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Pennsylvania Water Rebates

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Water Rebates

The Philadelphia Water Department runs Rain Check, managed by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. It helps you manage stormwater runoff with rain gardens, permeable pavers, downspout planters, and a free rain barrel. Rain gardens earn $22 per square foot and permeable pavers earn $20 per square foot, each up to a $2,500 maximum. The order of operations matters. You attend a free workshop first, then a site visit and design happen before any installation.

Up to $2,500

Rain Check Stormwater Rebate

Open the official program site

How to apply

  1. Confirm you own a Philadelphia property and pick a tool (rain garden, permeable pavers, downspout planter, or free rain barrel)
  2. Register for and attend the free required virtual workshop
  3. Schedule your property site visit through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
  4. A contractor runs an infiltration test and prepares the design
  5. PHS installs the approved tool and the rebate is applied to the reduced project cost

What you'll need

  • Proof of Philadelphia property ownership
  • Workshop completion confirmation
  • Site visit and infiltration test results
  • Approved project design

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Philadelphia-appropriate native plants for the rain garden, designs an HOA-friendly layout that absorbs roof and hard-surface runoff, and assembles the plant list you can bring to your site visit.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Don't skip the free workshop. It is required before a site visit can be scheduled.
  • Don't install your own rain garden or pavers and expect reimbursement. PHS contractors do the installation through the program.
  • Don't assume every yard qualifies. The infiltration test at the site visit determines whether a rain garden will work on your lot.

Philadelphia Water Rebate FAQs

How much does Philadelphia Rain Check pay?
Rain gardens earn $22 per square foot and permeable pavers earn $20 per square foot, each up to a $2,500 maximum, plus a free rain barrel install (Philadelphia Water Department Rain Check, verified June 2026).
Do I have to attend a workshop?
Yes. A free virtual workshop is required before the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will schedule your site visit.
Can I install the rain garden myself?
No. PHS contractors handle the installation through the program, and the rebate comes as a reduced project cost rather than a cash reimbursement for DIY work.
Is the rain barrel really free?
Yes. Rain Check installs a rain barrel at no cost. The rain garden and permeable paver tools are subsidized at a reduced price.

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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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See a problem with a program? Report it

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.