Carole Ann Barth is a senior environmental planner with Prince George’s County Department of Environmental Resources. Her principle focus is to increase County employee, public, and business awareness about sustainability and to promote stewardship through everyday actions at work and at home. Previously, Barth worked in the fields of watershed assessment and restoration planning, as well as environmental site design. She co-developed the nationally-recognized Rainbows to Rain Gardens program. Ms. Barth will speak about Prince George's County Rain Check Rebate program.

1. “Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future”

2. T Trash
W Water
E Environmental Justice
E Energy, Air, Climate
T Trees
S Sustainability
Focus Areas

3. Community Outreach Promoting Empowerment
Increase public and business awareness about
sustainability and promote active stewardship in everyday
actions at work and at home.

4. “TURN COMMUNITIES GREEN” WITH TREES

5. ReLeaf Grant Program provides
landscape funding to
community organizations and
municipalities for planting trees
and shrubs in public spaces.
Municipalities can get up to
$10,000 and community
associations / groups can get up
to $5,000.

6. Prince George’s County
Rain Check Rebate Program
6“Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect”

7. Clean Water
Act Fee
Rain Check
Rebate
7
 State law applies to
9 counties and City of
Baltimore
 Fee added to annual
property tax bill
 Fee based on the amount
of impervious surface
 Provides funds to clean
water and revitalize aging
neighborhoods
 County program
 Provides property owners
with cash rebates for
installing eligible
stormwater practices to
reduce stormwater
impacts
 Property owners can apply
for a reduced Clean Water
Act Fee

8. Eligible Practices
Urban Tree
Canopy
Rain Barrel Cistern
Rain
Garden
Permeable
Pavement
Green Roof
Pavement
Removal
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9. Applicant Eligibility
 Eligible Applicants include:
– Homeowners
– Members of a housing cooperative
– Commercial businesses
– Multi-family dwellings
– Nonprofit organizations
– Not-for-profit organizations
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10. Project Eligibility
 A project is eligible for a rebate if:
1. The project is located within Prince George’s County
2. The project is completed within 12 months of application
approval
3. DER conducts pre- and post-installation site visits and finds the
project in compliance with the approved application*
4. The project follows the
program guidelines
and criteria
Residential Rain Garden
* Rain barrels do not require
pre-inspection
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11. Maximum Rebate
Per Property
 $2,000 maximum residential rebate
 $20,000 maximum rebate for commercial
properties and multi-family dwellings
 Rebate amount
cannot exceed the
cost of the project
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Urban Tree Canopy

12. Urban Tree Canopy
 Planting native trees helps
increase the urban tree canopy
 Leaves and roots absorb
rainfall and slow down
stormwater runoff
 Trees take up water and
nutrients through their roots
 Trees improve air quality, water
quality, and property values,
and save energy by shading
buildings
12
Residential Rebate Amount:
$1,200/lot or $150/tree
Non-residential Rebate
Amount:
$1,800/lot; $150/tree

13. Rain Barrels
 Containers used to collect
rainwater from your roof and
store it for later use
(e.g., watering your lawn and
garden)
 Rain barrels reduce
stormwater runoff, allowing
more of the water to soak into
the ground, replenishing
groundwater
Source: Katie Elzer-Peters13
Residential Rebate Amount:
$50 (must capture 100 gallons)
Non-residential Rebate
Amount:
$100 (must capture 200 gallons)

14. Cisterns
 Much larger than rain
barrels, cisterns are
sealed tanks used to
collect rainwater from
your roof
 Cisterns store water
for landscape
irrigation and car
washing
14
Residential Rebate Amount:
$500 maximum ($1/gallon stored,
250 gallons minimum)
Non-residential Rebate Amount:
$2,000 maximum ($1/gallon stored,
250 gallons minimum)

15. Rain Gardens
 Like a cupped hand, a rain
garden’s shallow depression
collects rainfall so it can soak
into the soil, where pollutants
are filtered out.
 In addition, rain gardens
provide aesthetic appeal and
attract birds and butterflies.
15
Residential Rebate Amount:
$1,200/rain garden
Non-residential Rebate Amount:
$2,500/rain garden or $1/sq. ft.
impervious area
treated, whichever is greater

16. Pavement Removal
 Replacing paved areas
with planted areas
helps slow the runoff
down, spread it out, and
soak it in.
16
Residential Rebate Amount:
$600-$1,200 (100 sq. ft.
minimum; $6/sq. ft.)
Non-residential Rebate Amount:
$1,800 to $5,000 (300 sq. ft.
minimum; $6/sq. ft.)
 Removal also
enhances property
values and aesthetics

17. Permeable Pavement
 Permeable pavement
allows stormwater to
seep into the soil instead
of washing into
stormdrains
 A variety of permeable
pavement materials are
available
17
Residential Rebate Amount:
$1,200 (100 square foot
minimum)
Non-residential Rebate Amount:
$5,000 (350 square foot
minimum)
Source: DDOE

18. Green Roofs
 A green roof is a low-
maintenance, vegetated
roof system that stores
rainwater
 Can increase property
value, reduce heating
and cooling costs, and
provide habitat for
bees and other
pollinators
18
Residential Rebate Amount:
$10/sq. ft. (300 sq. ft. or ¼ roof
retrofit, minimum)
Non-residential Rebate Amount:
$10/sq. ft. if less than 6”of planting
material.$20/sq. ft. if over 6”of
planting material. (300 sq. ft. or ¼
roof retrofit, minimum)
Source: Arlington County

19. Rebate Practice Guidelines
 Consult the Practice
Guidelines for
detailed information
on practice
standards, costs,
maintenance
requirements, and
more
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Guidelines can be found at:
www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/
StormwaterManagement/Resources/BMP

20. How to GetYour Rebate
1
a) Determine what practices are suitable for your property
2
a) Fill out and submit the rebate application
b) Schedule a pre-installation site visit for all practices except rain
barrels
3
a) Install the practice within 12 months of approval
b) Schedule a post-installation site visit
4
a) Submit receipts to DER
b) Receive rebate check
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21. How to GetYour Rebate
2. a) Submit Application
 Submit application online or by mail
 DER will send you an email confirming
receipt and provide you with an application
number
 DER will then assess the application’s
eligibility and completeness
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22. How to GetYour Rebate
2. b) Pre-Installation Visit
 Pre-installment site visit with project
coordinator
– Not required for rain barrels
– Project coordinator takes notes and photos
 Applicant will be informed of status
I. More Information is Needed
II. The Project is Denied
III. The Project is Approved
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23. How to GetYour Rebate
3. a) Install the Practice
 Install the practice
(either by yourself or
by a contractor)
within of
approval
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Before
After

24. How to GetYour Rebate
3. b) Post-InstallationVisit
 Project coordinator will visit the site and
complete an Inspection Checklist
 After, the project coordinator will inform
you:
– Installation is deficient: Project Correction
– Installation is acceptable: Project Completion
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25. How to GetYour Rebate
4. a) Submit Receipts and
4. b) Receive Rebate Check
 After post-installation site visit, you must submit
receipts to DER
 Once installation is acceptable and receipts
have been submitted, a rebate check will be
issued.
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26. Engage
People in
restoration
Promote
Sustainable
solutions
Empower
Community
Action
Improve
Environmental
Quality
Revitalize
Communities
Questions?