DC RiverSmart Rain Garden Rebate 2026 | $41 per sq ft, 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 $41 per square foot of rain garden area, up to $3,000. The program is administered by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay on behalf of DOEE.

$41 / sq ft, up to $3,000 · Verified June 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 impervious area
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 required ratio
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 that holds the 1 to 10 ratio, 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 50 sq ft minimum and 1 to 10 ratio are required.
Don't plant species outside the Chesapeake Bay watershed native list.

Washington Water Rebate FAQs

How much is the DC rain garden rebate?

$41 per square foot of rain garden area, up to a maximum of $3,000 (DC DOEE RiverSmart Rain Garden Rebate, administered by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, verified June 2026).

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 50 square feet of garden with 400 square feet of impervious area draining to it, following a 1 to 10 ratio of garden area to impervious area.

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. A few high-value programs also offer an optional ready-to-file application packet for a one-time $29.99.