Rain gardens and stormwater projects · Tennessee

Chattanooga RainSmart Rain Gardens and Streambank Rebates

Run by City of Chattanooga Stormwater (RainSmart)

OpenPlan requiredLast checked October 17, 2026
What you get
Rain garden: $10.00 per sq ft constructed (size/volume) plus $2.50 per sq ft for materials, per search excerpt of the city rain garden page; program marketed as up to $5,000 in rebates overall. SupportScape and streambank per-item rates not retrieved.
Maximum
$5,000 per household
Who qualifies
City of Chattanooga residents and/or property owners within city limits, current on stormwater fee and property taxes.
Where
Chattanooga residents and property owners within city limits who are current on stormwater fee and taxes.
Status
Open. No closure notice on page (accessed 2026-10-17)
Type of payment
Rebate
Official program page

What you do

Build a rain garden that captures and infiltrates rooftop runoff (or a SupportScape native planting on slopes, or streambank restoration with native plants).

Requirements

  • Be a City of Chattanooga resident and/or own property within city limits
  • Be up to date on stormwater fee and property taxes
  • Sign the Homeowners Agreement with a 5-year maintenance commitment (renter's owner must also sign)
  • Soil must infiltrate well, proven by a percolation test
  • Rain garden at least 10 ft from the home foundation and 25 ft from septic tanks or wellheads
  • Mostly flat grade; steep slopes are pointed to SupportScapes
  • Pass a subgrade inspection and a final inspection
  • Itemized receipts
  • Maintain property per RainSmart Property Maintenance Requirements

The plan or design it asks for

Planting plan, species list and rain garden diagram, plus percolation test, submitted before the subgrade inspection.

Native plant lists for the area: Chattanooga

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 Chattanooga RainSmart's rules for exactly what to submit.

Start a plan in Sow

How to apply

  1. 1Review the Rain Garden Project Guidelines, Homeowners Agreement and Property Maintenance Requirements
  2. 2Submit the application (Apply Now form)
  3. 3Complete an initial site assessment
  4. 4Submit percolation test, planting plan with species list and diagram, signed Homeowners Agreement, and itemized receipts
  5. 5Pass subgrade inspection (scheduled by emailed link), then build, then pass final inspection
  6. 6Questions: Stormwater (423) 643-5877 or RainSmart Program Manager (423) 643-6049

Estimate your rebate

Uses the published rate per square foot of rain garden constructed and the $5,000 cap. The program sets the final amount after its inspection.

Enter an area to see an estimate

Timing and deadlines

not published

not published

Combining it with other programs

not published

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