How to Get the Stormwater Utility Credit (Rain Garden) Rebate

What you get

The City of Appleton credits $25 a year against the stormwater utility bill for a single-family or two-family property with an onsite rain garden. The credit runs for 3 years, after which a new application may be submitted. The rain garden must receive runoff from at least a quarter of the impervious surfaces on the site and be built to Wisconsin DNR Publication PUB-WI-776 standards. This is a modest ongoing bill credit rather than a cash rebate for the install (City of Appleton Stormwater Utility Credit Policy; last verified July 2026).

• Residential: $25 a year off the stormwater utility bill

Are you eligible?

• Be a City of Appleton Department of Public Works customer
• Property located in: Appleton
• Single-family or two-family residential property in Appleton
• Rain garden receiving runoff from at least one quarter of the site impervious surfaces
• Built and maintained to WDNR PUB-WI-776 (Rain Gardens: A How-To Manual for Homeowners)
• Scaled site plan, photo of the practice, and plant list with sizing calculations
• City inspection; credit expires after 3 years and may be reapplied for

What applying usually looks like

A general guide. Always confirm the exact steps on the official program page, since each provider runs its process a little differently.

1. 1

   Do the conversion

   Replace your lawn with the qualifying landscaping, following the eligibility requirements above.

2. 2

   Submit your claim

   After the work is done, submit your claim on the official program page. Confirm the exact forms, receipts, and any photos they require there, since those vary by program.