Skip to main content
Home/Rebates/Washington/Seattle

Washington Water Rebates

Seattle, Washington Water Rebates

RainWise is a Seattle Public Utilities and King County rebate that pays residents to install rain gardens and cisterns that capture rooftop runoff. It pays up to $13.12 per square foot of rooftop runoff controlled, which often covers most of the project cost. Two rules shape who can take part. Your property has to sit in an eligible combined sewer overflow basin, and the work has to be done by a RainWise-trained contractor.

Up to $13.12 / sq ft

RainWise Rain Garden & Cistern Rebate

Open the official program site

How to apply

  1. Use the RainWise eligibility checker to confirm your property is in a qualifying CSO basin
  2. Find a RainWise-trained contractor with the program locator
  3. Have the contractor design the rain garden or cistern to control your rooftop runoff
  4. Complete the installation through the trained contractor
  5. Maintain the project for five years to keep the rebate in good standing

What you'll need

  • Proof the property is in an eligible CSO basin
  • RainWise-trained contractor agreement
  • Project design controlling rooftop runoff
  • Completed installation records

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Seattle-appropriate native plants for the rain garden, designs an HOA-friendly layout that handles your rooftop runoff, and assembles a plant list you can share with your RainWise-trained contractor.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Don't skip the eligibility check. The rebate only applies inside qualifying combined sewer overflow basins.
  • Don't hire a contractor who is not RainWise-trained. The program only pays for work done by trained contractors.
  • Don't neglect the five-year maintenance. The rebate requires you to keep the project working for five years.

Seattle Water Rebate FAQs

How much does Seattle RainWise pay?
Up to $13.12 per square foot of rooftop runoff controlled, which often covers most of the project cost (Seattle Public Utilities RainWise, verified June 2026).
How do I know if I am eligible?
Your property has to be in an eligible combined sewer overflow basin. Use the RainWise eligibility checker to confirm before you start.
Can I use any contractor?
No. The rebate only covers rain gardens and cisterns installed by a RainWise-trained contractor. The program offers a locator to find one.
Do I have to maintain the rain garden?
Yes. You maintain the rain garden or cistern for five years after installation to keep the rebate in good standing.

We're considering this

Want help applying for one of these rebates?

We're considering a guided concierge service that walks you through the paperwork for your local rebate. Tell us if you'd use it.

Get started

Plan a native yard with Pollinator Patch.

Pick the right native plants for your region, design an HOA-friendly layout, and generate documentation that supports your rebate application.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google PlayOpen on desktop
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.

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.