How to Get the Rochester Garden Grants Rebate

What you get

The City of Rochester awards a limited number of grants of $1,000 or less each year to establish pollinator habitat and water stewardship gardens. Eligible expenses include design, plants, mulch, soil amendments, and related materials. Residents including homeowners and renters may apply. Applications are accepted October 1 through December 31 for gardens installed the following growing season (City of Rochester Garden Grants page; last verified July 2026).

• Residential: Grants of $1,000 or less

Are you eligible?

• Be a City of Rochester, Minnesota customer
• Property located in: Rochester
• Project within Rochester city limits on a parcel owned by the applicant or with the landlord written consent
• Minimum match of at least 25% of the requested funding, in materials, services, or cash
• Garden installed in the growing season after the award
• Maintained at least five years under a signed agreement
• Garden publicly viewable with a program sign

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. 1

   Apply and get written approval first

   Submit your application to City of Rochester, Minnesota 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. 2

   Do the conversion

   Replace your lawn with the qualifying landscaping, following the eligibility requirements above.

3. 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.