Lawn Removal Rebate Finder

California: 8 open lawn-replacement programs

As of September 2026, California has no statewide homeowner turf rebate. Lawn-replacement rebates come from local and regional water agencies. In Southern California, MWD's SoCal Water$mart base rate is $2.00/sq ft, and some agencies add more (LADWP pays $5.00/sq ft combined). Northern California programs mostly run $1–$4/sq ft with lower caps, and a few are paused.

• 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)