California Turf Replacement & Xeriscape Rebates (2026)

Program details

• Lawn Be Gone! Rebate Program

  Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) participating member agencies

  OpenLawn replacement

  Amount

  $1.00–$4.00 per sq ft depending on agency (e.g., Brisbane $1, Burlingame $2, Estero MID/Foster City $4, Hillsborough $1, Menlo Park $3, Mid-Peninsula WD $4, Millbrae $2, North Coast CWD/Pacifica $4, Redwood City $2, San Bruno $2); optional $300 Rain Garden rebate at most agencies

  Cap

  No program-wide maximum; limited to actual costs. Agency caps: Hillsborough $2,500; NCCWD $2,500 (front yards only); Foster City $5,000 residential

  • Pre-conversion site inspection and Notice to Proceed required before removing lawn
  • Minimum 200 sq ft of lawn converted (smaller if 100% of front/visible lawn removed)
  • Lawn must be maintained, healthy and irrigated by a working sprinkler system on potable water

  All 8 requirements

  • At least 50% plant coverage at maturity; plants from BAWSCA-Approved Plant List or demonstrated low-water use
  • Minimum 3 inches of mulch; weed barrier must be permeable
  • No impermeable surfaces; no rebate for artificial turf
  • Sprinklers removed, capped, or converted to low-volume drip
  • Complete within 4 months of Notice to Proceed; keep converted 3 years

  Who qualifies: Customers of participating BAWSCA member agencies (San Mateo County / Peninsula)

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Grass Conversion Rebate (River Friendly Landscape Program)

  City of Sacramento Department of Utilities

  OpenLawn replacement

  Amount

  $2.50 per sq ft (limited-time, applications Sept. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027); $1 per sq ft for dirt or dead lawn areas

  Cap

  $5,000 for single-family/duplex (equivalent of up to 2,000 sq ft); rebate limited to receipted expenses

  Limited-time $2.50 rate for applications Sept 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027.

  • City staff approval and pre-inspection required BEFORE work begins; not retroactive
  • Noninvasive, drought-tolerant (very low to low water use) plants
  • At least 60% plant coverage at maturity; minimum of five plants (for distinct areas over 250 sq ft)

  All 9 requirements

  • Drip irrigation with EPA WaterSense smart controller, or no irrigation if hand-watered
  • Mulch 2–5 inches deep under trees and shrubs, pieces 6 inches or less
  • Permeable pathways only
  • Artificial grass not eligible; C-27 contractor labor reimbursable up to $800
  • Complete project and submit receipts within 120 days of approval; post-inspection required
  • Conversion must remain in place 5 years

  Who qualifies: City of Sacramento Department of Utilities water customers

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Landscape Transformation / Turf Replacement (via SoCal Water$mart)

  City of San Diego Public Utilities Department

  OpenLawn replacement

  Amount

  Not published — check the program page

  Cap

  None published

  The City sends homeowners to MWD's program and publishes no separate City amount.

  • City directs residents to MWD's Turf Replacement Program (bewaterwise.com / SoCal Water$mart); MWD requirements apply
  • $100 rebate per tree for up to five trees when replacing grass

  Who qualifies: City of San Diego water customers

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Lawn Conversion Rebate

  East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)

  OpenLawn replacement

  Amount

  $1.00 per sq ft (Standard); $2.00 per sq ft (Super Rebate)

  Cap

  $2,000 per 2-year period for single-family and small multi-family homes

  • Apply and wait for EBMUD approval before starting
  • Lawn irrigated with EBMUD potable water and mowed for at least the past 3 years (verified via water use and satellite imagery)
  • Plants must cover 50% of converted area at maturity; low-water-use plants

  All 8 requirements

  • At least 3 inches of mulch; permeable paths/patios only; no landscape fabric/weed cloth
  • Existing sprinklers removed, capped, or replaced with drip or high-efficiency nozzles
  • Super Rebate: sheet mulch (no herbicides), majority California natives, plant September–February
  • No artificial turf, sod/no-mow grass, invasive plants, or microspray
  • Complete within 9 months of approval

  Who qualifies: EBMUD service area (Alameda and Contra Costa counties, East Bay)

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Turf Replacement Rebate

  Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), with MWD SoCal Water$mart

  OpenLawn replacement

  Amount

  $5.00 per sq ft residential (LADWP $3/sq ft + MWD $2/sq ft)

  Cap

  5,000 sq ft maximum; $25,000 maximum rebate (residential)

  • Pre-approval required before removing any grass; apply at socalwatersmart.com
  • Project minimum 250 sq ft, maximum 5,000 sq ft (residential)
  • Submit at least five pictures, first page of LADWP bill, project measurements and landscape plan

  All 6 requirements

  • Complete project within six months of pre-approval
  • Converted area must remain in compliance with program requirements for 5 years
  • All MWD SoCal Water$mart turf requirements apply (plants, stormwater feature, irrigation modification, no synthetic turf)

  Who qualifies: LADWP water customers (City of Los Angeles)

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Turf Replacement Program (SoCal Water$mart)

  Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)

  OpenLawn replacement

  Amount

  $2.00 per sq ft (MWD base; your local water agency may add more)

  Cap

  Up to 5,000 sq ft of converted yard per year (residential)

  • Reservation (pre-approval) required before removing any turf; projects started or completed before reservation are ineligible
  • Must have existing turf; dead/dying turf or bare dirt does not qualify
  • Minimum 250 sq ft of turf removed (or all turf if the site has less than 250 sq ft)

  All 11 requirements

  • At least 3 plants per 100 sq ft of project area
  • Stormwater retention feature (e.g., rain garden, rock garden, dry river bed, swale, berm, rain barrel or cistern)
  • Project area must be permeable; no impermeable hardscape (permeable hardscape only)
  • 3-inch ring of mulch around all plants; no bare soil (organic mulch, or inorganic in CalFire Very High Fire Severity Zones)
  • Irrigation modification required: convert overhead spray to drip/micro-spray/bubblers/rotating nozzles, or cap and hand-water; no overhead spray sprinklers
  • No synthetic turf; no live turf or turf-looking grasses
  • Complete project and request rebate within 180 days of reservation
  • Optional: $100 per tree, up to 5 trees ($500) per application

  Who qualifies: Customers of participating MWD member agencies in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Turf Replacement Program (via SoCal Water$mart)

  San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA)

  OpenLawn replacement

  Amount

  Starts at $2 per sq ft (MWD-funded; participating agencies and/or grants may add more)

  Cap

  None published

  • Apply through SoCal Water$mart; all MWD turf program requirements apply
  • Past participation may limit eligibility
  • Optional tree rebate: $100 per tree, up to five trees; 15-gallon or larger; receipt required

  Who qualifies: SDCWA member agency service areas in San Diego County

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Landscape Rebate Program – Landscape Conversion Rebate

  Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)

  OpenLawn replacement

  Amount

  $2 per sq ft (current base rate)

  Cap

  $3,000 default cap for single-family and multi-family (4 or fewer units); $6,000 in cost-sharing areas (cap combines Landscape Conversion and Irrigation Equipment Upgrade rebates)

  • Pre-inspection and written Notice to Proceed required before any work
  • Minimum 75 sq ft of irrigated lawn (or functional pool) converted; lawn must be intact and mowed at pre-inspection
  • At least 50% living plant coverage at maturity with qualifying low-water-use plants

  All 8 requirements

  • Minimum 2 inches of qualifying mulch; no bare dirt
  • Overhead irrigation in the converted area capped/removed; drip, micro-spray or bubbler only
  • Permeable hardscape allowed up to 50% of the converted area
  • Artificial turf, plastic weed barrier, impervious hardscape not allowed
  • Complete within 90 days of Notice to Proceed; maintain for 5 years

  Who qualifies: Santa Clara County

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Large Landscape Grant Program

  San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)

  OpenCommercial / large sites

  Amount

  Up to $4.00 per sq ft of eligible project area (grant; 50% match required)

  Cap

  Maximum award $1.5 million (375,000 sq ft project area)

  Projects must be at least 10,000 sq ft, so typical single-family homes don't qualify.

  • Project area at least 10,000 sq ft and no more than 375,000 sq ft
  • SFPUC retail water customer with an installed, operating irrigation system and 3-year baseline data
  • Remove at least 25% of existing high-water-use plants (e.g., turf) and replace with low-water-use plants, or 100% potable offset

  All 5 requirements

  • Reduce potable irrigation use at least 25% vs. 3-year baseline
  • Applicant pays at least 50% of eligible project costs

  Who qualifies: SFPUC retail water service area (San Francisco)

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Waterscape Rebate Program – Turf Replacement (unincorporated San Diego County)

  County of San Diego Department of Public Works (Watershed Protection)

  PausedLawn replacement

  Amount

  $3–$4 per sq ft combined with SoCal Water$mart (County supplement $1/sq ft); plus $1/sq ft extra for California native plant areas. $4/sq ft for projects ineligible for SoCal Water$mart

  Cap

  Residential up to 5,000 sq ft ($15,000–$20,000); non-SoCal Water$mart track: residential up to 1,250 sq ft ($5,000)

  The County asks residents to pause new applications for its $1/sq ft supplement. MWD's $2/sq ft still applies.

  • Property in unincorporated San Diego County
  • For combined rebate: served by a listed SDCWA/EMWD member agency and apply via SoCal Water$mart
  • SoCal Water$mart requirements: 3 plants per 100 sq ft, 3-inch organic mulch, stormwater retention feature, permeable hardscape only, irrigation modification

  All 4 requirements

  • Artificial turf not permitted

  Who qualifies: Unincorporated San Diego County

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Cash for Grass

  Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA)

  PausedLawn replacement

  Amount

  Not published — check the program page

  Cap

  None published

  On hold until further notice; applications submitted through June 30, 2026 are being processed.

  • Approval from SCWA staff required before beginning
  • Minimum 200 sq ft
  • Grass (dead or alive) must be intact when applying

  All 6 requirements

  • Low to medium water-use, non-invasive plants; at least 50% plant coverage at maturity
  • Drip irrigation with pressure regulator (20–40 psi), filter, emitters under 2.5 gph, or hand watering
  • Artificial turf, if included, must be installed by a licensed contractor; impervious areas not eligible

  Who qualifies: Sacramento County Water Agency service area only

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Turf Replacement / Cash for Grass rebate

  Sacramento Suburban Water District (SSWD)

  Status unverifiedLawn replacement

  Amount

  Not published — check the program page

  Cap

  None published

  Amount and status could not be verified (the district's site blocked our checks). Confirm directly with SSWD.

  Who qualifies: SSWD service area (parts of Sacramento County)

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Be Water Smart regional rebate directory

  Regional Water Authority (RWA), Sacramento region

  Status unverifiedBackground

  Amount

  Not published — check the program page

  Cap

  None published

  A directory, not a rebate: look up your own water supplier's program by address.

  • Rebates are run by each individual water supplier; look up your supplier by address

  Who qualifies: Greater Sacramento region (RWA member water suppliers)

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

• Urban Community Drought Relief – Turf Replacement funding / DWR Turf Replacement Pilot Program

  California Department of Water Resources (DWR)

  EndedBackground

  Amount

  Not published — check the program page

  Cap

  None published

  State turf money went to local agencies as grants in 2023. There is no statewide homeowner rebate in 2026.

  • Not a homeowner rebate: 2022 funding was a grant solicitation for water agencies (application deadline January 31, 2023)
  • Turf Replacement Pilot Program is direct-install in selected frontline communities (no public application found)

  Who qualifies: Statewide (grants to agencies / selected pilot communities)

  Verified Sep 2026Official program page (opens in a new tab)

How to apply for a lawn-replacement rebate

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Finish within the deadline. Programs set completion windows. Keep receipts and take after photos.
5. 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 California

• California Civil Code §4735 makes HOA rules void and unenforceable if they prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, low water-using plants as a group or as a replacement of existing turf (the same section also covers artificial turf). Source
• AB 1572 (2023), Water Code §10608.14, bans using potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on commercial, industrial and institutional properties (other than cemeteries) and HOA/common-interest common areas: state DGS and local-government/public-agency properties from Jan 1, 2027; other institutional, commercial and industrial properties from Jan 1, 2028; HOA common areas from Jan 1, 2029; public properties in disadvantaged communities from Jan 1, 2031 (or later if state funding comes later). Source
• The state's drought-era turf money (a $75 million Turf Replacement allocation from the Budget Act of 2021) went out as DWR grants to local agencies in 2023, not as a direct statewide rebate. Homeowners apply through their local water supplier. Source

Local guides and pros in California

• Los AngelesUSDA zone 10a–10bXeriscape pros in Los AngelesXeriscaping in Los Angeles
• San DiegoUSDA zone 10a–11aXeriscape pros in San DiegoXeriscaping in San Diego
• SacramentoUSDA zone 9bXeriscape pros in SacramentoXeriscaping in Sacramento
• San Francisco Bay AreaUSDA zone 9b–10bXeriscape pros in San Francisco Bay AreaXeriscaping in San Francisco Bay Area

Frequently asked questions