How to Get the Rainscaping Small Grants Program
MSD Project Clear / Missouri Botanical Garden · St. Louis Metro, MO
What you get
Grants for rainscaping projects: rain gardens, native plantings, permeable pavement, and other stormwater management features. Reimbursement after project completion. Check eligibility map for service area.
- Residential: Up to $4,000
Are you eligible?
- Be a MSD Project Clear / Missouri Botanical Garden customer
- Property located in: St. Louis, Clayton, University City, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Maryland Heights, Creve Coeur, Brentwood, Richmond Heights, Maplewood, Ferguson, Florissant
- Property must be within MSD Project Clear service area (check online map)
- Do not begin installation until application is approved and Notice to Proceed received
- Must complete orientation video and survey before applying
- Applications accepted by mail or hand delivery only
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.
Rolling applications; no deadlines. River des Peres area funds may be waitlisted until July 2026. Reimbursement typically 4–5 months after completion. Deer Creek Watershed Alliance has a separate program; landowners may only receive one award.
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
Apply and get written approval first
Submit your application to MSD Project Clear / Missouri Botanical Garden 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
Do the conversion
Replace your lawn with the qualifying landscaping, following the eligibility requirements above.
- 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.
We compile these programs from utility and city pages, and not every amount here has been independently confirmed. Program details also change throughout the year. Always verify requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with your water utility 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.