As of September 2026, Phoenix ($2/sq ft), Scottsdale ($2/sq ft up to $5,000, 2026-27 window July 8-Oct 31, 2026), Mesa (up to $2,100), Chandler ($1.50/sq ft up to $2,000) and Glendale ($1/sq ft up to $3,000) offer residential grass-removal incentives, nearly all requiring approval before removal. Tucson Water currently lists no single-family grass-removal rebate (only rainwater harvesting and gray water for homes; turf removal is commercial/multifamily only).
Get pre-approval before you remove any grass. Programs pay for converting living, irrigated lawn. Most require photos or an inspection first, and grass removed early usually doesn't qualify.
Direct roof runoff: $1.00/gallon (meets 1-inch rainfall requirement) or $0.50/gallon; indirect runoff: $0.50/gallon; streetside basins $0.50-$1.00/gallon; optional Treebate $50 first tree + $49 second
$1,999 per property ($1,900 storage + $99 Treebate)
2026–27 window: July 8 – Oct 31, 2026, per the current application form (a banner on the web page is out of date).
Scottsdale Water customers; applicant must be current property owner
Pre-inspection and Notice to Proceed required by ordinance before removing any grass
Minimum 500 sq ft (waived if all remaining grass on the property is removed)
All 9 requirements
Grass must be growing at minimum 50% density
No bare dirt; granite/top dressing at least 2 inches deep; no plastic sheeting
Sprinkler heads removed or converted to drip and zoned separately from remaining grass
Artificial turf optional but limited to 1,000 sq ft
Projects over 1,000 sq ft need Arizona-friendly plants from ADWR low-water-use list with 25% minimum mature canopy coverage (calculated on area above 1,000 sq ft)
No fountains, pools, spas or high-water-use plants in removal area
Who qualifies: Scottsdale Water service area (single-family residential)
Direct roof runoff: $1.00/gallon (meets 1-inch rainfall requirement) or $0.50/gallon; indirect runoff: $0.50/gallon; streetside basins $0.50-$1.00/gallon; optional Treebate $50 first tree + $49 second
Cap
$1,999 per property ($1,900 storage + $99 Treebate)
Single-family residential or small commercial (5/8-inch meter) Tucson Water customers
Required workshop through Watershed Management Group
Site plan pre-approval before installation
All 5 requirements
Install within one year; site inspection; submit receipts and W-9
Confirm who supplies your water. Rebates follow the water bill, not the city name on your address. Find the utility on your bill, then open its program page from the list above.
Apply before you touch the grass. Submit photos of the living, irrigated lawn and wait for written approval, a site visit, or a Notice to Proceed.
Design to the program's rules. Most require a minimum area, plant coverage at maturity, drip or no irrigation in the converted area, and a mulch layer. Many prohibit plastic sheeting and artificial turf.
Finish within the deadline. Programs set completion windows. Keep receipts and take after photos.
Pass the final inspection and get paid. Payment arrives as a check or a bill credit, usually within one to three billing cycles.
Good to know in Arizona
Under A.R.S. 33-1819, in a planned community that allows natural grass, an HOA (after declarant control ends) may not prohibit artificial turf on a member's property, though it may adopt reasonable rules on installation, location, percentage and quality. Source
City of Phoenix Water Services says choosing desert plants can lower outdoor water use by 85% compared to grass. Source
The City of Chandler reports the average residential grass conversion saves 75,000 gallons each year. Source
What turf replacement rebates are available in Arizona in 2026?
As of September 2026, Phoenix ($2/sq ft), Scottsdale ($2/sq ft up to $5,000, 2026-27 window July 8-Oct 31, 2026), Mesa (up to $2,100), Chandler ($1.50/sq ft up to $2,000) and Glendale ($1/sq ft up to $3,000) offer residential grass-removal incentives, nearly all requiring approval before removal. Tucson Water currently lists no single-family grass-removal rebate (only rainwater harvesting and gray water for homes; turf removal is commercial/multifamily only).
How much do Arizona lawn-replacement rebates pay?
Grass to Xeriscape Rebate (Single Family Grass Removal Rebate Program) (City of Chandler Public Works & Utilities - Water Conservation): $1.50 per sq ft of grass converted to xeriscape; cap $2,000 per property. Landscape Conversion Rebate (Existing Home Grass to Xeriscape) (City of Glendale Water Services - Conservation and Sustainable Living): $1.00 per sq ft for xeriscape; $0.25 per sq ft for artificial grass (existing homes); cap $3,000 for xeriscape; $250 for artificial grass. Residential Grass-to-Xeriscape and Tree Bonus Incentive Program (City of Mesa Water Resources): Tiered: $1,000 (500-999 sq ft), $1,500 (1,000-1,499 sq ft), $2,000 (1,500+ sq ft); tree bonus +$50 per qualifying tree (max 2 trees); cap $2,100. Residential Grass Removal Incentive Program (City of Phoenix Water Services): $2 per square foot of grass removed. Figures as published by each agency, verified September 2026.
Do I need approval before removing my lawn?
Yes, in almost every case. 4 of the 5 lawn-replacement programs we track in Arizona require approval, a site visit, or a Notice to Proceed before any grass is removed. The exception is Landscape Conversion Rebate (Existing Home Grass to Xeriscape) (City of Glendale Water Services - Conservation and Sustainable Living), where you apply after the work, but check the rules first. Take dated photos of your living lawn before you start.
Which Arizona programs are closed or paused right now?
All 7 programs we track in Arizona were open as of September 2026. Funding is often first-come, first-served, so apply early in the season.
Verified September 2026 from each agency's program page. Programs change and funds run out; confirm the current amount on the official page before you start.
