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Maryland Water Rebates

Bethesda, Maryland Water Rebates

Montgomery County RainScapes Rewards pays $5 per square foot for conservation landscaping that replaces lawn or invasive plants with native plants and improved soil. The rebate reaches $7,500 for residential parcels and $20,000 for commercial, HOA, multifamily, or institutional parcels. It also covers rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement, and pavement removal. Every project needs pre-approval from the county before installation, and rebates pay out after a final inspection and submitted receipts.

$5 / sq ft up to $7,500

RainScapes Rewards: Conservation Landscaping

Open the official program site

How to apply

  1. Confirm your parcel is in Montgomery County outside Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Takoma Park
  2. Apply online for RainScapes Rewards and wait to be assigned a planner, usually within 2 to 4 weeks
  3. Get written pre-approval from the Department of Environmental Protection before installing
  4. Install with native plants, quart-or-larger containers, and de-compacted, compost-amended soil
  5. Pass the final inspection and submit receipts to receive the rebate

What you'll need

  • RainScapes Rewards application
  • Property and parcel information
  • Pre-approval confirmation from DEP
  • Native plant list and planting plan
  • Itemized receipts for the final inspection

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Montgomery County natives in quart-or-larger sizes, designs an HOA-friendly conservation landscape that meets the soil and coverage rules, and assembles the plant list and photo packet for your RainScapes application.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Don't install before you have written pre-approval. Rebates only pay out on pre-approved projects.
  • Don't seed the area or use plants smaller than a quart for non-groundcover plants. Both fail the requirements.
  • Don't skip the soil prep. The county requires de-compaction at least 9 inches plus 2 inches of compost.

Bethesda Water Rebate FAQs

How much does Montgomery County RainScapes pay for conservation landscaping?
$5 per square foot for conservation landscaping, up to $7,500 for a residential parcel and $20,000 for a commercial, HOA, multifamily, or institutional parcel (Montgomery County RainScapes Rewards, verified June 2026).
Can I install first and apply later?
No. RainScapes projects require written pre-approval from the Department of Environmental Protection before installation, and only new projects qualify.
What are the planting and soil rules?
Use native plants in quart-or-larger containers for non-groundcover plants, no seeding, and de-compact the soil at least 9 inches while amending with 2 inches of compost.
Who is eligible?
Property owners in Montgomery County outside the municipalities of Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Takoma Park.

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Plan a native yard with Pollinator Patch.

Pick the right native plants for your region, design an HOA-friendly layout, and generate documentation that supports your rebate application.

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Programs change throughout the year. If something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we'll check it against the provider.

We compile these programs from utility and city pages, and not every amount here has been independently confirmed. Program details also change throughout the year. Always verify requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with your water utility before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.