How to Get the Homeowner Grant Program

What you get

The City of Johnston Homeowner Grant Program provides up to a 50% match on best-management-practice projects, with a maximum reimbursement of $1,250, covering rain gardens/bioretention cells, native planting gardens/buffers/swales, and soil quality restoration (rain barrels are funded separately at a $75 max, once per address). Funding is first-come, subject to Community Development approval, and can be used across multiple fiscal years for different BMP projects (City of Johnston; last verified July 2026).

• Residential: Up to 50% match, maximum reimbursement of $1,250

Are you eligible?

• Be a City of Johnston customer
• Property located in: Johnston
• Property in Johnston, Iowa
• Community Development Department approval required before work begins
• First-come basis
• Eligible practices: rain gardens/bioretention cells, native planting gardens/buffers/swales, soil quality restoration

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

   Apply and get written approval first

   Submit your application to City of Johnston and wait for written approval before you remove any turf or start work. Starting early is the most common reason a rebate is denied.

2. 2

   Do the conversion

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

3. 3

   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.