Clean River Rewards
Use an on-site facility to manage runoff from roof or pavement, then register it.
- Run by
- Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
- Service area
- Eligible properties billed for City of Portland stormwater service.
Program at a glance
- Benefit
- Up to 35% of the total stormwater charge.
- Who
- The person responsible for an eligible City stormwater bill.
- Where
- Properties billed for City of Portland stormwater service.
- Qualifying project
- Use an on-site facility to manage runoff from roof or pavement, then register it.
Quick check
Do the main rules appear to fit?
Your answers stay in this page session. The program makes the final decision.
Answer each question for a cautious result.
The rules remain visible here even if the interactive check is unavailable.
The finished result
What project qualifies?
Manage stormwater on the billed property with a qualifying facility or planted receiving area.
Runoff from eligible roof or pavement is directed to a functioning on-site feature and registered with Portland.
Planted receiving area
Direct runoff to a qualifying rain garden, swale, lawn, or planted area.
Minimum: The receiving area is generally at least 10% of the contributing impervious area.
See the full project guide →Infiltration facility
Use a qualifying drywell, French drain, or soakage trench, with permits where required.
See the full project guide →Other qualifying treatment
A planter, basin, ecoroof, or eligible tree treatment may manage the runoff.
See the full project guide →What the project may require
A product can be one part of the work. The approved project, timing, design, and proof control.
Map roof and pavement runoff
requiredConnects each hard surface to the facility that manages its runoff.
Identify the contributing surface and receiving feature in the registration.
Rain garden, swale, lawn, or planted receiving area
conditionalReceives and manages surface runoff.
The receiving area is generally at least 10% of the contributing impervious area.
Drywell, French drain, or soakage trench
conditionalMoves runoff into an approved on-site infiltration system.
The facility must function as registered and may require a permit.
Planter, basin, ecoroof, or eligible trees
conditionalProvides another published runoff-management route.
The selected feature must receive eligible runoff and meet current program rules.
Register the functioning feature
requiredStarts the future bill discount.
Use the property-type-specific registration route; the discount is not retroactive.
Official path: online portal
How to apply or check the program
- 1
Identify the qualifying facility
Review Portland's list of runoff-management features.
- 2
Map the runoff
Note which roof and pavement areas reach each facility.
- 3
Use the correct registration route
One-to-four-unit homes register online; larger and commercial properties use their published route.
- 4
Check the future bill
The discount begins after acceptance and is not retroactive.
Details to confirm
- The credit is not retroactive.
- A facility can contain gravel without gravel being the thing that earns the credit.
Examples that do not qualify
- A gravel area that does not receive and manage runoff.
- Receipts submitted as material reimbursement.
Questions people ask
Does gravel qualify?
Not by itself. The credit is based on runoff managed by a qualifying facility.
Do I need receipts?
No. This program does not reimburse project cost.
Can a renter register?
Yes, when the renter is responsible for the stormwater bill.
Last verified 8/11/26
Official sources
Use these official sources for current rules, availability, and application details.
- Clean River Rewards program and qualifying features — City of Portland
- Clean River Rewards registration — City of Portland
- Clean River Rewards FAQs — City of Portland
More programs to check
Atlanta Post-Development Stormwater Management Ordinance
Cash benefit: none. Required retention: first 1.0 inch of runoff on site.
Austin Water WaterWise Rainscape Rebate
Base: $0.50 per square foot. Turf removal bonus: additional $0.50 per square foot when applicable.
Burlington Blue BTV Residential Stormwater Program
2026 site maximum: $2,000.00. Linked chart permeable pavers: up to $2,000.00. Linked chart rain garden or bioretention: up to $1,500.00. Linked chart infiltration trench or dry well: up to $1,500.00.