Maryland Native Landscaping Rebates

$5 per square foot for conservation landscaping (replacing lawn/invasive plants with native plants). $6/sq ft with 3 inches of ponding (250 sq ft minimum). Also covers rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement, and pavement removal. Max $7,500 residential, $20,000 commercial. The $7,500 residential maximum is a lifetime total per parcel across all RainScapes projects combined, not a separate maximum for each project (confirmed by Montgomery County RainScapes program staff, August 2026).

Project manuals, planting guides, plant calculators, and contractor lists are available on the county website.

Rebates for installing rain gardens planted with native species to capture and filter stormwater runoff. Part of the broader RainScapes Rewards program, which carries one lifetime maximum of $7,500 per residential parcel across every RainScapes project combined. A rain garden and a conservation landscaping project on the same parcel draw from that single $7,500, they do not each carry their own $7,500 (confirmed by Montgomery County RainScapes program staff, August 2026).

Montgomery County provides design assistance and contractor referrals.

Prince George's County RainScapes provides rebates for conservation landscaping (replacing turf or invasive plants with native species), rain gardens, rain barrels, cisterns, green roofs, and permeable pavement. Rates and maximums vary by practice and year. Pre-approval required before installation.

This program is officially called the PG County Rain Check Rebate, administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

An ongoing credit on the quarterly stormwater utility fee (not a one-time rebate): up to a 50% reduction for properties that implement on-site stormwater management facilities such as rain gardens (City of Annapolis; last verified June 2026).

An ongoing annual credit on the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee (not a one-time rebate): up to 50% for on-site practices providing water-quality treatment (rain gardens qualify; minimum 1 inch of rainfall treated for full credit). The credit continues annually while the practice is maintained and passes County inspection (Anne Arundel County BWPR; last verified June 2026).

A recurring credit of up to 50% off the flat Stormwater Remediation Fee (FY2027 = $168 per improved property) for residential parcels with a qualifying stormwater practice. A rain garden capturing runoff from at least 800 sq ft of impervious surface qualifies (other options: two or more rain barrels of at least 110 gallons, at least 800 sq ft of pervious pavement, or Bay-Wise certification). Because the fee is a flat per-property rate, the 50% credit is a fixed amount, not a per-application formula. This is an ongoing bill credit, not a one-time cash rebate (Charles County Watershed Protection and Restoration Fund; last verified October 2026).

Rebates of $10 per square foot for rain gardens (75 sq ft minimum) and $6 per square foot for conservation landscaping with soil improvement ($5 per square foot without; 200 contiguous sq ft minimum), up to a $5,000 cap per property owner for residential properties and not-for-profits. Limited to property owners within Gaithersburg city limits (City of Gaithersburg, administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust; last verified June 2026).

Administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

An ongoing credit on the stormwater utility fee (not a one-time rebate): tiered up to a 60% cap, available for residential practices as small as a rain garden (credit applies to the impervious area draining to the practice, so effective credit is usually well below 60%). Requires a 20-year maintenance agreement and ongoing inspection (City of Hagerstown; last verified June 2026).

Howard County's CleanScapes program reimburses 75% of the cost of residential stormwater projects: rain gardens up to $5,000, conservation landscaping up to $3,000, and tree canopy up to $1,000 ($150 per tree). Site visit requests for the 2026-2027 program year are full. Also covers rainwater harvesting ($2 per gallon, up to $750), impervious surface removal (up to $2,000), permeable hardscaping (up to $7,000), dry wells (up to $2,000), and green roofs (up to $10,000). Homes must be built before 2003, and planted projects must use at least 75% native plants (Clean Water Howard, reimbursement cap sheet updated June 2026; last verified October 2026).

A year-round cost-share grant in which the Town matches the cost of a project, up to $5,000, for native habitat, bayscape, or bioretention landscaping, or a reduction of impervious surface (pavers, rooftop disconnect, drywells, or a combination of Best Management Practices) that promotes water quality and habitat creation (Town of Ocean City Environmental Mini-Grants page; last verified July 2026).

Rebates of $10 per square foot for rain gardens and $6 per square foot for conservation landscaping with soil improvement ($5 per square foot without), up to a $5,000 lifetime cap for residential properties and not-for-profits. Rain gardens require a 75 sq ft minimum and conservation landscaping a 250 sq ft minimum. Limited to property owners within Rockville city limits (City of Rockville, administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust; last verified June 2026).

Montgomery County residents outside Rockville city limits are not eligible for this program. It is administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

An ongoing credit on the stormwater utility fee (not a one-time rebate): up to a 50% reduction for qualifying measures including rain gardens (also tree plantings, permeable pavements, green roofs). Apply by April 30 for the following billing year; rain-garden credits run three years then recertify (City of Takoma Park; last verified June 2026).