Thinking about a green roof in New York City? You may qualify for valuable incentives.
New York City offers several programs to make green roofing more accessible and cost-effective for private property owners. At Chatfield Green Roofing, we stay current on NYC programs to help maximize your return and deliver sustainable rooftop solutions.
NYC Green Infrastructure Grant Program (DEP)
Offered by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, this grant supports private property owners retrofitting existing rooftops with green roofs to manage stormwater.
- Available retrofit projects on existing buildings
- Minimum project size: 3,500 sf and soil depth of at least 1.5 inches
- Grants are tiered by soil depth:
- 1.5–1.99″ soil = $15/sf
- 2.0–2.99″ = $20/sf
- 3.0–3.99″ = $35/sf
- 4.0″+ = $40/sf
- Includes reimbursement for both design and construction costs, subject to DEP’s design review and structural requirements
- Applications are rolling, and quarterly DEP workshops are available
Learn more on the NYC DEP site →
NYC Green Roof Tax Abatement
In addition to DEP grants, NYC also offers a Property Tax Abatement of up to $15 per square foot for eligible green roof installations. This program is designed to incentivize sustainable building upgrades that reduce stormwater runoff and urban heat.
- Applies to eligible properties across NYC
- Can be combined with other funding sources
- Helps offset the cost of sustainable upgrades
This program offers a one-year property tax abatement for qualifying green roof installations.
- Offers $10 per sf citywide, with an enhanced $15/sf in designated “priority districts”
- Cap is $200,000 per roof per tax year
- Buildings must be Class 1, 2, or 4; not eligible if under ICAP, 421‑a/b/g, or PILOT arrangements
- The soil-depth requirement was reduced to 1.5″, and previously required roof-coverage minimums have been removed
- The program has been extended through 2027, with improved rules designed to reduce barriers
Learn more on the NYC Green Roof Tax Abatement site →
The New York State Green Resiliency Grant (GRG) Program is a competitive funding initiative launched by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) to support transformative green infrastructure projects that enhance stormwater resilience and climate adaptation across the state. The 2025 funding cycle offers $60 million in grants, with applications open as of May 1, 2025.
Program Overview
- Funding Source: Part of the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.
- Grant Size: Awards range from $1 million to $10 million, covering up to 90% of eligible project costs.
- Eligible Projects: Must utilize green infrastructure or nature-based solutions to manage stormwater, reduce combined or sanitary sewer overflows, and mitigate risks from extreme weather events.
- Construction Timeline: Projects must commence construction no later than July 1, 2027.
- Equity Commitment: At least 35% of the funding benefits are allocated to disadvantaged communities.
Project Impact Areas
The GRG program aims to:
- Mitigate flooding by controlling stormwater runoff.
- Improve water quality through natural filtration systems.
- Reduce urban heat islands, enhancing comfort in city environments.
- Restore habitats, promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
- Revitalize communities by encouraging economic development and enhancing recreational spaces.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
- Any municipality, as defined by NYS Environmental Conservation Law Article 58 to include “a local public authority or public benefit corporation, a county, city, town, village, school district, supervisory district, district corporation, improvement district within a county, city, town or village, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York state, or any combination thereof.”;
- Any public benefit corporation or public authority established pursuant to the laws of New York; or
- Any agency of the State that is empowered to construct and operate a water quality infrastructure project, including state entities.
Applicants must have an ownership interest in the project site and have the right to access, operate, and maintain the project for its useful life.
Application Details
- Application Period: Opened on May 1, 2025.
- Administering Agency: New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC).
- Eligibility: Municipalities and organizations undertaking projects that align with the program's objectives. For more information and application materials, visit the EFC's Green Resiliency Grant Program page at https://efc.ny.gov/grg. If you need assistance determining project eligibility or preparing an application, feel free to ask!
