If sewage has backed up into your Toledo basement during a heavy rain, the city may help pay to keep it from happening again. This guide explains the City of Toledo Basement Flooding Grant in plain terms: who qualifies, what it pays for, what it doesn't, and how to apply. Everything here comes from the City of Toledo Basement Flooding Grant Program page and the city's basement flooding page, checked in October 2026. Programs change, so confirm details with the city before you start work.
What is the Toledo Basement Flooding Grant?
It's a city grant that helps Toledo property owners pay for devices that keep sanitary sewage from backing up into their basements. The idea is to protect the point where sewage gets in, usually the basement floor drain or other low sewer connections, by isolating, protecting or raising those connections. The grant doesn't have to be paid back.
The program has been around a long time. The Toledo Blade reported in 2008 that the city had awarded 115 grants since the program began in 2004.
Who qualifies for the grant?
Owners of property in the City of Toledo whose basements get sewer backups from overloaded main sewers qualify. Three points matter:
- You must own the property, and it must be inside Toledo city limits. Suburbs like Maumee and Sylvania aren't covered.
- The backup must come from the public sanitary sewer. The city has to verify that a public sanitary backup happened. A clog in your own sewer line doesn't count.
- There's no age or income requirement, but age and income can affect how much you get, as the next section shows.
How much does the grant pay?
The city covers the first $1,000 of eligible work and splits the second $1,000 with you 50/50, for a maximum grant of $1,500. Owners who are Homestead Exempt or receive the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can get up to $2,000. Here are the city's own examples:
| Project cost | Maximum grant | Maximum grant if Homestead Exempt or HEAP |
|---|---|---|
| $950 | $950 | $950 |
| $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| $1,250 | $1,125 | $1,125 |
| $1,500 | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| $1,700 | $1,350 | $1,350 |
| $2,000 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| $2,500 | $1,500 | $1,750 |
| $3,000 or more | $1,500 | $2,000 |
Source: City of Toledo Basement Flooding Grant Program page, checked October 2026.
Two quick examples using the table. If a check valve job costs $1,700, the grant pays $1,350 and you pay $350. If a larger job costs $3,000 and you're Homestead Exempt, the grant pays $2,000 and you pay $1,000.
What work is eligible?
Work must be meant to prevent sanitary sewage from backing up into the basement. The city lists these kinds of fixes:
- Check valves (backwater valves). A flap in the sewer line that lets water flow out but closes when sewage pushes back toward the house.
- Standpipes. A pipe fitted into the floor drain that raises the point where water can spill out, so a backup has to rise higher before it reaches the floor.
- Sewer or plumbing modifications. Changes that isolate or raise the basement's sewer connections.
- Sump pumps, when they're part of protecting the sewer connections.
Owners may do the work themselves where permitted, or hire a contractor licensed to do it. The city also posts a contractor list on its program page. The city accepts no liability for damage from work funded by the grant.
What the grant does not pay for
This part surprises people. According to the city, the grant does not cover:
- Insurance deductibles.
- Replacing damaged property, like furniture, carpet or appliances.
- Cleanup costs. Pumping out, disinfecting and drying the basement are on you or your insurance.
- Work to stop groundwater or storm water only, like wall waterproofing, footer drain cleaning or replacement, or landscaping changes.
- Sewer lateral repairs or cleaning (the pipe from your house to the street).
The city's basement flooding page also notes the grant doesn't cover water coming in around basement walls or immediate relief from flooding. If you need cleanup now, that's a separate job. See sewage backup cleanup.
How do I apply?
The city lays out a five-step process:
- Check eligibility. Confirm the work is meant to prevent sanitary sewage backups, using the city's eligibility page.
- Submit an application. Include at least two written quotes. You can apply before the work, or within 60 days after it's finished.
- City verification. The city must verify a public sanitary backup. It then reviews the problem and proposed fix and ranks your application against others.
- Approval. If approved, the city tells you how to proceed and sends a request-for-payment form.
- Work is done. You complete the work and any required inspections. The contractor's invoice must be signed to show you accept the work.
Reimbursement requests can be made with paid invoices, and they're prioritized the same way as applications.
Is it a sewer backup or storm water?
The grant only helps with sanitary sewer backups, so it's worth knowing the difference.
| What you see | Likely cause | Grant may apply? |
|---|---|---|
| Water rising from the floor drain, toilet or tub, with a sewage smell | Sanitary sewer backup | Possibly, if the city verifies the public sewer backed up |
| Neighbors on your street have the same backup at the same time | Overloaded public sewer | Possibly |
| Water seeping where the wall meets the floor | Groundwater or storm water | No (wall waterproofing isn't covered) |
| Water coming through a basement window or window well | Storm runoff | No |
| Backup only in your house, any weather | Clog or break in your own line | No; call a licensed sewer cleaner |
If you're not sure, report it. The city says to call Engage Toledo at 419-936-2020 for flooding issues, 24 hours a day, and a Public Utilities worker can inspect the main line. The city also recommends having a private licensed sewer cleaner check your line to find where a blockage is, according to the City of Toledo basement flooding page.
| Local factor | What applies in Toledo | How it affects the job or price |
|---|---|---|
| City verification | City must verify a public sanitary backup before approval. | Report backups to Engage Toledo when they happen to create a record. |
| Two written quotes | Required with every application. | Plan time to get a second quote before work starts. |
| 60-day window | Apply no more than 60 days after work is finished. | Missing the window can cost you up to $2,000. |
| Licensed contractor | Owners may do permitted work themselves or hire a licensed contractor; sewer repairs need a licensed sewer contractor. | Contractor choice can affect inspections and what's eligible. |
Sewage in the basement now? Get cleanup handled first.
Call (567) 290-1980Tips before you start
- Document every backup. Take dated photos and note what drain the water came from. Keep any Engage Toledo report number.
- Get cleanup done first. Sewage left sitting causes more damage. Cleanup isn't grant-eligible, but prevention work can follow.
- Ask contractors about the program. When you get your two quotes, ask each contractor if they've done grant-funded work and what inspections are needed.
- Check your insurance. The grant doesn't cover deductibles or damaged property. A sewer backup rider on your homeowners policy is what pays for cleanup. See the cost guide for how insurance usually treats backups.
- Living in a suburb? Maumee runs its own program with free sewer inspections and grants for required repairs. See the Maumee page.
Who runs the program
The grant is part of the City of Toledo's basement flooding resources, under the city's water and sewer services. Questions about a backup in progress go to Engage Toledo at 419-936-2020. The application, eligibility checker and contractor list are on the city's program page. For other offices that handle water and sewer problems in Lucas County, see who to call for water in the basement.