How to Get the Stormwater Fee Credit for Lawn to Native Forest Conversion Rebate
Township of Maplewood · Essex County, Rahway River watershed, NJ
What you get
Maplewood credits a residential stormwater bill by 10% for every 2,000 square feet of lawn removed and converted to natural forested area, up to 40%, within an overall 50% residential credit ceiling. The conversion must be planted with native trees of at least 2.0 to 2.5 inch caliper on 30 to 50 foot centers, with a detailed plan submitted to the Township Certified Tree Expert, and mulch is not permitted as forest floor material. This is an ongoing reduction of the annual stormwater fee, not a one-time cash rebate: the Base Rate is $70 per Equivalent Residential Unit per year, so the 40% maximum is worth roughly $28 a year on a typical single-family property (Township of Maplewood Stormwater Management Fee Credit & Adjustment Policy Manual and Ordinance 3138-24; last verified August 2026).
- Residential: 10% off the stormwater fee for every 2,000 sq ft of lawn converted to native forest, up to 40%
Are you eligible?
- Be a Township of Maplewood customer
- Property located in: Maplewood
- Residential property containing three residences or fewer in Maplewood Township
- Lawn area removed and converted to natural forested area, credited at 10% per 2,000 sq ft up to 40%
- Native trees of minimum 2.0 to 2.5 inch caliper planted on 30 to 50 foot centers depending on species
- Detailed plan submitted to the Township Certified Tree Expert
- Mulch is not permitted as forest floor material; soil amendments and additional native plants may be required
- Credit application submitted to the Township Engineer and verified by Township staff
Before you start
Application window: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis within 60 days. Approved credits apply to the account in the following year and do not expire while the owner stays compliant.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Stormwater Fee Credit for Lawn to Native Forest Conversion
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with Township of Maplewood before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with Township of Maplewood 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 Township of Maplewood the completed application with your photos and receipts, then watch for the confirmation.
Get help applying
Want a hand with the application?
A 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder. He reads the Stormwater Fee Credit for Lawn to Native Forest Conversion 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.
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.
What people report after they apply
We ask people who filed Stormwater Fee Credit for Lawn to Native Forest Conversion whether it was approved, what they were paid, and how many days it took. A public payout time appears here only after 5 reports include a day count. Your dollar amount is stored and is not published on this page.