Community Backyards is a Conservation Rebate Program

Welcome to Community Backyards! Together with our partners, Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District promotes water quality education in Franklin County, Ohio. Our goal is to protect water quality by reducing stormwater runoff. Keeping rain where it falls and using it as a resource keeps our waterways healthy and safe. We encourage the use of rain barrels, rain gardens, native plants, composting, and low input lawn care.

How It Works

Community Backyards offers one rebate per household per year for the purchase of an eligible, approved backyard conservation item to residents in Franklin County, Ohio and/or participating communities. First, you must participate in the online course --or-- attend a local workshop. After you participate and we manually verify that you are eligible (i.e. live in Franklin County, Ohio), you will receive a voucher with instructions on how to redeem your rebate. Participation is open annually from May to September. While participation is limited to once per year, residents can participate every single year.

Available Rebates

Rebates are available for residents of Franklin County and/or participating community residents. Your available rebate options will vary based on your home's primary tax district. We have no control over what rebates are available in each tax district - it is all up to your home's local municipality and their available funding! In Central Ohio, your primary tax district can be different than your mailing address or school district (i.e. Hilliard mailing, City of Columbus taxes, Hilliard Schools). Because of this, we will verify your tax district via the Franklin County Auditor after you participate, and you can too if you want to learn more about your property and taxes. Then, we will issue your voucher that will specify your primary tax district and exactly what rebates you can receive. Rebate funds are limited and subject to availability. You must live in Franklin County, Ohio and/or a participating municipality and participate in the Community Backyards online course or workshop in order to qualify for a rebate.

We are also OUT of rain garden rebates for Cities of Columbus, Westerville, Worthington, and Franklin County Township residents. Check back in April 2024 for next year's program if you are still interested in a rain garden.

You are still welcome to participate if your community is closed, but we will have to put your name on a waitlist for a rebate.

How to Participate: Two Ways

There are two ways to participate for a voucher. Pick one:

Take the Online Course: Open Now - October 1, 2023
Attend a Local Workshop: Workshops throughout April - September

After you participate, we will issue you a voucher, and then you can get a rebate.

Questions? Check out our Resources page. Still not sure? Call our office at (614) 486-9613 or email us at communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org.