DC RiverSmart Rain Garden Rebate 2026 | $4.10 per sq ft of roof captured, up to $3,000

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Washington, District of Columbia Water Rebates

The RiverSmart Rain Garden Rebate is for DC residents who want to build a rain garden on their own timeline, either hiring their own contractor or doing it themselves, rather than waiting for a RiverSmart Homes audit. It pays $4.10 per square foot of roof area the garden captures, up to $3,000 and never more than the garden cost. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay administers it for DOEE and confirmed these figures in October 2026. The DOEE page still shows older numbers.

$4.10 / sq ft of roof captured, up to $3,000 · Verified October 2026

RiverSmart Rain Garden Rebate

Open the official program site

How to apply

Confirm you are a DC resident and your site has at least 400 sq ft of roof area to capture
Submit the rebate application packet with a design sketch and perc test worksheet to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Get the pre-construction inspection and written approval before building
Install the rain garden with Chesapeake Bay watershed natives at the approved size
Submit before photos, itemized invoice, and maintenance agreement for reimbursement

What you'll need

Rebate application packet and design sketch
Percolation test worksheet
Rebate maintenance agreement
Before photos and itemized invoice

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Chesapeake Bay watershed natives that fit a DC rain garden, designs an HOA-friendly layout sized to the roof area it captures, and assembles the plant list and design sketch for your application packet.

Avoid these mistakes

Don't break ground before the pre-construction inspection and written approval. Starting early disqualifies the rebate.
Don't skip the percolation test or undersize the garden. The 40 sq ft minimum and 400 sq ft of captured roof are required.
Don't plant species outside the Chesapeake Bay watershed native list.

Want help with this application?A 30-minute call, $29.99

Washington Water Rebate FAQs

How much is the DC rain garden rebate?

$4.10 per square foot of roof area the rain garden captures, up to a maximum of $3,000 and not more than the garden cost (confirmed by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, which administers the rebate for DOEE, October 2026; the DOEE page still shows the older $41 per square foot of garden area).

Do I need approval before building?

Yes. A pre-construction inspection and written approval are required before any digging. Work started before approval is not eligible.

How big does the rain garden have to be?

At least 40 square feet of garden capturing at least 400 square feet of roof, about 1 square foot of garden for every 10 square feet of roof.

What plants can I use?

Only Chesapeake Bay watershed native plants. A percolation test is also required to confirm the soil drains.

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. Every open program above also offers a 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder, for a one-time $29.99. Open the program to book it.