How to Get the Stormwater Best Management Practices Program
City of Windsor Heights · Polk County, Iowa (Des Moines Metro), IA
What you get
The City of Windsor Heights Stormwater Best Management Practices Program cost-shares private-property projects at rates set by practice: 75% for soil quality restoration, 40% for rain gardens, 40% for native plantings, and 50% up to $75 for a rain barrel, with other practices decided case by case. Total reimbursement is capped at $1,000 per property per fiscal year and one project per property per fiscal year may be accepted. Three inspections are required (before approval, during installation, and at completion), contracted labor may be reimbursed but the property owner's own labor may not, and all stormwater fees on the property must be current (City of Windsor Heights BMP Program Application; last verified July 2026).
- Residential: 40% match for rain gardens and native plantings, 75% for soil quality restoration, 50% up to $75 for a rain barrel; capped at $1,000 per property per fiscal year
Are you eligible?
- Be a City of Windsor Heights customer
- Property located in: Windsor Heights
- Private property in Windsor Heights, Iowa
- Application must be approved before beginning the project or making any project-related purchases
- One project per property per fiscal year; total reimbursement capped at $1,000
- Three inspections required: before approval, during installation, and at completion
- Contracted labor may be reimbursed; the property owner's own labor may not
- All stormwater fees on the property must be current (verified with DMWW billing)
- Work must meet Iowa Stormwater Management Manual standards
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.
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 City of Windsor Heights 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 Stormwater Best Management Practices Program
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 the rate for your practice and confirm fees are current
Cost-share rates differ by practice: rain gardens and native plantings are matched at 40 percent, soil quality restoration at 75 percent, and rain barrels at 50 percent up to $75. Total reimbursement
- 2
Apply online with the four checklist items
Fill in the prep fields here and gather the application checklist: a map showing the project location with dimensions, an estimate and detail of total project cost, a summary of the work, and a schedu
- 3
Three inspections, with the first before approval
The City requires three inspections: one after submission but before approval to verify suitability, one during installation of the practice, and one upon completion. Once approved, build to your subm
- 4
Submit receipts, then wait for the Council meeting
After the project is complete and the final inspection passes, submit all receipts and invoices to the City. Payment is submitted for approval at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting and
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 Stormwater Best Management Practices Program, 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 Stormwater Best Management Practices Program: 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.