How to Get the Stormwater Fee Credit (Rain Garden) Rebate
City of Northampton (Stormwater & Flood Control Utility) · Pioneer Valley / Western Massachusetts, MA
What you get
An ongoing credit on the stormwater utility fee (NOT a one-time cash rebate): up to a 25% fee reduction for building a rain garden of at least 100 square feet that meets the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook design requirements, with total credits per property capped at 50% of the stormwater fee. Open to all small residential (1-3 family) properties; the credit continues as long as the rain garden is maintained (City of Northampton DPW, Stormwater & Flood Control Utility; last verified June 2026).
- Residential: Up to 25% off the stormwater fee per rain garden (50% total cap)
Are you eligible?
- Be a City of Northampton (Stormwater & Flood Control Utility) customer
- Property located in: Northampton, Florence, Leeds
- Small residential (1-3 family) property in Northampton
- Rain garden minimum 100 sq ft per the MA Stormwater Handbook
- Ongoing maintenance to keep the credit
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.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Stormwater Fee Credit (Rain Garden)
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with City of Northampton (Stormwater & Flood Control Utility) before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with City of Northampton (Stormwater & Flood Control Utility) 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 City of Northampton (Stormwater & Flood Control Utility) 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 (Rain Garden) 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.