate locked for the full term. Apply through your municipality, or directly to OMAFA in Northern Ontario's unorganized townships. Work must be done by a licensed tile drainage contractor (or yourself on your own land).
Key facts
- Amount
- Up to $50,000
ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
- Instrument
- Loan (repayable)
- Status
- Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
- Who qualifies
- Agricultural property owners
- Work must be done by a licensed tile drainage contractor (owners may do work on their own property)
- Property needs a sufficient legal outlet for drainage discharge
- In areas without municipal organization, common in Northern Ontario, applicants deal directly with OMAFA instead of a municipality
ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Repayment structure
{"repayable_pct":100,"terms":"Fully repayable loan: 10-year term, annual repayments, interest rate set by the province and fixed for the full term"}
ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Application process
- Submit loan application to your local municipality (or directly to OMAFA in non-municipal areas)
- Council/OMAFA approves the application
- Licensed tile drainage contractor completes the work
- Notify municipality/OMAFA for inspection
- Funds disbursed after inspection approval
- Repay annually over the 10-year term
ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Stacking
- Agricultural Stewardship Initiative, Complementary: the Tile Loan Program finances drainage installation itself (repayable), while ASI cost-shares adjacent stewardship BMPs like erosion control structures, they address different costs rather than stacking on the same ones.
Common questions
How do I apply if my farm is in an unorganized township?
In areas without municipal organization, common across Northern Ontario, you apply directly to OMAFA rather than through a municipal council. The loan terms are the same.
What interest rate does the Tile Loan Program charge?
The province sets the rate and fixes it for the full 10-year term regardless of market changes. The current rate is not published on the program page, confirm with your municipality or OMAFA before applying.
Is this a grant?
No, it is a fully repayable loan (10-year term, annual repayments). Its value is access to a fixed-rate, long-term financing product for drainage that banks often won't structure this way.
Can I do the tile drainage work myself?
Generally a licensed tile drainage contractor must do the work, but property owners may complete work on their own property. Either way the municipality or OMAFA inspects before funds are released.
Apply
Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there: