After we moved to New Mexico this summer, one of the first steps we took was to have the grass lawn portions of our yard removed and replaced with xeriscaping that is more appropriate for a High Desert environment. We would have done this whether we were paid or not, because we definitely felt the need to reduce our water consumption as well as take advantage of the simultaneous reduction in lawn maintenance. Being reimbursed with a credit per square foot on our water/sewer bills, accelerated this process.
Cities in New Mexico are not alone in offering incentives to remove residential grass lawns. The following list identifies many of the places in the American West that reimburse residents for converting their non-native, excessive water-consuming grass lawn to more appropriate xeriscaping. To this retired urban planner, it’s unfortunate that grass lawns were installed in the first place. However, monetary incentives are an excellent way to reduce water consumption, and in those areas affected by drought, ease pressure on existing water resources. Such a change to native, water-wise landscaping will also help lower your water bill and may eliminate the need for owning a lawn mower, grass trimmer, or lawn edger.
Each of these places should be commended for their efforts, while those offering no such program are missing a great opportunity to conserve water resources. The longer they delay the inevitable, the more it will cost these communities in the long run.
If you live in one of these areas or an unlisted one that offers similar rebates, please consider removing your grass lawn and replacing it with native landscaping that is more appropriate for the local environment. If your community does not offer such a program, consider contacting them to add one.
Please note – these programs can change from time-to-time due to funding availability, timing, and other constraints. Specific requirements and restrictions also apply to each program, so please check with your community for more details before starting your grass removal project. Additional information is available via the URL link on each listing and through the website links listed under “Sources” at the bottom of this post.
FYI – not all programs allow artificial turf as a replacement and note that rebates over a certain dollar amount do require the filing of a W-9 form with the IRS. Please check with your local community on these items and any other regulations which may apply.
As always, any additions, corrections, or suggestions to this post are most welcome. The list is not meant to be comprehensive, but is intended to be for informational purposes. The data provided below is based on the websites visited prior to publishing this post for single-family residential properties. On many of these sites, additional rebate information is available for HOA’s, multiple-family, and commercial/non-residential properties. The rebates offered and the availability of these various programs may change at any time. Happy xeriscaping! Peace.
ARIZONA
Buckeye = $100 for 200-499 square feet converted and $200 for 500 square feet or more converted
Bullhead City = 75% rebate up to $5,000 for grass to artificial turf conversion and 75% rebate up to $2,500 for grass to xeriscape conversion
Chandler = $200 for installing low-water use plants in new construction and $200 per 1,000 square feet converted to xeriscaping (minimum of 1,000 square feet required)
Flagstaff = 0.25 cents per square foot converted to xeriscaping
Glendale = rebates of $150 to $750 depending on the extent of lawn replacement – minimum of 500 square feet required
Mesa = $575 for replacing a minimum of 500 square feet with xeriscaping
Peoria = up to $1,650 depending on the area converted to xeriscaping – minimum of 500 square feet required
Prescott = 0.50 cents per square foot converted to xeriscaping
Scottsdale = $2.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of $5,000
Surprise = up to $200 total for converted grass lawn to xeriscaping – minimum area of 500 square feet
Tempe = 0.25 cents per square foot converted to xeriscaping, except for the strip between the sidewalk and street which is $1.00 per square foot converted
CALIFORNIA
Alameda County Water District (Fremont, Newark, and Union City) = $2.00 per square foot converted up to a maximum of $3,000
Bakersfield = $3 per square foot (250 to 1,500 square feet) converted to water-wise landscapes
Coachella Valley Water District (Cathedral City, La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage) = $3.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping for a minimum of 200 square feet and up to a maximum of 10,000 square feet
Contra Costa Water District (Concord, Antioch, etc.)= $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of 1,000 square feet
Cotati = $1.50 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of 500 square feet (or $750)
Desert Water Agency (Palm Springs) = $3.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping – a maximum is not listed on the website, but additional information is required for more than 20,000 square feet
East Bay Municipal Utility District (Oakland, Berkeley, etc.) = $1.25 to $2.50 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of $2,000 over a two-year period
Fresno = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of 1,500 square feet
Heraldsburg = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping
Long Beach = $3.00 per square foot converted to xeriscape in the front yard and $2.00 per square foot converted in the back yard up to a maximum of 5,000 square feet total. Also, a landscape design rebate of up to $1,500 is available
Marina Coast Water District (Marina, Seaside, and Fort Ord) = $1.00 per square foot of lawn converted to xeriscaping plus 0.50 cents per square foot of sprinkler conversions to drip irrigation up to a combined total of $2,000
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Greater Los Angeles Region) = $1.00 to $5.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping depending on the community/service area – minimum 250 square feet and a maximum of 5,000 square feet
Mission Springs Water District (Desert Hot Springs) = $2.00 per square foot converted to xeriscape up to a maximum of $3,000
Modesto = $3.00 per square foot converted to xeriscape put to a maximum of $3,000
Municipal Water District of Orange County (Orange County) = up to $3.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping – minimum 250 square feet and maximum of 5,000 square feet
North Marin Water District (Novato) = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of $800
Riverside = $5.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to 1,000 square feet and then $2.00 per square foot converted from 1,001 to 5,000 square feet converted
Sacramento = $1.50 per square foot converted to xeriscape up to a maximum of $3,000
San Bernardino = $2.00 per square foot converted to xeriscape up to a maximum of $400
San Diego County (Most municipal agencies in the county) = $2.00 or more per square foot converted to xeriscape on up to 5,000 square feet
San Luis Obispo County (Nipomo Mesa Water Conservation Area or the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin) = maximum rebate of $6,000 per property – minimum 500 square foot area converted
Santa Clara – $4.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to 1,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot converted after that up to a maximum of $5,000
Santa Clara Valley Water District (San Jose and much of Santa Clara County) = $2.00 per square foot converted up to a maximum rebate of $3,000
Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (Santa Clarita, Valencia, and Newhall) = $3.00 per square foot converted to xeriscape with a minimum of 100 square feet per phase and a maximum of 2,500 square feet per phase
Santa Cruz = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscape up to a maximum of $1,000
Santa Rosa = $1.50 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of $1,500 (increased from 0.75 cents per square foot in July 2021)
Scotts Valley = $2.00 per square foot converted xeriscaping
Sonoma = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a $1,000 maximum
St. Helena = $1.50 per square foot converted to xeriscape up to a maximum of $750
Valley of the Moon Water District (Sonoma Valley) = 0.50 cents per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of $400
Windsor = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of $1,500
Zone 7 Water Agency (Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and San Ramon) = up to 50% of the cost to convert to xeriscaping – maximum rebate of $2,000
COLORADO
Aurora = 500 square foot minimum with a maximum rebate of $4,000 over two years
Broomfield = $1.00 per square foot converted up to 500 square feet
Centennial Water & Sanitation District (Highlands Ranch area) = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping
Erie = $2.00 per square foot converted – 200 square foot minimum/1,000 square foot maximum
Fort Collins = 0.75 cents per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to 1,000 square feet, plus 0.25 cents per square foot converted to 80% native plants to Colorado for up to 1,000 square feet for a maximum of $1,000
Greeley = $1.00 per square foot converted for areas between 500 and 2,000 square feet
Lafayette = lawn removal service offered by the city through Resource Central at $2.25 per square foot with discounts available to as low as $1.00 per square foot. A 200 square foot minimum is required.
Louisville = lawn removal service offered by the city through Resource Central at $2.25 per square foot with discounts available to as low as $1.00 per square foot. A 200 square foot minimum is required.
Thornton = up to $2.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping
IDAHO
Moscow = $150 for those who convert at least 300 square feet to Wisecape.
KANSAS
Hays = $1.00 per square foot of cool-season irrigated turf grass converted to deep-rooted, drought-tolerant warm-season grass or landscaping up to a maximum of $3,000 – a 100 square foot minimum is required
MONTANA
Bozeman = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscape – minimum 100 square feet and maximum of 2,000 square feet
NEBRASKA
Lincoln = certain expenses are reimbursable for creating a waterwise lawn using deep-rooted native grasses and improving soil conditions
NEVADA
Southern Nevada Water Authority (Las Vegas Area) = $3.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to 10,000 square feet and $1.50 per square foot beyond that
South Tahoe Public Utility District (South Lake Tahoe) = $1.50 per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to a maximum of $3,000
NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (Albuquerque and Bernalillo County) = $2.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping
New Mexico American Water (Clovis) = 0.40 cents per square foot converted to xeriscaping for areas of 500 to 2,000 square feet
Gallup = 0.25 cents per square foot converted to xeriscaping up to 4,000 square feet – minimum of 100 square feet required
Rio Rancho = $1.00 per square foot converted to xeriscaping – minimum of 250 square feet required
OREGON
Ashland = $1.25 per square foot converted to xeriscaping for the first 1,000 square feet, then $1.00 per square foot up to 2,000 square feet, and $0.75 per square foot to a maximum of 3,000 square feet
TEXAS
Austin = up to $1,750 per property (lifetime limit) – $35 per 100 square feet converted to a WaterWise landscape, with a 500 square foot minimum
New Braufels = $1.00 per square foot converted up to a maximum of $2,000 per fiscal year
San Antonio = offered through Garden Style San Antonio at $1.50 per square foot converted from turf grass – 200 square foot minimum and maximum of $1,000 rebate
Sunset Valley = $20 per 100 square feet for native beds; $30 per 100 square feet for non-irrigated areas; and $10 per 100 square feet of native grass – minimum of 500 square feet for each
UTAH
Central Utah Water Conservancy District (Salt Lake City, Provo-Orem, etc.) = $1.25 per square foot converted to xeriscaping in the grass strip between the sidewalk and street
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (West Jordan, Taylorsville, Draper, etc.) = $1.25 per square foot converted to xeriscaping in the grass strip between the sidewalk and street
Weber Basin Conservancy District (Ogden, Layton, Roy, etc.) = $1.25 per square foot converted to xeriscaping in the grass strip between the sidewalk and street
WASHINGTON
Pullman = $150 for those who convert at least 300 square feet to xeriscape
Spokane = up to $500 for converting to xeriscaping
_______
If the subjects of xeriscaping and drought-tolerant landscaping interest you, here are two books available through Amazon.com.*
*A small commission is earned from purchases that are made using the above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
SOURCES:
- https://abc7.com/drought-california-money-cash/12147371/
- https://elementalreports.com/water/2019/07/26/lawn-be-gone-major-western-cities-pay-residents-to-ditch-grass-to-save-water/
- https://www.abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-residential-commercial-xeriscape-rebates/
- https://rrnm.gov/4053/Outdoor-Rebates
- https://www.azfamily.com/2022/08/01/ditch-grass-city-scottsdale-offers-homeowner-incentives-desert-friendly-yards/
- https://yardzen.com/yzblog/landscaping-rebates
- https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/water/rebates
- https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/snwa-will-pay-you-to-remove-your-grass-2599588/
- https://www.12news.com/article/tech/science/environment/get-paid-desert-landscape-programs-phoenix-mesa-chandler/75-2d1b51e5-aca0-46db-a2c0-cf67e7d13078
- https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/3888/Low-Water-Landscape-Program
- https://www.glendaleaz.com/live/city_services/water_services/water_conservation_and_sustainable_living/landscape_rebate
- https://www.peoriaaz.gov/government/departments/water-services/water-conservation/rebate-programs/xeriscape-conversion
- https://www.prescott-az.gov/water-sewer/water-conservation/rebate-program/
- https://www.tempe.gov/government/municipal-utilities/water/water-conservation/rebates/landscape-conversion
- https://webcms.pima.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/Government/Flood%20Control/Low%20Impact%20Development/LID-GI%20Workshop%20March%2015%202011/presentation-banerjee-20110315.pdf
- https://www.gallupnm.gov/DocumentCenter/View/48/Xeriscape-Rebate-Form?bidId
- https://www.pdffiller.com/jsfiller-desk20/?requestHash=943cabfe017dd6a62832d9259b4b53b89329887e876be6903fc8e964b5f3fe9e&projectId=1133589962&loader=tips&MEDIUM_PDFJS=true&PAGE_REARRANGE_V2_MVP=true#bd877d55a3ec4502a72b3d3ea2ddc9b6
- https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/water-authority-honors-earth-day-by-increasing-rebate/
- https://www.auroragov.org/residents/water/rebates/water-wise_landscape_rebate
- https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-cities-offer-freebies-and-rebates-to-help-you-save-water/
- https://ci.healdsburg.ca.us/723/Water-Rebates
- https://www.sonomacity.org/documents/turf-removal-rebate-sonoma-42015/
- https://www.townofwindsor.com/103/Windsor-Rebates
- https://www.srcity.org/DocumentCenter/View/31408/Cash-for-Grass_Res_Comdoc-
- https://b01d7349-da91-4080-a3f3-d52365de43c7.filesusr.com/ugd/1be0f0_a6803b6b1b2641d993941be24f74e02f.pdf
- https://www.cotaticity.org/398/Cash-for-Grass-Turf-Rebate-Program
- https://www.mcwd.org/conserve_landscape_lawn_sprinklers.html
- https://www.cvwd.org/585/Residential-Rebates
- https://programs.dwa.org/rebate/grass_removal
- https://nmwd.com/save-water/outdoors/
- https://www.riversideca.gov/utilities/residents/rebates/water-rebates#tab2
- https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-g-z/water-sewer-utilities/water-conservation/residential-rebates
- https://www.svwd.org/media/Forms/FORM_Turf_Special.pdf
- https://www.fcgov.com/utilities/residential/conserve/water-efficiency/xeriscape/incentive-program/
- https://resourcecentral.org/lawn/lrs/
- https://www.thorntonwater.com/residential-rebates-and-free-services/
- https://stpud.us/waterconsv/rebates-and-services/
- https://cuwcd.com/rebates.html#gsc.tab=0
- https://jvwcd.org
- https://www.weberbasin.com/Conservation/Rebates
- https://conservewater.utah.gov/grass-removal-rebates/
- https://dpw.lacounty.gov/wwd/web/Conservation/CashforGrass.aspx
- https://www.ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=16285
- https://www.ccwater.com/160/Lawn-to-Garden-Rebate
- https://www.centennialwater.org/conservation/rebates-and-incentives
- https://www.snwa.com/rebates/wsl/index.html
- https://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/water/water-conservation/residential-grass-to-xeriscape-rebate
- https://www.chandleraz.gov/residents/water/water-conservation/rebate-and-incentive-programs
- https://www.ebmud.com/water/conservation-and-rebates/rebates/lawn-conversion-rebate
- https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/3e5cd1fa-747f-4879-a116-f97a5f00ff61
- https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/community/residents/water-resources/water-conservation/rebates
- https://www.bullheadcity.com/government/water-energy-resources/water-rebates
- https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/wcnav_externalId/a-w-lndscap;jsessionid=TrT7jJ2Fh02gv6RJJ0l1sGl632gnLhnFybZhyXQ9GqvtFLbntpdL!-1866563543?_afrLoop=752663695627241&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D752663695627241%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dybmny84kg_4
- https://lblawntogarden.com
- https://www.bozeman.net/home/showpublisheddocument/12154/637987503041370000
- https://www.cityofsacramento.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/DOU/Conservation/Residential-Rebates/SingleFamily-Turf-Conversion-Rebate-Application-update07072021-doubled-rebate-message-(2).pdf?la=en
- https://www.fresno.gov/publicutilities/water-conservation-program/rebates/#tab-4
- https://mwdoc.dropletportal.com/rebate/turf/term
- https://valleywater.dropletportal.com
- https://www.sbmwd.org/259/Outdoor-Rebates-Incentives
- https://www.iwac.us/news/city-of-spokane-landscape-rebate-program/
- https://yourscvwater.dropletprograms.com/program/lawn/overview
- https://www.ci.moscow.id.us/449/Conservation-Programs
- https://www.pullman-wa.gov/government/departments/public_works/maintenance___operations/pullman_conserves
- https://www.zone7water.com/news-release/zone-7-helps-customers-convert-water-efficient-lawns
- https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showpublisheddocument/87532/637769862488900000
- https://www.modestogov.com/922/Turf-Replacement-Program
- http://www.ci.st-helena.ca.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/public_works/page/961/cash_for_grass_application_fy_15-16.pdf
- https://www.gardenstylesanantonio.com/outdoor-living-rebate/
- https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Water/Conservation/Rebates_and_Programs/WaterWise-Landscape-Rebate_Residential_Application_v2022.08.09.pdf
- https://www.tpr.org/environment/2022-06-05/saws-offers-rebate-for-lawn-projects-that-reduce-grass-and-watering-needs
- https://www.nbutexas.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2020-2021-Grass-Replacement-Rebate.docx.pdf
- https://sunsetvalley.city/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BA22165AC-1474-4874-8B54-2D9C68C36F61%7D
- https://www.haysusa.com/575/Turf-Conversion-Rebate
- https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/files/sharedassets/public/ltu/utilities/watershed-management/rainscaping-lincoln/waterwise-lawn-reimbursable.pdf
- https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Planning-Building/Forms-Documents/Water-Conservation-Forms-and-Documents/Cash-For-Grass/Cash-for-Grass-Terms-Conditions.pdf
- https://www.bewaterwise.com/turf-replacement-program.html
- https://www.broomfield.org/3627/Lawn-Replacement-Program
- https://www.erieco.gov/1962/Turf-Replacement-Rebate-Program
- https://greeleygov.com/services/ws/conservation/life-after-lawn
- https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/402/Rebates-Conservation-Kits?contentId=45828e44-c7b8-46a5-81d0-ccd773e4887e
- https://www.acwd.org/DocumentCenter/View/175/WEL-Application
problogic
Panethos 