The timeline for the Rain Ready Hamilton rebate for 2025 is: 

  • April 22, 2025: Application opens
  • June 1, 2025: Application closes.
  • April 23-June 22: In-person and virtual Rebate coaching sessions are available 
  • June 23: Deadline for application notification
  • Work can commence as soon as applicants receive their approval notification. 
  • September 30, 2025: Expense and reporting deadline for applicants.
  • October 31, 2025: All Rebate cheques mailout deadline.

 

  • Rain gardens
  • Rainwater collection and storage systems
  • Bioswales and dry swales
  • Soakaway pits
  • Infiltration trenches
  • Enhanced Grass Swales
  • Perforated Pipe Systems
  • Permeable paving (driveways, sidewalks, paths and/or patios)
  • Green roofs
  • and other Low Impact Development designs 

If you choose to construct your own project, the project is on your own time, like any other DIY home improvement project. You cannot expense your own labour. 

If you or a family member have a registered business that does landscaping, hardscaping, or building and has the appropriate skill set to build an LID feature, the business can charge for their services. All work done by contractors must include detailed receipts. The quote must be pre-approved by Green Venture if you or a family member are building the LID project. 

Single-family residential and multi-residential properties with six or fewer units will be eligible for the rebate. Properties that contain more units are eligible for different credit funding. Please see Other Programs and Rebates for Landowners in the CoH.

Applicants will be notified why their application was denied. One of the common reasons applications may be rejected is because upon review, the staff at Green Venture have deemed your property as unsuitable for an LID project. Either the project is too close to the foundation which could cause flooding, or the property requires preliminary work such as a new roof or gutters before a suitable project. You can apply again next year if the work is updated. 

We will try and work with applicants that may need some technical assistance or have parts of the application that are unclear. However, due to the volume of applications, only complete applications of merit will be considered for a rebate. It is also up to applicants to submit their application and any follow up responses to staff questions within the application window. 

The coaching component for the Rain Ready Rebate is an optional piece added to help provide extra support if needed during the rebate process. Pre-approved applicants will have the option to book a virtual appointment, a scheduled in person meeting at the applicant's property, or have a Rain Coach do a "drive-by" assessment (only applicable to front yard projects) with a follow up virtual appointment or email. This step is also applicable for residents who would like a Rain Coach to review quotes or planting plans. If applicants feel confident to move onto the installation step without a Rain Coach review, this step is not required.

Each LID project and every property is unique, so the approvals and permits needed will vary based on the scope and scale of your project. 

For simple, rain garden, bioswale, and similar LID projects, we strongly recommend applicants to call for locates by contacting Ontario One Call to have a technician come and mark buried infrastructure. Please note that there can be a wait time, so plan your timelines accordingly. This is also a service only available for front yards. Backyard works may need locates also, which can be done by private locate finder companies.

Other approvals and permits are also the responsibility of the applicant. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the project meets all legal requirements including (but not limited to):

  • Local municipal bylaws
  • Provincial and regional highway setbacks
  • Drainage Act
  • Federal and Provincial Acts
  • Canada Farm Building Code
  • Ontario Building Code
  • Conservation Authorities Act

As a renter, you can still apply. You need a signed letter from the homeowner stating that they understand the program, your intended project and gives permission to complete the project. Whoever purchases the materials and hires the contractors will receive the rebate. Only one rebate per property. If landlords would like to apply for their properties, their tenants must be the applicants and project leads.

Please see "Supporting Documents" on our main page for a Sample Letter of Permission.

No, the Rebate does not reduce the stormwater fee you will pay. After the new stormwater fee comes into effect, part of water utility fees representing wastewater will be reduced, minimizing the overall increase in fees for property owners. Therefore, property owners will see only a few percentage point increase on their bill.

The Rain Ready Rebate is meant to incentivize the installation of new Low Impact Development features in order to address stormwater on a lot by lot basis on residential properties.

At this time, we can only accept applications for and distribute rebates for new, approved projects only. If you are looking to expand existing LID features, you can apply for new work. There is one exception to retroactive expenses for rain barrels purchased from the City of Hamilton rain barrel sale. If these are included as a part of a larger LID installation plan, the Rebate can cover this expense. Proof of purchase is required.

  1. To encourage residents within the City of Hamilton to reduce the total amount and impact of impervious surfaces on their property and to manage stormwater on a lot by lot basis.
  2. To create “water cycle awareness” in residents of all ages: educating about water cycles and the particular issues and challenges in the City of Hamilton.
  3. To educate residents about solutions they can do in their own yards and advocate for larger changes in public and private spaces in the City.

Stormwater runoff is from rain or snow melting that either gets absorbed or flows over hard surfaces and into sewers, lakes, and streams. Pollutants such as chemicals, pet waste, litter and fertilizer can end up in our waterways through runoff. Larger storms due to climate change also cause higher volumes of water to run through our systems. 

A rain garden is a garden designed to capture water and allow it to infiltrate into the ground. Some rain gardens are constructed to infiltrate water runoff from roof downspouts—these enable you to disconnect your roof downspout from the city storm water system and utilize that water in your own yard. Others help to deal with pooling in yards by redirecting the water into an area of good infiltration. Rain gardens are not meant to contain standing water—they should drain within 24-48 hours of a large rainfall.

Learn more

Native plants are plants that occurred naturally in a specific area, region, or habitat. They have evolved and adapted to that specific place.

Ornamental plants are from regions around the world and developed by the horticultural industry for display.

The rebate program encourages the use of native plants from our region in particular because native plants are adapted to our climate and have key relationships with native insects, birds, and mammals. Insects in particular need our native plants in order to complete their life cycles, having co-evolved with these plants for thousands of years. There are also many native plants well suited to the conditions found in LID features.

Ornamental plants are not inherently bad or without their place in Hamilton, but their introduction can have consequences. Most of the invasive plant species we have in Ontario came out of the horticulture industry. Invasive insects also have come over on ornamental plant materials. Lastly, because ornamental plants can come from all over the world, our native insects, birds, and mammals do not have co-evolutionary relationships with these plants, reducing their access to needed food and habitat sources. Therefore, we encourage the purchase of native plants for LID features for the rebate program. If you still have a favourite ornamental plant you would like to include in your LID design, this does not impact your application, however only native plants are eligible for potential rebate.

  • All industry professionals must be able to furnish a valid business certificate and licensing number. Whenever possible, look for contractors specializing in this type of work (ie Fusion certified).
  • Ask for references. Professionals can provide previous client references and potentially addresses (for front yard work, driveways, etc).
  • Review portfolio of work, in particular asking for projects involving LID.
  • Ask for itemized quotes from multiple businesses.
  • Ask about what their procedure is for unforeseen project scope increase.
  • Confirm how they prefer to conduct communication. Figure out if that matches your preferred means of communication.
  • Confirm they have the necessary experience and skills to complete a LID project.
  • Confirm that they have the experience installing this type of technology (ie the type of permeable pavement, dry well, etc).
  • Ask what warranties or guarantees do they provide for their work?

Wondering what to do if you and your neighbour share a driveway and you'd like to apply for a rebate? 

  1. Coordinate with your neighbour. Share information from this site.
  2. Find your contractor and get a quote that splits the cost.
  3. Both homeowners apply for a rebate, submitting this quote along with a note that it is a shared property.
  4. If approved, proceed with your project.
  5. Ask your contractor to issue a split invoice for the work. Submit this during the Expense Tracking submission step.
  6. Both you and your neighbour will receive a rebate cheque!

Please note that a "shared driveway" can mean one driveway, shared by two neighbours or two neighbours with side by side driveways. Green Venture staff will work with you to determine the appropriate rebate amount for your situation and advise on how to proceed.

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