Sustainable Garden Rebates on Long Island, updated March 2026

Note: Program funding and deadlines change each year — always verify current eligibility, documentation requirements, and application dates in the links below.

Island-wide (Nassau + Suffolk)

Program: Long Island Garden Rewards Program

  • Run by: Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC), NYSDEC, NEIWPCC

  • Rebate: Up to $500 for native plant gardens (including rain gardens) and rain barrels

  • Who qualifies: Most Nassau and Suffolk homeowners (see program page for details)

  • Status: 2025 program opened around Earth Day and closed by late May due to high demand; program expected to reopen in spring 2026. Apply early once it opens.

  • How to apply: https://lirpc.org/garden-rewards-program

Town of North Hempstead (Nassau)

Program: Native Plant Residential Rebate Program

  • Run by: Town of North Hempstead, with Nassau County Soil & Water and LINPI

  • Rebate: Up to $350 for native plant installations

  • Who qualifies: Town of North Hempstead residents only; 1 rebate per household; prior-year recipients typically not eligible

  • Requirements: Simple application with garden plan, native species list, and photos of the planting area

  • Status: 2025 program has concluded; funding is first-come, first-served when open. Check the town site for current-year applications and updates.

  • How to apply: https://northhempsteadny.gov/departments/planning_environmental_protection/sustainability_programs/native_plants

Peconic Estuary watershed areas (Suffolk – East End)

Towns: Parts of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, Southold, East Hampton (only within the Peconic Estuary watershed)

Program: Homeowner Rewards Program

  • Run by: Peconic Estuary Partnership (PEP)

  • Rebate: Up to $500 per project (or project cost if lower) for native plant gardens, rain gardens, rain barrels, and similar stormwater/nitrogen-reduction practices

  • Who qualifies: Homeowners with property inside the Peconic Estuary watershed (check the map on their site)

  • Requirements: Native plants only, minimum project size for gardens (around 50 sq. ft.), receipts required

  • Status: 2026 program is open for applications; funding is limited and offered first-come, first-served. Check deadlines and remaining availability on the site.

  • How to apply: https://www.peconicestuary.org/what-you-can-do/homeowner-rewards-program/

Other Nassau towns (e.g., Hempstead, Oyster Bay)

Program: No dedicated town-level native plant rebate confirmed

  • Option: Residents may be eligible for the Long Island Garden Rewards Program

  • Note: Garden Rewards typically opens in spring and can close within weeks once funding is exhausted.

  • More info: https://lirpc.org/garden-rewards-program

Other Suffolk towns (Babylon, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, non-watershed parts of Brookhaven, etc.)

Program: No dedicated town-level native plant rebate confirmed

  • Option: Residents may be eligible for the Long Island Garden Rewards Program

  • Note: Garden Rewards typically opens in spring and can close within weeks once funding is exhausted; watch Suffolk County Soil & Water and town channels for any new rebates.

  • More info: https://lirpc.org/garden-rewards-program

Gloria Frazee