Available Rebates

2026 Rebates Available by Community

Rebates are reimbursement incentives to encourage backyard conservation practices. Rebate eligibility is based on your household's tax district which can sometimes be different from your mailing address or school district. Because of this, when you participate, we will manually verify your tax district with the Franklin County Auditor and verify that you provided your residential address. Your tax district and eligible rebate items will be listed directly on your voucher. Rebates are limited and subject to availability. We frequently run out before the fall. Limit one rebate per household per year. All rebate/ reimbursements are up to the amount shown, do not include any tax or shipping fees, and are dependant on amount spent on qualifying items. Rebates and amounts can change from year to year.

Community	Rain Barrel	Native Plants	Compost Bin	Rain Garden*	Invasive Trade In Program**
Columbus	$75 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate Not eligible for $50 rebate on a tumbler or on the ground bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$100 Reimbursement
Bexley	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$100 Reimbursement
Canal Winchester	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	Not Eligible	$100 Reimbursement
Dublin	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	Not Eligible
Gahanna	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$100 Reimbursement
Grandview	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	Not Eligible	$100 Reimbursement
Grove City	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$100 Reimbursement
Hilliard	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$100 Reimbursement
New Albany	$100 Rain Barrel Rebate	$100 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $100 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$500 Reimbursement
Reynoldsburg	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$100 Reimbursement
Upper Arlington	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$150 Reimbursement
Westerville	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	$100 Reimbursement (Callery/Bradford Pear Only)
Worthington	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	Not Eligible	Not Eligible
Franklin County Unincorporated Townships	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	$50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin	$250 Rain Garden Rebate	Not Eligible
Non- Participating Communities+	$50 Rain Barrel Rebate	Not Eligible	Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate Not eligible for a rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on the ground bin	Not Eligible	Not Eligible

*Rain garden rebates require more steps than other incentives and have very limited availability. They require an additional application to be considered. Please refer to your voucher for instructions on how to apply.
**Invasive Trade In Program: This is a NEW PROGRAM that is separate but an off-shoot of Community Backyards. If you are eligible, you can do both the Invasive Trade In Program AND Community Backyards within the same year! The Invasive Trade In Program is separate and does not require course participation or a voucher to participate. Learn about the program here.
+Non-participating Communities: Whitehall, Brice, Harrisburg, Lithopolis, Lockbourne, Marble Cliff, Minverva Park, Pickerington, Riverlea, Urbancrest, Valleyview.

Rain Barrel Rebates

Completely enclosed rain barrels with an installed, LEVEL straight across diverter hose are accepted. We will not reimburse any rain barrels with a direct downspout to the rain barrel, any rain barrels with an open top, or rain barrels with an improperly installed diverter. For these reasons, we highly recommend the EarthMark AKA EarthMinded RainStation model. It includes the rain barrel and diverter kit as well as a winterization plug and detailed instructions. It comes in three colors - terra cotta, black, and gray. It is commonly available at local stores like City Folk's Farm Shop, Scioto Gardens, hardware stores, big box stores, and online.

Free Rain Barrels for Low Income & Senior Residents

You might be eligible for a FREE rain barrel depending on your household income. These are separate programs from the regular Community Backyards rebates. There are two options to get a free rain barrel:

Community Backyards Free Rain Barrel Program - Residents who participate in the Columbus Public Utilities low income and/or senior discount programs can receive a FREE rain barrel with their Community Backyards rebate. Must first be enrolled in the low income and/or senior discount proram in order to qualify. Must participate in the Community Backyards online course or attend a workshop. Then, you must provide proof via your water bill indicating that you receive these discounts. Click here for more information.
IMPACT's Home Weatherization Assistance Program - Franklin County homeowners/renters/mobile home households whose income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and reside in certain zip codes can receive a free rain barrel with IMPACT Community Action's Home Weatherization Assistance Program installs and upgrades. IMPACT's program offers help with energy efficiency testing and remedies to improve your household's energy efficiency. For more information and instructions on how to apply, click here.

For more information about rain barrels, visit our rain barrel resources page

Native Plant & Tree Rebates

Native perennials, shrubs, grasses, and trees are strongly recommended and preferred as they provide the most benefit to our native pollinators and wildlife. Native cultivars AKA nativars are also accepted. Though not preferred, non-native plants can be accepted as long as they are not listed on our Invasive Species Do-Not-Plant List, including any and all cultivars of listed invasive plants (such as Butterfly Bush 'Miss Molly' or Miscanthus 'Gracillimus'). However, we strongly encourage you to choose native plants over non-native plants. In addition to invasive plants on our Do-Not-Plant List, we will NOT reimburse any annuals (including native annuals), vegetables, herbs, aquatics or seeds. All plants must be planted in the ground. No plants in pots will be accepted. Plants must be ALIVE in order to be reimbursed. We will not reimburse dead plants.

For native plant recommendations, visit our Native Plant Resources webpage.

Compost Bin Rebates

SWACO Compost Bin Rebate+ (instant, $70 rebate)

Purchase the SWACO Compost Bin for only $30 from Franklin Soil and Water (cost $100 - $70 instant rebate = $30 cost to you plus tax). The SWACO bin is an on-the-ground bin, 82 gallon capacity, and is made from 100% recycled content. It is a single-unit main body with a harvest door, lid and rodent-proof bottom. You can purchase it online from Franklin Soil and Water after you have participated AND received your voucher! Please note, you will have to pick it up from Franklin Soil and Water's office in Grandview. We will send a reminder email one week before the pick up date. The bin fits in the back seat of a regular sedan for easy transport. YOU CANNOT PURCHASE UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VOUCHER! Quantity is limited and subject to availability. Final sale, no refunds.

$50 Compost Bin Rebate*

*CITY OF COLUMBUS RESIDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING $50 COMPOST BIN REBATE (INCLUDING TUMBLERS). THE ONLY COMPOST BIN REBATE CITY OF COLUMBUS RESIDENTS CAN RECEIVE IS THE DISCOUNTED SWACO ON-THE-GROUND COMPOST BIN (SEE ABOVE).

If eligible, only compost bins that are an "enclosed bin", pre-fabricated unit meant for outdoor use or vermi-composters/worm bins will be reimbursed if you are eligible for the $50 compost bin rebate. This will typically include tumblers, on-ground units and vermi-composters. Reimbursements will NOT be applied to indoor composting units like counter top compost pails, DIY/homemade bins, or home-composting services such as The Compost Exchange. All compost bins must be totally enclosed and therefore rodent-proof in order to receive reimbursement!

For more information about composting, visit our composting resources webpage.

Rain Garden Rebates

Rain garden rebates of up to $250 are available for residents in certain participating communities in Franklin County and require extra steps than a regular Community Backyards rebate! If you get a rain garden rebate, you have used your one and only Community Backyards rebate for the year, and you cannot get anything else within the same year. They are extremely limited quantity, first come, first served, and vary by community. Eligibility for rain garden rebates requires that the property be located within a participating community, and the rain garden must be installed within 60 days of approval. For 2025, participating communities include:

Participating Communities
Bexley	Obetz
Columbus	Reynoldsburg
Gahanna	Upper Arlington
Grove City	Westerville
Hilliard	New Albany
Franklin County Townships

Interested and eligible? Here’s how it works:

Participate in Community Backyards via the online course or a local workshop.
Fill out a rain garden application to be considered. Click here to start your application!
FSWCD staff will contact you within 2 business days to set up a preliminary site visit to ensure your site is a good fit for a rain garden. * Please note, not every location is suitable for a rain garden. We reserve the right to deny applications if the site is determined to not be suitable for a rain garden.

After it has been determined your property is suitable for a rain garden, you have 60 days to install it.Once the project is 100% complete, FSWCD will conduct a final site visit at project site.Submit receipts after installation to receive a reimbursement check. Items eligible for a rain garden rebate include: plants, mulch, compost, drainage hardware, and higher labor for a rain garden. * This is reimbursement only. Reimbursement will NOT be dispersed until AFTER the install has been completed.

Invasive Trade In Program

ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

Residents of participating communities can remove an invasive tree or shrub and get a reimbursement towards replacing it with a new native tree or shrub. With this program, we want residents to learn about and remove invasive plants in our communities and encourage them to plant new native trees and shrubs instead.Thank you to the City of New Albany who helped us pilot this program in 2024. In 2026, we are excited to offer this program for another year with more participating communities!

THE PROBLEM WITH INVASIVE PLANTS

Invasive plants are non-native, aggressive plants that take over natural areas and push out native species. Invasive species are detrimental to our woodlands and natural areas. Although an invasive plant might not take over your yard, invasive plants easily spread to nearby natural areas via humans, wind, and wildlife. Without native plants, many pollinators and wildlife simply cannot survive. Furthermore, since 2010, invasive species have cost North America $26 billion per year in harm. This economic harm has a significant impact on the agricultural industry in particular. Many invasive plants spread unknowingly from home gardens to other properties and natural areas. By removing invasive plants, you are helping to slow the spread and improve our environment.

OUR TOP 5 MOST WANTED INVASIVE PLANTS

These 5 plants are the most problematic invasive plants in Central Ohio that we want removed:

Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Non-native Bush & Vine Honeysuckles including Amur Honeysuckle, Morrow, Tatarian, Japanese (Lonicera maackii, L. morrowii, L. tatarica, L. japonica)
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

Click on each name above to learn more about each invasive plant and the best removal practices.

PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES

For 2026, residents in the following municipalities are eligible for the following reimbursements:

Bexley $100
Grove City $100
Canal Winchester $100
Reynoldsburg $100
Gahanna $100
Columbus $100
Grandview Heights $100
New Albany $500
Upper Arlington $150
Westerville $100 - Callery/Bradford Pears Only

These are first come, first served, very limited quantity, and reimbursement only. If you plan on participating, please reach out before doing it to confirm availability!

HOW TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT

If eligible, you must follow these steps to get the incentive:

Part I: Application

Complete the program overview. At the end of the overview, a link to the program application will be available. You must live in a participating municipality according to the Franklin County Auditor. We will check your tax district and check your invasive you wish to remove to verify that you are eligible. Have a picture of your invasive plant handy when you submit the form.
Receive approval and next steps email from Franklin Soil and Water to proceed. We will notify you via email within 2-3 weeks of submittal. Check you spam folder!

Part 2: Take Action

Remove at least one of your approved invasive trees or shrubs. To help with removal costs, approved applicants are eligible to receive a 10% off discount code to be used through Davey for invasive removal services. Take pictures of your removed invasive plants.
Buy and plant at least one new NATIVE tree or shrub on your property. Must be native or a cultivar of a native such as 'Winter Red' Winterberry - Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red'. However, no invasive or non-natives will be accepted. Once planted in the ground, take pictures.
Submit your pictures and receipts to Franklin Soil & Water who will then mail you a reimbursement check. Receipt(s) must be a legitimate receipt, meaning a receipt or invoice that is itemized, printed or digital, and from a legitimate retailer, vendor, contractor, or store. No cash under the table, Venmo exchanges, etc. Your reimbursement may only go towards the subtotal of the price of the native tree(s) or shrub(s).

FAQS & IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

These incentives are limited and subject to availability. Limit one per household per year.
You must live in a participating tax district to qualify per the Franklin County Auditor.
This is a SEPARATE program offering from Community Backyards rebates - meaning you can do BOTH programs within the same year.
This program is NOT applicable to removal or plantings in the public right-of-way or tree lawn. This is typically the area between your street and sidewalk. For trees in the public right-of-way, please contact your municipality for assistance and ask for street tree program information. This is because they own it - not you!
If we run out, we will update this web page and the submission form.

Questions? Contact Franklin Soil & Water at 614-486-9613 or CommunityBackyards@franklinswcd.org.