How to Get the Illinois Collar County Conservation & Stormwater Programs
DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Will County Conservation Districts · Chicago Suburbs, IL
What you get
The five collar counties around Chicago each have a Soil and Water Conservation District and/or a stormwater management agency that periodically offers homeowner programs. DuPage County Stormwater runs a Rain Ready DuPage program. Lake County Stormwater Management provides homeowner stormwater resources and has offered cost-share for native plantings and impervious cover removal. Kane and McHenry SWCDs offer periodic native plant cost-share and rain barrel programs.
- Residential: 50% up to $5,000 (DuPage cost-share)
Are you eligible?
- Be a DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Will County Conservation Districts customer
- Property located in: Naperville, Aurora, Elgin, Waukegan, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Bolingbrook, Joliet, Crystal Lake, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Barrington
- Resident of the applicable collar county
- Programs vary by county and year - contact your county stormwater agency or SWCD directly
Before you start
DuPage County Stormwater Management: dupagecounty.gov/government/departments/stormwater_management (Rain Ready DuPage program - rebates for impervious surface removal and rain gardens). Lake County Stormwater: lakecountyil.gov/1083/Stormwater-Management-Commission. Kane County SWCD: kcscd.org. McHenry County Conservation: mccdistrict.org. Will County SWCD: willcountysoilandwater.com.
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
Do the conversion
Replace your lawn with the qualifying landscaping, following the eligibility requirements above.
- 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.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Illinois Collar County Conservation & Stormwater Programs
These are the steps this application actually takes. The Pollinator Patch app walks you through each one free, with reminders and a photo locker.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Will County Conservation Districts before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Will County Conservation Districts and take before photos of the existing yard first.
- 3
Do the work
Complete the project, take before and after photos, and save every receipt.
- 4
Submit your application
Send DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Will County Conservation Districts the completed application with your photos and receipts, then watch for the confirmation.
In the app
Track this rebate free in the Pollinator Patch app
Free step-by-step guidance for the Illinois Collar County Conservation & Stormwater Programs, warnings before the mistakes that disqualify applications, and a photo locker that keeps your before and after photos, receipts, and notes together for the months a rebate takes.
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.
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.