Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Oakland County. The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's RainSmart Rebates program pays homeowners in southeast Oakland County up to $2,000 per property for rain barrels, rain gardens, and native trees. Rain barrels are reimbursed at $125 each (up to 2 per property) and must be at least 50 gallons.
RainSmart Rebates is a residential program of the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner (OCWRC) administered with the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC). Eligibility is limited to homeowners within the George W. Kuhn Drain Drainage District, which serves Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, and Troy. Rain barrels must be a minimum of 50 gallons per barrel; up to two barrels per property are reimbursed at $125 each. A $25 non-refundable site assessment is required (conducted by CRWC). Participants must apply and receive approval before installation, then submit proof of installation to claim the rebate. An Equity Grant assists households unable to cover upfront costs. Michigan law does not restrict rainwater collection from rooftops for non-potable use. Outside the GWK district, rain barrels remain legal and many municipalities (Bloomfield Hills, Novi) actively promote them through their own sustainability programs.
RainSmart Rebates is a voluntary incentive program. There are no penalties for not participating. False-statement misuse of the rebate program may result in disqualification and recovery of paid funds. Municipalities generally do not require permits for residential rain barrels under 100 gallons used for non-potable garden irrigation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Oakland County, MI
Outdoor music in Oakland County is regulated municipally. Public events, parades, and concerts are typically exempt or permit-driven. Pontiac (Ch. 58-IV) exe...
Oakland County, MI
Oakland County does not set a county-wide dBA limit. Royal Oak Zoning §770-94 caps noise at 75 dBA between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and 60 dBA between 10:00 ...
Oakland County, MI
Amplified music in Oakland County is governed by each municipality. Charter Township of Oakland (Ch. 274) bans speakers and sound amplifiers loud enough to b...
Oakland County, MI
Oakland County has no county-wide leaf-blower ordinance. Birmingham (an Oakland County city) adopted a resolution on September 11, 2023 to phase out two-stro...
Oakland County, MI
Oakland County Animal Control does not respond to barking-dog complaints. Barking is enforced by each municipality's police department under its local noise/...
Oakland County, MI
Construction-noise hours are set by each Oakland County municipality, not the county. Common windows: Charter Township of Oakland (Ch. 274) allows constructi...
See how Oakland County's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.