Maryland Water Rebates
Bethesda, Maryland Water Rebates
Montgomery County RainScapes Rewards pays $5 per square foot for conservation landscaping that replaces lawn or invasive plants with native plants and improved soil. The rebate reaches $7,500 for residential parcels and $20,000 for commercial, HOA, multifamily, or institutional parcels. It also covers rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement, and pavement removal. Every project needs pre-approval from the county before installation, and rebates pay out after a final inspection and submitted receipts.
$5 / sq ft up to $7,500 · Verified July 2026
RainScapes Rewards: Conservation Landscaping
Open the official program site (opens in new tab)How to apply
- Confirm your parcel is in Montgomery County outside Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Takoma Park
- Apply online for RainScapes Rewards and wait to be assigned a planner, usually within 2 to 4 weeks
- Get written pre-approval from the Department of Environmental Protection before installing
- Install with native plants, quart-or-larger containers, and de-compacted, compost-amended soil
- Pass the final inspection and submit receipts to receive the rebate
What you'll need
- RainScapes Rewards application
- Property and parcel information
- Pre-approval confirmation from DEP
- Native plant list and planting plan
- Itemized receipts for the final inspection
Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Montgomery County natives in quart-or-larger sizes, designs an HOA-friendly conservation landscape that meets the soil and coverage rules, and assembles the plant list and photo packet for your RainScapes application.
Avoid these mistakes
- Don't install before you have written pre-approval. Rebates only pay out on pre-approved projects.
- Don't seed the area or use plants smaller than a quart for non-groundcover plants. Both fail the requirements.
- Don't skip the soil prep. The county requires de-compaction at least 9 inches plus 2 inches of compost.
Bethesda Water Rebate FAQs
How much does Montgomery County RainScapes pay for conservation landscaping?
Can I install first and apply later?
What are the planting and soil rules?
Who is eligible?
Rebate Concierge
Free step-by-step help with every rebate above
Every program above comes with a free guided checklist in the Pollinator Patch app: the steps in order, warnings before the mistakes that disqualify applications, and a photo locker that keeps your before and after photos and receipts together. A few high-value programs also offer an optional ready-to-file application packet for a one-time $29.99.
Get started
Plan a native yard with Pollinator Patch.
Pick the right native plants for your region, design an HOA-friendly layout, and generate documentation that supports your rebate application.
