California
Rain garden and stormwater rebates in California
6 programs in California pay residents for rain gardens and stormwater projects. 4 list themselves as open now, and the per-square-foot programs pay a median of $0.88 per square foot. 33% ask for a plan, sketch or plant list before they approve a project.
Stormwater utilities and conservation districts share the cost of projects that soak rain into the ground instead of sending it to the storm drain: rain gardens, downspout disconnection, permeable paving, bioswales and dry wells. Many ask for a site sketch and a pre-approval visit.
6 programs
- Open
City of Palo Alto Stormwater Rebates (Barrels, Cisterns, Rain Gardens)
City of Palo Alto Watershed Protection with Valley Water
Rain barrel $70 each (40-199 gal, $35 city + $35 Valley Water); cistern $1.00 per gallon (200+ gal); rain garden $2 per sq ft of roof area diverted up to $600 (min 100 sq ft diverted)
Up to $6,000 per household
- Open
City of Santa Barbara Sustainable Storm Water Rebate
City of Santa Barbara Creeks Division
Disconnected downspout $250 per project; rain barrel up to $200 each (40-199 gal); rain garden $3 per sq ft of bioretention area; pavement removal $2 per sq ft (min 20 sq ft); $2 per sq ft more if replacing lawn
Up to $5,000 per household
- Open
Montecito GSA Groundwater Infiltration Rebate
Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency
$1 per sq ft, up to $3,000 per property
Up to $3,000 per household
- Open
San Diego County Waterscape Rain-Saving Gardens Rebate
County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (Waterscape Rebate Program)
$1.00 per sq ft of roof captured, up to $2,000; upgrades +$0.25/sq ft each (Volume, Full-Capture, up to $500 each); total up to $3,000
Up to $3,000 per household
- Limited fundsPlan required
MWDOC RainSmart Residential Rainwater Collection Incentives
MWDOC / H2OC (RainSmart Rebates Pilot Program)
$0.75 per sq ft of impermeable surface treated, up to $1,500 (rain gardens or containers); gutters $5 per linear foot up to $300 (included in total)
Up to $1,500 per household
- Out of fundsPlan required
SFPUC Green Infrastructure Grants for Homes (Pilot)
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
not published on the program page (funds design and construction; see guidelines)
Other California programs
- Lawn replacement 72
- Irrigation upgrades 56
- Rain barrels and cisterns 22
- Stormwater fee credits 1
- Trees 20
- Native plants and pollinator habitat 4
- Wildfire defensible space 22
- Electric lawn equipment 5
- Compost and mulch 14
- Graywater 9
Sow is not affiliated with any of these agencies or utilities. Amounts and rules change, often at the start of a fiscal year, so confirm the details on the official page before you start a project. How we research these programs
Plan the project before you apply
Sow lays out your new planting on a photo of your yard and builds the plant list from plants suited to where you live.