How to Get the Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Incentive Program
Elkhart County Soil & Water Conservation District · Elkhart County, Indiana, IN
What you get
The Greater Elkhart County Stormwater Partnership, administered by the Elkhart County SWCD, reimburses homeowners up to $250 for rain garden plants (native vegetation) installed to capture stormwater runoff; a separate $50 reimbursement is available for rain barrels. Open to residents of Elkhart, Goshen, Bristol, and unincorporated Elkhart County. Funds are limited and awarded first-come, first-served (Elkhart County SWCD; last verified July 2026).
- Residential: Up to $250 for rain garden plants
Are you eligible?
- Be a Elkhart County Soil & Water Conservation District customer
- Property located in: Elkhart, Goshen, Bristol
- Homeowner in Elkhart, Goshen, Bristol, or unincorporated Elkhart County
- Attend a live Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Workshop (required for reimbursement eligibility)
- Submit the Rain Garden Application; funds awarded first-come, first-served as available
Before you start
Do not remove turf or begin work before you have written approval. This program requires pre-approval. Starting early can disqualify the project even if everything else is correct.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Incentive Program
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Submit the application with your drawing and plant list
Design a rain garden of at least 100 square feet total across the property, with no more than one plant per square foot. Fill in the application fields here, attach a dimensioned drawing (it does not
- 2
Attend a live rain garden workshop
You must attend a Partnership-sponsored rain garden and rain barrel workshop before installing. These are held at least once a year, usually in spring, and cover installation, maintenance, and care. N
- 3
Host the site visit, then install after approval
Partnership staff or a designee visit the proposed rain garden site and review your design and plant choices. Once you receive approval, installation may proceed. Keep all plant material receipts.
- 4
Submit receipts for the final visit and reimbursement
When installation is complete, submit your plant receipts to the Partnership. Staff or a designee visit the installed rain garden, and reimbursement follows if they verify the installation satisfies p
Get help applying
Want a hand with the application?
A 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder. He reads the Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Incentive Program rules with you, tells you what to photograph and file first, and answers anything this page does not cover.
Confirm your project ZIP first. If this program does not serve your address, do not buy; check your city or utility on the rebates page instead.
One-time $29.99. Guidance, not filing: you submit to the program yourself. Not legal or financial advice. Rebate amounts and approval are decided by the program.
Every program listed cites its official source, and each program page shows the date we last verified it against that source. Program details change throughout the year, so always confirm requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with the program before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.
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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.