RainSmart Rain Gardens

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A rain garden is a simple landscape feature for reducing stormwater runoff. It is a shallow depression filled with sandy soils, and planted with native plants suited to fluctuating water levels.

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Requirements

What Are The Requirements?

We have two rain garden options: "Install Only" - install a water quality project at your home, and "Workshop" - have the project installed and host an educational workshop at your home. 

  1. If you meet our eligibility requirements: Please fill out the RainSmart rain gardens application.
  2. We will reply via email and schedule a day to come out and assess your property for the project. We call this a "site audit". 
    *If you have not received an email in response to your application within one week, please check your spam folder, or call (423) 643-5877
  3. After we assess your yard, we will send you an estimation of your rain garden size, the reimbursement amount, and how much water you will be capturing.
  4. Your property will have to pass a "percolation test" - this measures the infiltration rate of your soil and is vital to a successful project!
    - It's easy. Just follow these perc test directions.
  5. Who will be creating your project?
    - You can choose to construct the project yourself (DIY) or choose someone else to do it for you. If you want to DIY, check out the resources we've provided at the bottom of this page!
  6. You must read, sign, and return our Homeowner's Agreement document.
  7. We need a plan drawn for the project. It can be basic, and you can use our templates to help you or the contractor/landscaper you've chosen.
    - Property diagram + rain garden diagram templates
    - Rain garden design checklist
  8. The rain garden will need to pass two inspections to make sure the construction meets our standards. One is when the rain garden has been dug out to subgrade, and the other is when the project is complete.
  9. You or the contractor/landscaper will turn in all receipts associated with the project.
  10. If you meet all standards set forth by the program, we will begin processing your reimbursement.

Am I Eligible?

  • Must be a City of Chattanooga resident
  • Applicant must own the property
  • The project must demonstrate runoff reduction
  • Cannot currently work for the City of Chattanooga
  • Must be up to date on their water quality fee and property taxes
  • For our purposes, the rain garden or rain barrel will be collecting rainwater from your roof via your gutter downspouts. This means you must have gutters and they must be connected to your rain garden or lead there through approved methods to be eligible for the RainSmart program

How Do I Apply?

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FAQ

What are the Rain gardens benefits?

Rain gardens provide multiple benefits: 

  • They support our local ecosystem by using native vegetation by providing habitat and food for local species such as pollinators and birds.

  • They help reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that leaves your property by capturing water during a rain event and then quickly drying out as water infiltrates into the ground and is taken up by vegetation (which can help prevent mosquitoes from breeding).

What they are not:

  • Rain gardens are NOT water gardens because they are not meant to hold water, but INFILTRATE water into the ground.
  • They are NOT meant to decrease or prevent erosion on your property.
  • They are NOT meant to decrease or prevent flooding on your property.

Is a rain garden right for your yard?

Here are a few things to consider when thinking about a rain garden for your yard. While rain gardens are a great way to infiltrate stormwater, and support our local pollinators and ecosystem, they are not suitable for all yards and cannot solve all stormwater-related issues.

Please read the following to get a better idea if a rain garden is the right option for you. Once you apply, a RainSmart representative can help you better assess your yard if you are still unsure. 

  • If the spot in your yard where you would like a rain garden does not infiltrate water well now, it will not infiltrate better as a rain garden. The unlying soil determines the infiltration rate.
  • If the place where you would like to put a rain garden is on a steep slope, this can make it more difficult for a successful project. If you are trying to address erosion or have a steep yard, our SupportScapes program may be a better option.
  • Does your home have gutters? For our purposes, the rain garden will be collecting rainwater from your roof via your gutter downspouts. This means you must have gutters and they must be either connected to your rain garden or lead there through approved methods (e.g., pipe, swale, etc.) to be eligible for the RainSmart program.
  • If you are experiencing stormwater issues on your property originating from off-site, it is likely that a rain garden won't be able to address those issues.

How do I get reimbursed for a rain garden through RainSmart?

RainSmart rain gardens are reimbursable if they meet all eligibility and program requirements, and follow the process outlined below.