The Rebate Process

The RainWise Program provides rebates that cover most or all of the cost of installing cisterns and/or rain gardens on your property. To receive a rebate, you must be in an eligible combined sewer overflow (CSO) basin and work with a RainWise-trained contractor.

Steps to Receive Your Rebate

1. Check your Eligibility

Visit our eligibility page to confirm that your property is eligible for a RainWise rebate. You may be eligible for a cistern rebate, a rain garden rebate or both.

2. Find a Contractor 

We have RainWise-trained contractors who are ready to work in your neighborhood. Explore our Find a Contractor page and different contractors’ web pages to learn more about them. The first step in hiring a contractor is to schedule a consultation or site visit. Consider attending a RainWise event to meet contractors online or in-person.

3. Work with your Contractor on a Design 

You can work with a contractor to design a RainWise installation that fits your site and your preferences by choosing from a selection of cisterns and plant options.

4. Pre-inspection and Build 

The contractor will arrange for a free pre-construction inspection with the city or county in order to get the green light for the project to move forward. After this is completed, they can begin construction on the installation.

Two people standing next to a black cistern up against a red house
A group of people stands behind an impressive rain garden

5. Final Inspection 

Your contractor will make arrangements for a final inspection by a city or county RainWise inspector upon completion. This ensures the project will work before the rebate is paid out.

6. Receive your Rebate! 

Work with your contractor to submit a completed RainWise package. After this is completed, you will receive your RainWise rebate in 4 – 8 weeks.

7. Maintenance 

It is important to maintain your rain garden or cistern. Make sure your contractor shows you how or that you contract with them to do regular maintenance. For more information and resources, visit our maintenance page.

Financial Support

The RainWise program also offers financial resources to help homeowners pay for the upfront costs and smaller out of pocket expenses associated with RainWise installations. We hope to make RainWise accessible to low income and underserved communities.

RainWise Access Grant

If you are income-qualified or represent a not-for-profit organization, you may be eligible for a RainWise Access Grant through Stewardship Partners to help cover out-of-pocket expenses. Learn more about the RainWise Access Grant on the Stewardship Partners website.

Vendor Payment Option

If you need help with upfront costs, some RainWise contractors offer a Vendor Payment Option. The contractor pays the installation costs upfront, submits the rebate paperwork to RainWise, and receives the rebate check directly from the County or City. To find out if a contractor offers the Vendor Payment Option, look for VPO in their profile on the Find a Contractor page.