It is not entirely illegal to collect rainwater in any of the 50 states in the US. However, some states have restrictions on the amount of rainwater that can be collected and how it is collected. The states that place restrictions on the harvesting of rainwater include Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Some of these restrictions believe that the harvesting would disrupt rains natural flow back into streams and bodies of water on the Earth. However, some states encourage residents to collect rainwater by offering a tax credit or exemption for equipment purchased for rainwater harvesting.