How to Get the Rain Ready Alabama Rebate
Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility (ADEM Section 319-funded) · Statewide Alabama (eligible watersheds only), AL
What you get
Rain Ready Alabama, run by the Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility with ADEM Section 319 Nonpoint Source funding, reimburses up to 75% of the cost of a rain garden, bioretention area, bioswale, permeable pavement, or rainwater harvesting system on a residential property. Eligibility is limited to ADEM-designated impaired watersheds with an approved watershed management plan, checked through an interactive eligibility map rather than a fixed city list. The standard reimbursement is capped at $2,500 per household; special projects with broader community impact may qualify for additional funding (Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility; last verified July 2026).
- Residential: Up to 75% of project cost, capped at $2,500 per household
Are you eligible?
- Be a Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility (ADEM Section 319-funded) customer
- Property must fall within an ADEM-designated eligible watershed (confirm via the official eligibility map)
- Submit an Interest Form, then a full Application before starting work
- Complete an Implementation and Reimbursement Form after the project is built
- Funding is limited and awarded first-come, first-served
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: Ongoing, first-come first-served while funding lasts
Watershed-restricted, not statewide-unconditional - eligibility depends on the property falling inside one of ADEM's designated impaired watersheds with an approved management plan, checked via an interactive ArcGIS map, not a static city list. Streambank stabilization ($15,000 cap) and septic pump-out ($500 cap) are separate line items under the same program with their own caps; only the rain garden/bioretention/permeable pavement/bioswale/rainwater harvesting category is modeled here, and the program page FAQ caps its standard reimbursement at $2,500 per household (special projects may receive additional funding).
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 Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility (ADEM Section 319-funded) 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.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Rain Ready Alabama
These are the steps this application actually takes. The Pollinator Patch app walks you through each one free, with reminders and a photo locker.
- 1
Check your watershed, then submit the Interest Form
First, open the eligibility map in the documents list above and enter your address. Eligible areas are watersheds with an approved watershed management plan. If your property qualifies, submit the sho
- 2
Plan the project and submit the Application
Once your Interest Form is approved, plan the project. The Rain Ready Alabama team helps with project planning, and you can use a pre-approved contractor, hire your own, or do the work yourself. Attac
- 3
Build the project, keep every receipt
Complete the work exactly as approved. Save every itemized receipt and invoice as you go, and take photos during construction. If anything needs to change from the approved plan, email rainready@aubur
- 4
Submit the Reimbursement Form
When the project is finished per the approved plan, take your after photos, gather your itemized receipts, and submit the Reimbursement Form. The program reviews it and issues payment to you. Eligible
When you are ready to file, an optional ready-to-file packet is available in the app for a one-time $29.99.
In the app
Track this rebate free in the Pollinator Patch app
Free step-by-step guidance for the Rain Ready Alabama, warnings before the mistakes that disqualify applications, and a photo locker that keeps your before and after photos, receipts, and notes together for the months a rebate takes.
Rebate Concierge
Want your application packet prepared?
For a one-time $29.99 we build your ready-to-file packet for the Rain Ready Alabama: the plant list and documentation the program asks for, a step-by-step guide through their online application, and a pre-approval checklist so you do not start work before the program signs off.
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 purchase per application. 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.