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District of Columbia Water Rebates

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

RiverSmart Rain Garden Rebate

Open the official program site

How to apply

  1. Confirm you are a DC resident and your site has at least 400 sq ft of impervious area
  2. Submit the rebate application packet with a design sketch and perc test worksheet to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
  3. Get the pre-construction inspection and written approval before building
  4. Install the rain garden with Chesapeake Bay watershed natives at the required ratio
  5. 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.

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Programs change throughout the year. If something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we'll check it against the provider.

We compile these programs from utility and city pages, and not every amount here has been independently confirmed. Program details also change throughout the year. Always verify requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with your water utility before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.