Rain gardens and stormwater projects · Maryland

Howard County CleanScapes Reimbursement and Fee Credit

Run by Howard County Office of Community Sustainability / Clean Water Howard

SeasonalPlan requiredLast checked October 17, 2026
What you get
Reimbursement at per-practice rates in the county's BMP Cheat Sheet (dollar amounts not on the program page); up to 100% reimbursement for households meeting hardship income limits; plus Watershed Protection Fee credit proportional to impervious area treated (up to 100% of the fee)
Who qualifies
Homeowner (or renter working with the homeowner) in Howard County whose home was built before 2003.
Where
Howard County homeowners, or renters working with the owner, whose home was built before 2003.
Status
Seasonal. The 2026-27 site visit form is FULL (all 75 spots reserved); next cycle expected to open April 1, 2027.
Type of payment
Rebate
Official program page

What you do

Install a rain garden, conservation landscaping, rainwater harvesting, permeable pavers, tree canopy, dry well or pavement removal using a licensed contractor after a county site visit, then get reimbursed and a fee credit.

Requirements

  • Home built before 2003
  • Request a site visit (limited to 75 spots per program year) or get a site report from a Watershed Steward or BayWise Master Gardener
  • Project must be installed by a licensed contractor
  • Projects installed without approval are not reimbursed
  • Not reimbursed: items installed before November 2011, structural BMPs required at development, items unrelated to the project
  • Rain garden and conservation landscaping credits require at least 75% Chesapeake-native plants, established by year 3
  • Sign a Credit and Reimbursement Agreement; county may inspect with 48 hours written notice

The plan or design it asks for

Project application with contractor proposal(s) submitted Sept 14 - Nov 30, reviewed by a Technical Review Committee.

Native plant lists for the area: Ellicott City, Columbia

Make the plan in Sow

Draw the layout and build the plant list

Sow places plants on a photo of your yard and keeps a list of everything you add. Check Howard County's rules for exactly what to submit.

Start a plan in Sow

How to apply

  1. 1April 1: submit the Site Visit Request Form (or obtain a site report from a Watershed Steward or BayWise Master Gardener)
  2. 2Aug 1 - Sep 13: site visit
  3. 3Sep 14 - Nov 30: get contractor proposals and submit the project application
  4. 4Approvals emailed by Feb 21
  5. 5Feb 21 - Jun 15: install and submit reimbursement request with signed agreement
  6. 6Post-installation inspection Apr 1 - Jun 30; reimbursements processed biweekly from Apr 15
  7. 7Separately apply for the fee credit (one form per practice) by March 1 to affect the current tax bill

Timing and deadlines

About 9-12 months from site visit request to reimbursement.

Site visits open April 1; project applications Nov 30; installation by Jun 15; credit application by March 1

Combining it with other programs

Reimbursement and fee credit can be combined per the program page.

Sources

Last checked October 17, 2026. See something out of date? Tell us.

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

More programs near the same area