Toledo's Basement Flooding Grant Program, Explained

What is the Basement Flooding Grant Program?

It is a City of Toledo program that helps property owners pay for work that stops sanitary sewage from backing up into their basements when the main sewer is overloaded. The money is a grant, so it does not have to be paid back.

It exists because of how parts of Toledo's sewer system work. In older areas of the city, the sanitary and storm sewers are combined into one system. During heavy rain those pipes can fill, and when they do, sewer water can push back up through basement floor drains. On March 10 and 11, 2026, for example, the city logged 308 calls for service about water backups, sinkholes and flooding after about 1.16 inches of overnight rain.

Who qualifies?

According to the city:

• The property must be inside City of Toledo limits. Suburbs such as Sylvania, Maumee, Perrysburg and Oregon are not included.
• The basement must be experiencing sewer backups caused by overloaded main sewers. The city verifies that the backup came from the public sanitary sewer before approving a grant.
• There are no age or income requirements to apply, but age and income can affect the amount, as explained below.

If your backups happen on dry days, or only when your own washer drains, the problem may be your own sewer lateral rather than an overloaded main. That is a homeowner repair, and lateral repairs are not covered by this grant. A camera inspection of the line can tell you which it is.

What does the grant pay for?

Work that prevents backup of sanitary sewage into the basement. The city lists:

• Standpipes
• Check valves
• Sewer or plumbing modifications
• Sump pumps

A standpipe raises the height water has to climb before it can come out of the floor drain. A check valve, also called a backwater valve, lets water flow out to the sewer but closes when sewer water tries to come back in. Plumbing modifications can move basement fixtures so they are not the lowest open drain. Your plumber or waterproofing company can tell you which approach fits your basement.

What does it not pay for?

The city specifically excludes:

• Insurance deductibles
• Replacing damaged property
• Cleanup costs
• Preventing groundwater or storm water from entering
• Wall waterproofing
• Footer drain work
• Sewer lateral repairs
• Landscaping changes

So if your water comes in along the walls rather than up through the drain, the grant will not help. That is a groundwater problem; see interior drain tile. And the grant will not pay for cleaning up a backup that already happened; for that, check your insurance for sewer backup coverage.

How much will the city pay?

Example: on a $2,000 eligible job, the city would pay $1,000 plus half of the next $1,000, for $1,500, and you would pay $500. If the job costs more than $2,000, you pay everything above the city's share.

The Homestead Exemption is Ohio's property tax break for homeowners who are 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled. HEAP is the Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps income-eligible Ohio households with winter heating bills. If you are in either program, the maximum rises to $2,000.

How do I apply?

The city lays out these steps:

1. Get at least two written quotes for the work, and submit them with the application. The city publishes the application form and a list of contractors on its program page.
2. The city verifies that your basement is backing up from the public sanitary sewer and reviews the proposed solution.
3. You get an approval notice with payment instructions.
4. The work is done, with the required inspections. Plumbing work in Toledo normally needs a permit, and if a contractor does the work, the contractor must pull it.
5. You sign the contractor's invoice to accept the work, and the grant is paid under the city's instructions.

The city reviews the proposed solution before approval, so wait for the approval notice before work starts, and ask the city if you are unsure.

What should I do the next time my basement backs up?

1. Stop using water in the house so you are not adding to it.
2. Keep everyone out of the water. Sewage is grossly contaminated water, the most serious category under the IICRC S500 cleanup standard.
3. Report the backup to the city through Engage Toledo at 419-936-2020.
4. Photograph the water, the drain and the damage, and note the date and how much rain fell.
5. Call your insurance company if you have sewer backup coverage.
6. For cleanup, call (419) 515-4608 and press 1, and we connect you with a local water cleanup company.

Then, once things are dry, start the grant process for a permanent fix. The sewer backup page covers prevention options in more depth.

Where can I read the official details?

On the City of Toledo's Basement Flooding Grant Program page, which links to the application and contractor list, and its what to do when your basement floods page. Program details can change, so confirm with the city before you count on a grant.

For everything else about wet basements here, including groundwater, foundation cracks, costs and insurance, see the Toledo basement waterproofing and foundation repair guide.