Bay-Friendly Qualified Raters serve as professionals who verify that the design and construction of a new or renovated landscape meets the requirements of the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard. They have met professional eligibility requirements and completed both the Bay-Friendly Professional Training & Qualification course as well as the Rater Training course.

To obtain the Bay-Friendly Rated designation for your landscape project, you must have a Bay-Friendly Rater. The Rater is responsible for ensuring compliance with all the steps of the rating process.

This includes:

• Informing the project team’s decision on which Bay-Friendly points to achieve
• Instructing the project team on required documentation
• Verifying each completed Bay-Friendly practice
• Submitting the Initial and Final Applications to ReScape California
• Maintaining records of the rating process

To find a Rater, visit our Directory of Bay-Friendly Qualified Professionals.

Rater Training Course and Eligibility

The first ever Bay-Friendly Rater Training was offered by StopWaste in 2011. More than 30 Raters and Advisors graduated from the training course. The second Bay-Friendly Rater Training was held in May 2017. If you would like to attend a future Rater Training, contact the Program Manager, Lakshmi Gunanayagam at Lakshmi@ReScapeCA.org.

Eligibility Requirements

To become a Bay-Friendly Qualified Rater for civic, commercial and multifamily landscapes, you will be required to:

1. Complete the Bay-Friendly Rater Training for Civic, Commercial & Multi-Family Landscapes by attending all classes and passing a final exam
2. Hold current and in good standing Qualification as a Bay-Friendly Landscape Professional
3. Submit documentation of one or more of the following current licenses, degrees, certifications or experience:
   • Landscape architecture, engineering or architecture degree or certification
   • Landscape contractor license
   • Build It Green’s Green Point Rater
   • Public agency experience in planning, design, construction or management of landscapes
   • Others subject to approval
4. Submit a written statement confirming you have at least 2 years of experience preparing or reviewing landscape construction documents including technical specifications or 2 years experience with contract administration (CA) or construction observation (CO)
5. Sign the Bay-Friendly Code of Rater Conduct and Logo Use Agreements

Raters: If you need the Project Application, which includes the Project Data form, Water Calculator, Scorecard, etc., or any addition resources, please email lakshmi@rescapeca.org.