Manitoba Security Rebate for Businesses: What to Know Before You Upgrade

Security improvements are often postponed until after a break-in, an act of vandalism or a costly close call. Manitoba’s Security Rebate Program gives eligible businesses an opportunity to be more proactive by recovering part of the cost of qualifying security upgrades or certain repairs resulting from criminal activity.

Business applications are currently open. An eligible business may receive up to $2,500 per location, excluding tax. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and the program will close when its available funding is fully committed, so there is an advantage to preparing a complete application early.

The separate homeowner and renter intake closed on April 30, 2026. The information below relates specifically to the business stream.

Is your business likely to qualify?

The program is intended for Manitoba businesses, corporations and qualifying non-share or not-for-profit thrift stores. For this program, a thrift store is one that sells or gives gently used clothing and household items to members of the community it serves.

At each location, the business must generally:

Have 75 employees or fewer.
Be active and in good standing with the Manitoba Companies Office, unless it is exempt from registration.
Operate from a location assessed by its city, town or municipality for business use.
Have a customer entrance accessible directly from a public area, such as a sidewalk, street, mall concourse or parking lot.
Claim only purchases, installations or repairs completed on or after August 23, 2024.
Avoid claiming costs already paid through another rebate, grant or insurance claim, other than an eligible insurance deductible.

The August 23, 2024 cutoff follows the closing date of the program’s first intake and is used to prevent duplicate claims. Work completed before that date is not eligible under the current business stream.

Home-based businesses are not eligible through the business stream. Non-share, non-profit and charitable organizations are also generally excluded, except for qualifying thrift stores. A business renting its premises can apply, but it should first confirm that the planned equipment or repairs are permitted by its lease and approved by the property owner where required.

The owner may submit the application personally or authorize someone else to do it on the business’s behalf.

The rebate applies per location

The maximum payment is $2,500 for each eligible business location, not $2,500 for the entire company. A business with several locations may submit a separate application for each one, with no stated limit on the number of locations. All locations can be managed through the same online account, although each location requires its own application.

An application may contain several claim items, and the total project cost may be higher than $2,500. The program adds the eligible net, pre-tax cost of the qualifying items, with discounts and coupons taken into account, but the maximum reimbursement remains $2,500 per location. Approved payments are made by direct deposit to the business bank account supplied with the application.

Security improvements that may qualify

The eligible list is broader than cameras alone. Depending on the project, qualifying upgrades may include:

Indoor or outdoor security cameras, doorbell cameras, related monitoring equipment and security software.
Indoor or outdoor alarm systems, alarm monitoring equipment, motion detectors and glass-break sensors.
Smart locks, conventional locks, locking handles, reinforced doors and metal doors.
Security bars, impact-protection systems and shatter-resistant security measures.
Tempered, laminated or impact-resistant windows, protective window films and anti-graffiti films, coatings or paint.
Interior and exterior security lighting.
Permanent wood or metal security gates and fencing that enclose the property. Chain-link is excluded, and the qualifying height is generally between five feet and six feet six inches.
Installation and operating accessories directly connected to eligible equipment, such as cabling, brackets, fasteners, SD cards, solar panels and security warning signs.
External labour used to install eligible security equipment.
A physical security audit of the building exterior.

This means that a professionally planned camera or alarm project may include more than the main devices. Necessary mounting hardware, cabling and outside installation labour can also be relevant parts of the claim when they are properly itemized and connected to eligible equipment.

However, the program distinguishes between the security system itself and ongoing services. New equipment and associated installation may qualify, but recurring monitoring charges, subscription-based upgrades, existing-system subscriptions and private security guard contracts are not eligible. GST and PST are also excluded from the rebate calculation.

Other exclusions include used or rented equipment, decoy cameras, in-house labour, pull-down protection shutters, antivirus software, computer upgrades, residential expenses and stolen inventory or other stolen goods.

Repairs after vandalism, forced entry or other criminal activity

The program also recognizes that some businesses are applying after an incident has already occurred. In that situation, a claim may be used to restore damaged property to its original condition; the replacement does not necessarily need to add a new security feature.

Potentially eligible repairs include:

Broken windows, doors, locks, frames and hinges.
Rekeying or replacement locks following a break-in.
Walls, siding or roofing damaged during forced entry.
Graffiti removal and repainting.
Fire damage where arson is confirmed or suspected.
Damaged storefront signs or awnings.
Temporary boarding or fencing used to secure the premises until permanent repairs are completed.
Damaged point-of-sale systems, safes or cash registers.
Furniture, shelving or counters damaged during an incident.
Repairs to cut electrical wiring or smashed light fixtures.
Debris removal following vandalism or arson.
Insurance deductibles related to eligible damage repairs.

Cosmetic improvements that are unrelated to restoring crime-related damage do not qualify. The program also excludes taxes, internal labour, residential or other non-qualifying location expenses, stolen inventory and theft-related losses such as damaged supplies.

Documentation can make or break the application

A well-planned security project should leave a clear paper trail. Before applying, gather the following:

Business identification: the legal and/or operating name exactly as registered, including capitalization, spacing and punctuation; the Manitoba Companies Office registry number; and the nine-digit Business Number.
Proof of the business location: a qualifying utility bill dated within the previous three months, a 2024, 2025 or 2026 property tax assessment or tax bill, or an occupancy permit. The location must be assessed for business use.
Proof of payment: a receipt or paid, itemized invoice showing what was purchased and installed.
Proof of the completed work: a photo of installed security equipment. A damage-repair claim needs photographs showing both the original damage and the completed repair.
Direct-deposit details: a void cheque, bank letter or direct-deposit form containing the required business and account information.

Consistency matters. The legal or operating name should match the location document and the direct-deposit information. The province verifies both the business’s standing and the municipality’s assessment of the location.

“Good standing” generally means the registration is active and all required annual returns or renewals have been filed. A sole proprietor operating only under the individual owner’s own name may be exempt from registration; in that situation, the online application does not require a registry number or nine-digit Business Number.

Applying through the online portal

Applications are submitted through Manitoba’s online Security Rebate portal. An authenticated account is required and can be protected with Microsoft Authenticator, an SMS code or an automated telephone call.

The portal accepts JPEG, JPG, PNG and PDF files up to 5 MB each. A draft can be saved and completed later, which is useful when invoices, photographs or banking documents are still being gathered. Once an application is submitted, the applicant cannot freely edit it unless the program requests additional information.

The account also shows application history and current status. If something is missing, the program sends an email asking the applicant to sign in, add the requested material and resubmit. It is important to respond: an application can be closed if the requested information is not provided.

Applications are reviewed in the order received. Manitoba states that the business program will close when the maximum $10-million fund has been reached. There is no separate calendar deadline posted for the business stream, but “no fixed deadline” should not be mistaken for unlimited availability.

If an application is found ineligible, the business receives an email explaining the reason. The program does not offer an appeal process, which makes accurate documents, clear invoices and complete photographs especially important from the beginning.

A note about automated processing and privacy

Manitoba indicates that the portal uses artificial intelligence to help speed up application processing and payments. The province also states that personal information is handled in accordance with The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), with privacy agreements and security controls in place for the registry system.

Planning a rebate-ready security project

The rebate should support a security decision, not replace good security planning. Camera placement, image detail, lighting, recording capacity, alarm coverage, remote access and future service requirements should still be selected around the risks at the location.

Singh Technical Services Ltd. can help Manitoba businesses assess their property and design a practical solution using professionally installed cameras, alarm equipment and related security infrastructure. We can also provide a clear, itemized scope and invoice for completed work. The business remains responsible for its application, supporting documents and lease approvals, and all eligibility and payment decisions are made solely by the Manitoba Security Rebate Program.

To discuss a security upgrade for your business, contact Singh Technical Services Ltd. at 204-998-1233 or visit SinghTechnical.ca.

Official Manitoba information

Program details, eligibility rules and application requirements can change. This article reflects the information available on August 11, 2026. Before purchasing equipment or submitting a claim, review the Government of Manitoba’s official pages:

For program assistance, contact the Manitoba Security Rebate Program at 204-945-2500 or 1-888-246-8353 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Singh Technical Services Ltd. is an independent security provider and is not affiliated with the Government of Manitoba. This article is general information, not a guarantee of eligibility, approval or reimbursement.