How to Get the Green Infrastructure Grant Program (Green Roof Retrofit)
NYC Department of Environmental Protection · New York City, NY
What you get
Funds green roof retrofits for private property owners in New York City. Reimbursement is set by green roof area and soil depth: $15 per sq ft at 1.5 to 1.99 inches of soil, $20 at 2.0 to 2.99 inches, $35 at 3.0 to 3.99 inches, and $40 at 4.0 inches or more. The minimum project amount is $50,000, with a minimum of 3,500 sq ft of green roof area and 1.5 inches of soil, so this fits larger roofs such as multi-unit and co-op buildings more than a single house. A legal agreement and restrictive covenant are required to participate. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, starting with a pre-application form emailed to the program (NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Green Infrastructure Grant Program; last verified October 2026).
- Residential: $15 to $40 per sq ft of green roof area, by soil depth ($50,000 minimum project)
Are you eligible?
- Be a NYC Department of Environmental Protection customer
- Property located in: New York, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island
- Private property owner in New York City
- Green roof retrofit with at least 3,500 sq ft of green roof area
- At least 1.5 inches of soil depth
- Project amount of at least $50,000
- Sign the legal agreement and restrictive covenant
- Submit the pre-application form to the program before starting
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.
Application window: Rolling
The application checklist
How to apply for the Green Infrastructure Grant Program (Green Roof Retrofit)
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with NYC Department of Environmental Protection before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with NYC Department of Environmental Protection 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 NYC Department of Environmental Protection 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 Green Infrastructure Grant Program (Green Roof Retrofit) 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.