How to Get the Stormwater Incentive Program
Village of Wilmette · North Shore, Cook County, IL
What you get
A one-time incentive of 50% of construction cost, up to $3,500, for installing an eligible rain garden, bioretention system, or other permitted stormwater management practice (Group A). Any Wilmette property owner may apply, first-come, first-served against the annual program budget ($40,000 for 2026). A permit must be issued before installation begins (Village of Wilmette; confirmed by program staff, last verified August 2026).
- Residential: 50% of construction cost, up to $3,500 (rain gardens, bioretention, or other permitted stormwater practices)
Are you eligible?
- Be a Village of Wilmette customer
- Property located in: Wilmette
- Property in the Village of Wilmette
- Eligible Group A improvement: rain garden, bioretention, bioswale, or other Village-permitted stormwater practice
- Permit applied for and issued before installation begins
- Submit the permit application and acknowledgement form with site plan, scope, and cost estimate; 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.
Wilmette also offers a separate, ongoing stormwater fee credit in addition to this one-time incentive.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Stormwater Incentive Program
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with Village of Wilmette before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with Village of Wilmette 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 Village of Wilmette 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 Stormwater Incentive Program 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.