Green Roof News

Landscape contractors can encourage the installation of green roofs by reducing the client's costs through city rebates. ASLA's headquarters in Washington DC uses extensive green roofs.

Washington DC is currently accepting applications for the District's new green roof rebate program which provides base funding of $5 for every square foot of planted area. Rebates are available for new green roofs on existing buildings of any size and new construction projects that add a green roof to go above and beyond their requirements for a storm water management permit. https://ddoe.dc.gov/greenroofs.

State Green Roof News

The Four Seasons Hotel in Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

The Four Seasons Hotel in Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
Proposed legislation in the city council will provide a one-time tax incentive of $5 per square foot for up to $100,000 for commercial and residential green roofs.

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Storm-water Management: any building that improves their storm-water management, such as installing a green roof, receives a 50-percent credit against mandated storm-water usage fees paid to the city.

New York City, New York
New York State Law in larger cities (only NYC meets the size requirement) you can receive a one-year tax credit of up to $100,000 (or $4.50 per square foot) for green roof installs that encompass at least 50 percent of available roof space. The law is effective through March 15, 2013.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Proposed legislation in the city council may provide a personal income tax credit for residential and commercial green roofs in amount of 25 percent of costs or up to $100,000 per year for six years.

City of Philadelphia: offers a credit against the Business Privilege Tax of 25 percent of all costs incurred to construct a green roof up to $100,000. To qualify, green roof must cover 50 percent of the rooftop to qualify.

The Central Library in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon

The Central Library in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
FAR Bonus: the city of Portland offers a Floor Area Ratio bonus in its building code. Developers may build an extra three square feet per foot of green roof they construct without additional permits. They also offer a grant reimbursement of up to $5 per square foot for reducing storm-water infrastructure with a green roof.

Seattle, Washington
FAR Bonus: the city of Seattle also offers a Floor Area Ratio bonus in its building code. Developers may build an extra three square feet per foot of green roof they construct without additional permits.