Frequently Asked Questions

Visit the Primer Guide.

• Check the Rockville City map for Rockville; for Gaithersburg and Takoma Park, you will need to call those jurisdictions.
• Rebate Programs
  • City of Rockville Rebate Program
  • City of Gaithersburg Rebate Program
  • Takoma Park does not currently have a rebate program.
• Send an email query to [email protected].

• If you need language assistance, please request it prior to a scheduled meeting. 

• Processing times for all aspects of our program have been slowed down due to the large number of applications we have been receiving.
• The length of the process will vary depending on the completeness of the application, assistance needed and complexity of the project. 
• At this time, you can expect to hear back from a planner within 8-12 weeks of applying with the goal of getting a project approved for installation within 6 months of applying.

• The entire upfront cost of the project is the property owners’ responsibility. When the project has been installed and has passed the final inspection, a rebate will be issued based on the project type rebate metrics  as determined by the project size up to $7,500. RainScapes Rewards is not a grant program.

• An estimate of the rebate amount will be provided when the project is approved, based on the approved project size. Any enlargement to the project size should be approved by your RainScapes planner prior to installation if you want that area considered for a rebate.
• The rebate will be based on the total of all applicable paid receipts up to and not exceeding the determined rebate maximum, at the rate on the  rebate schedule table (PDF).
• Sales tax will be excluded from the receipt total.

• To find out how much cost is covered see the Rainscapes Project Cost Table (PDF)

• When your rebate application is approved by our program, the funds are committed to your project; however, if your project is not completed within the allotted 6-month time, the application may be withdrawn. 
• You will receive an automated email message 30 days in advance notifying you that your project will be withdrawn unless we hear back from you. Extensions will be granted on a case-by-case basis, such as for projects that are underway but not complete, or due to unforeseen delays.
• Applications that are withdrawn due to inactivity no longer have funds committed to them. You will then need to reapply if you want to proceed with your project.

• Send an email query to  [email protected]

• There is no physical copy of the application available; however, you can contact the RainScapes Program to help submit an electronic application on your behalf. 
  • Email:  [email protected]

• Yes, but we encourage you to apply for only the projects that you can undertake at one time and complete within a year.

• No, you do not have to have a plan in advance of applying to the rebate program. If you do already have a plan, however, we encourage you to upload a copy during the application process.  You can also upload a few images of your site area at that time.

• Processing times for all aspects of our program have been slowed down due to the large number of applications we have been receiving.  
• Currently, you can expect a wait time of 8-12 weeks. Please send any questions or concerns regarding these delays to  [email protected].

• A site assessment is performed by a RainScapes planner, either in person or virtually through a smartphone or tablet. The planner will walk the site with the applicant to assess the project concept for eligibility. 
• If the project is eligible, the planner will prepare an assessment report with observations and recommendations to consider for your property. 

• No, as long as the program and project type requirements are met. You must still submit a plan for approval prior to installation.

• Review the information in the assessment report;
• Call Miss Utility (811) to identify utilities before any digging is performed;

• You may start installation after receiving an official project approval email from our program. 
• Design can occur at any time, but projects installed prior to a site assessment and plan approval will not be accepted as a rebatable project. 

• Please contact your planner to determine if your project will still qualify.

• No, except for certain project types such as green roofs and permeable pavers. See project types for individual project rules and requirements. We require minimum standards be met whether working with a professional or on your own.

We are  not permitted to recommend professional landscape contractors. Refer to these documents for guidance:

• Choosing a Professional (PDF)
• RainScapes Landscape Professionals List (PDF)

*This list contains the names of companies whose employees have taken a Rainscapes Contractors training class and is provided for  informational purpose only. Montgomery County, Maryland, does not endorse, recommend, or make representations regarding individual vendors, products or services. Therefore, inclusion in the list does not constitute or imply the endorsement, recommendation, or approval by Montgomery County concerning the quality of products or services offered or provided by any company whose name appears on this site. Please check with your contractor for proof of appropriate licenses, such as professional registration and MHIC (if installing work).  

RainScapes training is not a certification program. Two new certification programs are now offered in the region: The  National Green Infrastructure Certified Professional and the  Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional. Professionals attending RainScapes classes have been allowed to use them as continuing education credits for LACES (Landscape Architects), NGICP and CBLP.

• No, however the professional you choose to work with must meet our requirements in designing and/or installing your project type.

• Please review the project type rules and requirements section and the resources provided for additional guidance.

• Please refer to this resource:  Make a Planting Plan (PDF)

• Please refer to these two resources for help:
  • plant spacing guidance (PDF)
  • plant quantities spreadsheet (XLSX)

• Native plants to the mid-Atlantic region are required, however the use of non-native species is permitted as long as at least 75% are native. 
• Plants that are NOT Permitted: Invasive, or “sterile” cultivars of native plants.

• The  Maryland Native Plant Society has a list of nurseries that carry native plants

• You will receive email notification from the RainScapes program that your project has been approved and for how much rebate your project qualifies. 
• The notification will contain a link to the Property Owner Agreement (POA), which you will need to electronically sign.  We cannot accept emailed or printed copies of the signed agreement.

• The Agreement specifies the general terms and conditions of the Property Owner’s participation in the RainScapes Rewards Program.

• You or your professional contractor will need to provide the required  plan documents within 3 months of receiving your site assessment report.  Once your project is approved for installation, you’ll have 6 months in which to install it and have it inspected for final rebate approval.
• You will receive a reminder email 30 days prior to the 3-month deadline if we have not yet received your plan. You can request an extension by contacting either your planner or  [email protected].

• Planted projects can typically be installed between April and November but it depends on weather and the likelihood of frost or overly rainy conditions. More  planting guidance (PDF). 
• Permeable pavement projects can be installed year-round provided the ground isn’t frozen. Water harvesting projects should be installed in spring, summer or fall as they typically need to be winterized over winter.

• No. Ask your RainScapes planner for assistance if you are unsure of the location of rights-of-way and easements. 

• Contact your RainScapes planner to schedule a final inspection. 
• At this time the final inspections are typically conducted virtually rather than in person.
• Be prepared to take measurements and photos of your project for verification of the project.

• Submit receipts
• Submit images and measurements if requested
• Digitally sign the Property Owner Agreement if not already done.

• Yes. The final rebate amount will be based on the total amount of acceptable receipts, up to the approved rebate amount for your project. Plants listed on the receipts will be checked against the plan and plant list that was approved and verified as installed.
• ​All receipts related to the cost of the project must be submitted, including proof of payment-in-full invoices for all work performed by others. When using an installation contractor, all work must be final and all payments made in full to the contractor before a rebate can be issued. Receipts issued for cash or electronic purchases, invoices marked “paid,” copies of cancelled checks, screen shots of electronic funds transfers (such as through third parties, like Venmo), or copies of bank or credit card statements (with sensitive information blacked out) are all acceptable forms of proof of payment.

• In general, the purchase of approved plants; materials, such as mulch, compost and stone; hardware, such as pipe and connectors; equipment rental, such as a tiller; design fees; and labor can be included as long as they pertain specifically to the project and there is proof of purchase. The purchase of tools and equipment, such as shovels, or wheelbarrows, cannot be included. If you are unsure, submit all receipts to your planner for a determination.

• No

• Typically, within 8-12 weeks after your final inspection.

• You will be eligible to apply for a reduction in the  Water Quality Protection Charge (WQPC) that appears on your property tax bill. 
  • Upon project completion, you will be provided with information on how to apply for the credit. The RainScapes Program urges all applicants with completed projects to apply for this tax reduction. Visit the  WQPC site.
• The Property Owner Agreement permits access to your property by County staff to conduct an  inspection of your project every three years. 
  • Enrolling in the WQPC Credit program can substitute for the in-person inspection by County staff for the follow up inspections. More information:  WQPC Credit program. 
  • Inspection access will be limited to looking only at the RainScapes projects or other stormwater management projects installed on the property to verify that they are still in place and functioning as intended.
• You are expected to  keep your project reasonably maintained and property functioning throughout the year and for the duration. Maintenance needs generally decrease in 2-3 years for planted projects.
  • Maintenance information for conservation landscapes (PDF)

• A project that has been installed prior to RainScapes approval
• A project in an area that has already received a RainScapes rebate
• A project that does not receive runoff from an impervious surface
• A project that requires a permit or was installed because of a stormwater permit requirement
• A grant-funded project
• A project that is re-landscaping current, healthy, non-invasive landscaping 
• A project within the right-of-way or within an easement

• RainScapes is a voluntary program and does not perform code enforcement.
• Please refer your neighbor to this information on our website.