Stormwater Management

We are certified to install conservation landscaping features in all DMV-area counties. Whether you already have an approved site plan, or if you’re not sure where to start, get in touch - we can help!

DC - VA - PG County - Montgomery County

Love & Carrots can help homeowners apply for grant funding and rebates for implementing stormwater management practices on their properties. This work is funded by the US EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant, and depending on where you live, varying amounts of funding are available. Applicable projects include installing conservation landscaping, rain gardens, bioretention areas, and permeable pavers. We can combine grant projects with other gardening and landscaping work on your property to help you save on overall project costs!

DC’s Riversmart Homes Program

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and DC’s DOEE administer the Riversmart Homes Grants and Rebates, and since 2017, we’ve installed hundreds of Riversmart projects across the District, including Bayscapes, rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable pavers. With a small copay, grants cover the cost of the project including the design; lower cost, but a longer process. Rebates allow you to skip the long wait, but you cover all the project costs up front and then apply for a partial refund for qualifying projects after completion.

Project Specs and Funding for Residential properties:

Grants:

• Rain Gardens: copayment of $200 per 50 square foot rain garden (limit two gardens per property)

• BayScaping: copayment of $200 per 120 square foot conservation landscape (limit two gardens per property)

Rebates:

• Rain gardens: Must use native plants, be at least 50 sq ft, and redirect water from at least 400 sq ft of impervious surface area (aka, a rooftop). Rain gardens are eligible for a rebate of $41/square foot, up to a maximum of $3,000.

• No rebates for Bayscaping

• Permeable pavement: $6,000 maximum rebate per property for properties located within Wards 7, 8, and/or the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Area. Check whether or not your home is eligible on this map.

How Love & Carrots can help:

We can design and install your Riversmart Grant or Rebate project, and provide maintenance after installation through our Garden Care program.

For Grants:

1. Complete your application and receive your site audit.

2. Request Love & Carrots as your contractor and you will be assigned to us.

3. When your turn is up, we will begin with a free site visit to review your project and your preferences and we’ll take it from there!

For Rebates:

1. Set up an on-site initial consultation with one of our amazing landscape designers. Our consultation fee is $250.

2. At the Consultation we conduct a thorough site assessment of what practices you may qualify for, and can discuss and advise on any other landscaping or gardening projects you are interested in.

3. The next step is typically to create a landscape design for your approval. If you will only pursue Riversmart-funded work, this is included, but for anything beyond that scope we would charge a Landscape Design fee. Half of this design fee can be applied towards the cost of your installation. Landscape designs start at $450 ($225 with a 50% refund), and can be expanded from there to incorporate other landscaping and hardscaping projects you’d like to pursue, either now or in the future.

4. We can provide as much or as little assistance with navigating the rebate process as you need, billed at our standard design rate.

Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)

Project Specs and Funding for Residential properties:

• Conservation landscaping: 80% reimbursement, up to $7,000 maximum

• Rain gardens: 80% reimbursement, up to $7,000 maximum

• Bioretention: 80% reimbursement, up to $30,000 maximum

• Stormwater Conveyances: 80% reimbursement, up to $20,000 maximum

• Rainwater harvesting: $4/gallon, up to $20,000 maximum

• Permeable pavement*: $14/sq ft, up to $20,000 maximum

  • *To be eligible for funds, these projects must replace an existing impervious surface

How Love & Carrots can help:

1. To begin, set up an on-site initial consultation with one of our amazing landscape designers. Our consultation fee is $250 within the 495 beltway.

2. At the Consultation we conduct a thorough site assessment of what practices you may qualify for, and can discuss and advise on any other landscaping or gardening projects you are interested in.

3. The next step is typically to create a landscape design for your approval and then submit it as part of your VCAP application. Design costs, including the consultation fee, are reimbursable through the grant program at the same rate as materials and installation labor. Half of your design fee can be applied towards the cost of your installation. Landscape designs start at $450 ($225 with a 50% refund), and can be expanded from there to incorporate other landscaping and hardscaping projects you’d like to pursue, either now or in the future.

4. We can provide as much or as little assistance with navigating the VCAP application process as you need, billed at our standard design rate.

 Montgomery County Rainscapes

The Montgomery County grant rebate program is called Rainscapes, and it is open to properties in Montgomery County that are outside the municipalities of Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Takoma Park (each of these cities manage their own rebate programs, linked).

 Prince George’s County Raincheck

The Prince George’s County rebate program is called Raincheck, and it is open to homeowners installing stormwater best management practices anywhere in PG County outside of the city of Bowie, which operates its own rebate incentive program.

Love & Carrots can help install eligible project features under this program including conservation landscapes, permeable paver retrofits, rain gardens, and rain barrels. The maximum rebate amount for residential properties is $6,000. Commercial properties (including HOAs, multifamily, or institutional properties) can receive up to $20,000 maximum.