Residential & Commercial Landscape Rebates Available

Empowering Orange County’s residents and businesses to protect our waterways is extremely important to us. That’s why we are working with the Municipal Water District of Orange County and local water retailers to provide additional funds for existing landscape transformation rebate opportunities. 

The RainSmart Rebates Pilot Program consists of both the Residential Rainwater Collection Incentives Program for individual residents and the Large Landscape Upgrade Program for homeowners associations (HOAs) and commercial properties. By utilizing these rebates, residents, HOAs, and businesses can save money and help protect our waterways from runoff pollution. Keep reading below to learn about runoff pollution, rebate eligibility, and how you can secure your landscape upgrade funds. 

What is Runoff Pollution?

Runoff is water from rain and outdoor water use that drains from surfaces such as roofs, driveways, and sidewalks into the storm drain system. This water can pick up pollutants like bacteria from pet waste, trash, or yard debris on its way to the nearest storm drain. 

Unlike the sewer system, which transports and treats water used inside homes and businesses, anything that flows into the storm drain system can go untreated into OC’s creeks, rivers, and ocean. It’s critical for residents and businesses to prevent runoff pollution to keep our waterways healthy. 

Upgrading residential and large landscapes to increase rainwater collection and reduce water waste can turn anyone into a rainwater protector. Let’s dive-in to each rebate program so you can see which is the best fit for you.

What is the Residential Rainwater Collection Incentives Program?

The Residential Rainwater Collection Incentives Program offers rebate payments for home upgrades that collect rainwater and prevent runoff. These upgrades include redirecting rainwater from impermeable surfaces (i.e., roofs) into landscaped areas featuring OC Garden Friendly plants, adding rain containers like rain barrels or cisterns, and installing new gutters.

Program Benefits:

• $0.75/sq. ft. of impermeable surface treated up to $1,500 for rain gardens and containers. 
• $5/linear foot of new gutters installed up to $300.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this rebate program, you must:

• Receive water from one of the following water providers: El Toro Water District, Laguna Beach County Water District, Moulton Niguel Water District, Santa Margarita Water District, City of San Clemente, South Coast Water District, Trabuco Canyon Water District.
• Be the property owner or have explicit consent from the property owner to do the project.
• Be willing to complete a landscape upgrade project.

For more information on the Residential Rainwater Collection Incentives Program and to claim your spot, click here. 

What is the Large Landscape Upgrade Program?

The Large Landscape Upgrade Program offers HOAs and commercial property owners with landscape design and installation assistance. It also provides rebate payments for upgrades that collect rainwater and prevent runoff like replacing turf and adding rain gardens or containers. 

Program Benefits:

• Start to finish design and installation assistance
• 50% of the design cost (up to $2,500) through a program designer
• An additional $1/sq. ft. turf removal rebate (check current rebate rates in your area offered through the Regional Turf Replacement Program)
• 100% of the cost for approved rainwater treatment features needed to treat impermeable surfaces like roofs and parking lots.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this rebate program, you must:

• Receive water from one of the following water providers: El Toro Water District, Laguna Beach County Water District, Moulton Niguel Water District, Santa Margarita Water District, City of San Clemente, South Coast Water District, Trabuco Canyon Water District.
• Have at least 10,000 sq. ft. of existing turfgrass with an operating in-ground irrigation system.
• Be willing to complete a large turf replacement and rainwater treatment project.

For more information on the Large Landscape Upgrade Program and to claim your spot, click here.

Secure Your Rebate Today

Whether you own a residential or commercial property, you can make a critical impact to help OC’s creeks, rivers, and ocean thrive. These residential and commercial upgrades can beautify your property, lower water usage, and keep our waterways healthy. Additionally, our rebates stack on top of existing incentives to put even more money back in your pocket while protecting our waterways. 

Our waterways are counting on you to help them flourish. By collecting rainwater and keeping pollutants out of our water bodies, you can make an impact no matter where you live in Orange County. 

Thank you for being a rainwater protector and the solution to runoff pollution.