Rain Garden, Rain Barrel and Permeable Paver Rebates by State
Short answer Rebates are local, not national: they come from a city, county, sewer district or water utility, and you must live in its area.
Your state’s rule shows right here, with the official sources. No scrolling.
Some cities, counties and water utilities will pay part or all of the cost of a rain garden, rain barrel, cistern or permeable paver patio, or knock it off your stormwater bill. Here are the programs we verified on each program’s own official page, what each pays for, how much and who qualifies.
Quick answer
Rebates are local, not national: they come from a city, county, sewer district or water utility, and you must live in its area. The biggest we found: Montgomery County, Maryland, pays up to $7,500 per home (including $14 per sq ft for permeable paving); Washington, D.C., reimburses $15 per sq ft of permeable pavers up to $6,000 in parts of the city; Seattle’s RainWise can cover up to 100% of a cistern or rain garden; Raleigh covers 90% of project costs. Bill credits are smaller, often 5% to 45% of the stormwater fee. Check with your program before you build: most require approval first.
Three ways these programs pay
- Rebates and reimbursements: you build it (or hire it out), then the program pays a set amount per square foot or gallon, or a share of the cost. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, Tucson, Austin, Raleigh and Virginia’s VCAP work this way.
- Installed for you, with a copay: D.C.’s RiverSmart Homes audits your yard and installs barrels and gardens for a copay; Philadelphia’s Rain Check and Milwaukee’s MMSD give free rain barrels.
- Bill credits: a percentage or a fixed amount off your stormwater fee as long as the practice works, as in Minneapolis, Portland, Ann Arbor, Arlington County and northeast Ohio. These only exist where there’s a stormwater fee to reduce.
Programs by state
| State | Programs we verified | What they pay for |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None found yet | — |
| Alaska | None found yet | — |
| Arizona | Tucson Water rainwater harvesting rebate | Rain tanks, basins, trees |
| Arkansas | None found yet | — |
| California | SoCal Water$mart rain barrel and cistern rebates | Rain barrels, cisterns |
| Colorado | None found yet | — |
| Connecticut | None found yet | — |
| Delaware | None found yet | — |
| District of Columbia | RiverSmart Homes (DOEE) | Rain barrels, rain gardens, pavers, trees |
| Florida | None found yet | — |
| Georgia | None found yet | — |
| Hawaii | None found yet | — |
| Idaho | None found yet | — |
| Illinois | None found yet | — |
| Indiana | None found yet | — |
| Iowa | Des Moines rain barrel rebate | Rain barrels |
| Kansas | None found yet | — |
| Kentucky | None found yet | — |
| Louisiana | None found yet | — |
| Maine | None found yet | — |
| Maryland | RainScapes Rewards (Montgomery County DEP); Rain Check Rebate (Prince George’s County) | Rain gardens, permeable paving, barrels, cisterns; 8 practices incl. permeable pavement |
| Massachusetts | None found yet | — |
| Michigan | Ann Arbor residential stormwater credits | Bill credits: barrels, rain gardens, dry wells |
| Minnesota | Minneapolis residential stormwater credit | Bill credit: rain gardens, pervious pavement |
| Mississippi | None found yet | — |
| Missouri | None found yet | — |
| Montana | None found yet | — |
| Nebraska | None found yet | — |
| Nevada | None found yet | — |
| New Hampshire | None found yet | — |
| New Jersey | None found yet | — |
| New Mexico | None found yet | — |
| New York | None found yet | — |
| North Carolina | Raleigh Rainwater Rewards | Rain gardens, cisterns, permeable pavement, pavement removal |
| North Dakota | None found yet | — |
| Ohio | NEORSD individual residential stormwater fee credit | Bill credit: rain gardens, pavement removal |
| Oklahoma | None found yet | — |
| Oregon | Clean River Rewards (Portland BES) | Bill discount: rain gardens, drywells, trees |
| Pennsylvania | Rain Check (Philadelphia Water Department); Pittsburgh Water rain barrel credit; Lower Paxton Township rain barrel rebate | Free rain barrels; cost-share pavers, rain gardens; $40 rain barrel credit; $100 rain barrel rebate |
| Rhode Island | None found yet | — |
| South Carolina | None found yet | — |
| South Dakota | None found yet | — |
| Tennessee | None found yet | — |
| Texas | Austin Water rainwater harvesting rebate | Rain barrels, cisterns |
| Utah | None found yet | — |
| Vermont | None found yet | — |
| Virginia | Arlington County stormwater utility credit; Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) | 5% bill credit: barrels, dry wells; permeable pavement |
| Washington | RainWise (Seattle Public Utilities) | Cisterns, rain gardens |
| West Virginia | None found yet | — |
| Wisconsin | MMSD free rain barrel | Free rain barrel |
| Wyoming | None found yet | — |
Arizona
Tucson Water rainwater harvesting rebateOfficial source
- Where
- Tucson Water customers
- Pays for
- Rain tanks: $1.00 per gallon of storage if the system holds the first inch of rain off the roof, $0.50 per gallon if not. Passive basins without a roof connection: $0.50 per gallon. Streetside basins: $1.00 per gallon if street runoff is diverted into them, $0.50 if not (permit required). “Treebates” of $50 for one new tree and $99 for two, watered by the system.
- How much
- Up to $1,999 per property ($1,900 storage + $99 trees, under the July 2026 rules)
- Who qualifies
- Single-family residential customers, or small businesses with a 5/8-inch meter; a Watershed Management Group workshop is required first. Funding is limited.
Source: Tucson Water · checked Nov. 12, 2026
California
SoCal Water$mart rain barrel and cistern rebatesOfficial source
- Where
- Metropolitan Water District service area (Southern California)
- Pays for
- Rain barrels of 50–199 gallons: $35 each, up to 2. Cisterns: $250 (200–500 gal), $300 (501–999 gal), $350 (1,000+ gal), one per address. Barrels or a cistern, not both.
- How much
- $35–$350
- Who qualifies
- Water bill account holders; amounts can vary by local water agency and depend on funding.
Source: SoCal Water$mart · checked Nov. 12, 2026
District of Columbia
RiverSmart Homes (DOEE)Official source
- Where
- District of Columbia
- Pays for
- After a free stormwater audit: rain barrels for a $100 copay each (up to 2); shade trees free; rain gardens for a $200 copay per 50 sq ft garden (up to 2); BayScaping native gardens for a $200 copay per 120 sq ft (up to 2). Permeable pavers: DOEE reimburses $15 per sq ft converted to permeable pavers and $8 per sq ft converted to plantings.
- How much
- Pavers and replanting up to $6,000 per property (homes in the MS4 sewershed, Ward 7 or Ward 8 only)
- Who qualifies
- Homes with four or fewer units; renters with the owner’s OK. Audits run from a waitlist.
Source: DC DOEE · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Iowa
Des Moines rain barrel rebateOfficial, check date
- Where
- City of Des Moines
- Pays for
- A rebate on rain barrels.
- How much
- Amount not listed; the Polk SWCD page that lists the program is undated, so contact the city before you buy
- Who qualifies
- Des Moines residents who pay the Storm Sewer Fee on their water bill (listed by Polk Soil and Water Conservation District).
Source: Polk SWCD (undated page) · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Maryland
RainScapes Rewards (Montgomery County DEP)Official source
- Where
- Montgomery County, except Gaithersburg, Rockville and Takoma Park
- Pays for
- Rain gardens $10 per sq ft of garden (75 sq ft minimum). Permeable pavement retrofits $14 per sq ft (100 sq ft minimum). Conservation landscapes and other practices are listed on the county’s RainScapes pages.
- How much
- Up to $7,500 per residential parcel; $20,000 per commercial, HOA, multifamily or institutional parcel
- Who qualifies
- Property owners in the county’s program area.
Sources: RainScapes · Permeable pavement retrofit · Rain garden · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Rain Check Rebate (Prince George’s County)Official, check date
- Where
- Prince George’s County
- Pays for
- For an individual home: rain barrels (50+ gal) and cisterns (250+ gal) $2 per gallon stored; rain gardens $10 per sq ft (100 sq ft minimum); permeable pavement $12 per sq ft; pavement removal $6 per sq ft; trees $150 each (5 ft minimum height); conservation landscaping $5 per sq ft (250 sq ft minimum); green roofs $10 per sq ft.
- How much
- Up to $6,000 per residential property (lifetime)
- Who qualifies
- Property owners, businesses and nonprofits; run with the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The county’s rebate page describes the program as reinstated for fiscal year 2026.
Source: Prince George’s County rebates (fiscal 2026) · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Michigan
Ann Arbor residential stormwater creditsOfficial source
- Where
- City of Ann Arbor stormwater customers
- Pays for
- Bill credits: rain barrels $4.15 a quarter (1–5 barrels of 35+ gal); rain garden $8.59 a quarter; dry well or cistern $8.59 a quarter (one of the two); RiverSafe Home program $1.57 a quarter.
- How much
- $1.57 to $8.59 a quarter per practice
- Who qualifies
- Ann Arbor homeowners whose practices meet the city’s credit criteria.
Source: City of Ann Arbor · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Minnesota
Minneapolis residential stormwater creditOfficial source
- Where
- City of Minneapolis
- Pays for
- A flat-rate credit on the stormwater fee for rain gardens, pervious pavement, green roofs and stormwater reuse that treat runoff from your own roof and paving. Rain barrels are not eligible.
- How much
- Up to 45% of the stormwater fee in a Green Zone, 35% elsewhere
- Who qualifies
- Residential owners; apply May 1 to Oct. 1.
Source: City of Minneapolis · checked Nov. 12, 2026
North Carolina
Raleigh Rainwater RewardsOfficial source
- Where
- City of Raleigh
- Pays for
- Cisterns, downspout disconnection, green roofs, impervious surface removal, permeable pavement and rain gardens, among other approved projects.
- How much
- The city pays 90% of project costs and the owner 10%; a subsidy program covers 100% for some owners
- Who qualifies
- Raleigh property owners; the 100% subsidy is for property and rental owners in potentially underserved communities, nonprofits and places of worship.
Source: City of Raleigh · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Ohio
NEORSD individual residential stormwater fee creditOfficial source
- Where
- Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District stormwater fee customers (Cleveland area)
- Pays for
- A credit on the district stormwater fee for a rain garden (with the district’s worksheet), rain barrels that take at least half the roof, removing at least 500 sq ft of pavement, at least 1,000 sq ft of pervious surface on 10+ inches of stone, or a vegetated filter strip.
- How much
- A flat 25% off the stormwater fee (residential credit manual, revised November 2025)
- Who qualifies
- Individual residential properties billed the district’s stormwater fee.
Sources: NEORSD fee credits · Residential credit manual, rev. Nov. 2025 (PDF) · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Oregon
Clean River Rewards (Portland BES)Official source
- Where
- City of Portland
- Pays for
- A discount for managing your own runoff: rain gardens, swales or planted areas at least 10% of the roof and paving that drain to them; drywells, French drains and soakage trenches; stormwater planters; ecoroofs; and trees over 15 feet on your lot.
- How much
- Up to 35% of your total stormwater fee
- Who qualifies
- Portland properties with at least one qualifying practice in place.
Source: Portland BES · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Pennsylvania
Rain Check (Philadelphia Water Department)Official source
- Where
- City of Philadelphia
- Pays for
- Free rain barrels; cost-share rain gardens, permeable pavers and downspout planters.
- How much
- Rain barrels free; a $25 consultation comes before cost-share projects
- Who qualifies
- Philadelphia residential properties; a virtual workshop is the first step. Rain barrel installations resume in March 2027.
Source: PWD Rain Check · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Water rain barrel creditOfficial source
- Where
- Pittsburgh Water stormwater customers
- Pays for
- A one-time credit for one rain barrel of at least 50 gallons; other credits for downspouts sent to a rain garden or underground storage that manages ¾ inch of runoff.
- How much
- $40 rain barrel credit
- Who qualifies
- Residential customers with an approved application.
Source: Pittsburgh Water · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Lower Paxton Township rain barrel rebateOfficial source
- Where
- Lower Paxton Township (Dauphin County)
- Pays for
- One rain barrel of 50+ gallons; other credits for volume-control practices such as rain gardens.
- How much
- $100 one time
- Who qualifies
- Single-family stormwater fee payers.
Source: Lower Paxton credit manual · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Texas
Austin Water rainwater harvesting rebateOfficial source
- Where
- Austin Water customers
- Pays for
- Installing a rain barrel or cistern system.
- How much
- Up to $5,000, based on storage capacity
- Who qualifies
- Austin Water customers; see the utility’s rebate page for the application and rules.
Source: Austin Water rebates · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Virginia
Arlington County stormwater utility creditOfficial source
- Where
- Arlington County
- Pays for
- Rain barrels or above-ground cisterns holding 100+ gallons, or downspouts sent to a French drain or dry well.
- How much
- 5% of the stormwater utility fee (one 5% credit for this category); recertify every 2 years
- Who qualifies
- Single-family homes.
Source: Arlington County · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)Official, check date
- Where
- Participating soil and water conservation districts
- Pays for
- Permeable pavement installation (other practices are listed by the program).
- How much
- Up to $14 per sq ft of permeable pavement, $20,000 maximum (VASWCD page last updated January 2024)
- Who qualifies
- Owners in participating districts; ask your local soil and water conservation district.
Source: Virginia Assn. of SWCDs · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Washington
RainWise (Seattle Public Utilities)Official source
- Where
- Eligible areas of Seattle
- Pays for
- Cisterns and rain gardens that take roof runoff.
- How much
- Rebates can cover up to 100% of the cost
- Who qualifies
- Owners of eligible Seattle properties; you agree to maintain the project for 5 years.
Source: Seattle RainWise · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Wisconsin
MMSD free rain barrelOfficial source
- Where
- Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
- Pays for
- One free rain barrel per owner-occupied household, picked up at a registered workshop.
- How much
- Free (one per household, if you haven’t had one from MMSD before)
- Who qualifies
- Owner-occupied households that register for a workshop.
Source: MMSD · checked Nov. 12, 2026
Before you build for a rebate
- Get approval first. Most programs want an application, a site visit or a design before work starts, and won’t pay for work already done. Tucson and Milwaukee’s MMSD require a workshop, and Philadelphia’s Rain Check starts with one.
- Size it to the roof. Rain gardens are sized to the roof or paved area that drains to them. Start with our rain garden size guide.
- Ask what base the program requires. Pittsburgh, for example, only counts permeable pavement built on a stormwater sub-base. Get the program’s spec before you order stone.
- Don’t send the water next door. Check your state’s drainage law before you pipe or regrade.
- Call 811 before digging a rain garden or a base for a patio: see 811 dig laws by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a federal rebate for rain gardens or rain barrels?
Not for homeowners directly. The programs we found are run by cities, counties, sewer districts and water utilities, and some are paid for with federal or state grants (D.C.’s RiverSmart Homes is funded by an EPA Chesapeake Bay grant). Check with your local water or sewer utility and your county soil and water conservation district.
Can I get a rebate for permeable pavers?
In some places. Montgomery County, Maryland, pays $14 per sq ft for permeable pavement retrofits and Prince George’s County $12 per sq ft; Washington, D.C., reimburses $15 per sq ft in eligible areas up to $6,000; Virginia’s VCAP pays up to $14 per sq ft in participating districts; Minneapolis and northeast Ohio give stormwater fee credits for pervious pavement. Most require approval before you build.
How much do rain barrel rebates pay?
From $35 a barrel through SoCal Water$mart to $2 a gallon stored in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Pittsburgh gives a one-time $40 credit, Lower Paxton Township in Pennsylvania $100, and Philadelphia and Milwaukee’s sewerage district give barrels away. Minneapolis does not credit rain barrels.
Which program pays the most for a rain garden?
Of the programs we verified, Seattle’s RainWise can cover up to 100% of a rain garden in eligible areas, Raleigh covers 90% (100% for some owners), and Montgomery County, Maryland, pays $10 per sq ft. D.C.’s RiverSmart Homes installs rain gardens for a $200 copay per 50 sq ft.
Are there rain garden rebates in Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia’s Rain Check gives free rain barrels and cost-share rain gardens and permeable pavers. Elsewhere, Pennsylvania mostly uses stormwater fee credits: Lancaster up to 50%, Lower Paxton up to 45% with a $100 rain barrel rebate, and Pittsburgh a $40 rain barrel credit. See our Pennsylvania stormwater fee page for each town.
What if my state shows none found yet?
It means we haven’t verified a program there yet, not that none exists. Ask your city’s stormwater or water utility, your county soil and water conservation district and your watershed group. If you find one, email info@muthlerlandscaping.com and we’ll add it.
Planning information. Program rules, amounts and funding change, and most pay only after approval. The program’s own page has the final word.
Sources: each program’s official page, linked in its entry above, checked Nov. 12, 2026.
Related: Pennsylvania stormwater fees by town · Rain garden size guide · Drainage guide · Drainage laws by state · Rainfall by state · All state guides
Last checked November 12, 2026. Know a program we missed, or one that closed? Email info@muthlerlandscaping.com and we’ll fix it.
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Cite as: Muthler Landscaping & Construction, “Rain Garden, Rain Barrel and Permeable Paver Rebates by State,” https://muthlerlandscaping.com/state-guides/stormwater-rebates/ (last checked November 12, 2026).
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