Las Vegas pays homeowners more to remove lawn than anywhere else in the country. As of September 2026, the Southern Nevada Water Authority's Water Smart Landscapes rebate pays single-family homes $5 per square foot for the first 10,000 sq ft, and Las Vegas Valley Water District customers get another $2, for $7 per square foot combined (SNWA). With about 4 inches of rain a year and Zone 9a–9b winters, the Mojave rewards a desert-adapted yard. SNWA's watering schedule makes an established one cheap to run.
Las Vegas growing conditions
| Factor | Las Vegas Valley | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) | 9b in central Las Vegas and the south valley (89101, 89123); 9a in the northwest (89131) and Henderson (89052) | USDA |
| Annual precipitation | 4.18 inches | NOAA 1991–2020 normals |
| Median last freeze | January 20 | NOAA |
| Median first freeze | December 15 | NOAA |
| Soils | Alkaline desert soils, often with a caliche hardpan | Local observation |
- Reflected heat does the real damage. South- and west-facing block walls and rock mulch create hot spots well above air temperature. Put the toughest plants there (full-sun options).
- Caliche. A cemented layer under many yards blocks roots and drainage. Break through it or plant above it, and never let a planting hole become a bathtub.
- Freezes are brief but real. Nights in the 20s happen in most winters, especially in the northwest valley. Skip the most frost-tender tropicals.
Check your exact zone with our Las Vegas zone lookup.
The rebate: SNWA Water Smart Landscapes (as of September 2026)
| Program | Amount | Cap | Key requirement | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNWA Water Smart Landscapes (single-family) | $5/sq ft for the first 10,000 sq ft, then $2.50/sq ft | Tiered per property, per fiscal year (July–June) | Pre-conversion inspection; min 400 sq ft of living lawn; 50% plant cover | SNWA |
| LVVWD additional incentive | +$2/sq ft ($7 combined, then $4.50) | None published | LVVWD residential customer in the SNWA program | LVVWD |
| SNWA Tree Enhancement bonus | $100 per qualifying new tree | — | Tree must reach at least 20-ft canopy at maturity | SNWA |
| City of Henderson add-on | $575 additional (per SNWA's page) | — | Henderson water customers | Confirm with the City of Henderson |
About the $3 figure you may have seen: some sites, and some older program-conditions text further down SNWA's own page, quote $3 per square foot. SNWA's current program summary says $5, which matches the rate SNWA restored in September 2025. Your rate is confirmed at the pre-conversion visit. LVVWD says customers who applied before September 18, 2025 and still have grass must reapply to get its bonus.
The rules that matter:
- Don't remove any grass before SNWA inspects. SNWA says that removing your lawn without its approval "will make your conversion ineligible."
- At least 50% living plant cover at maturity, using plants from SNWA's plant list.
- Drip irrigation with a filter, pressure regulator and emitters of 20 GPH or less. Use permeable mulch (rock, bark or ungrouted pavers) and no plastic sheeting.
- Finish within 12 months of the pre-conversion inspection.
- A conservation easement is recorded on the converted area, and SNWA issues the check after it's recorded. Future owners inherit it.
Watering rules: assigned days by season
Every municipal water customer in the valley has an assigned watering group, and Sunday sprinkler watering is prohibited year-round (SNWA):
| Season | Sprinkler days allowed |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar 1–Apr 30) | 3 assigned days/week |
| Summer (May 1–Aug 31) | No landscape irrigation 11 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| Fall (Sep 1–Oct 31) | 3 assigned days/week |
| Winter (Nov 1–Feb 28) | 1 assigned day/week |
SNWA notes that running drip "too many days a week is the biggest mistake most homeowners make." Established desert plants want deep, infrequent watering.
The law: grass is on its way out
- AB 356 (2021) prohibits using Colorado River water to irrigate nonfunctional grass on properties not zoned exclusively for single-family homes, starting January 1, 2027. It covers HOA streetscapes, commercial frontage and medians. It does not apply to front and back yards at single-family homes (SNWA).
- New homes can't have grass. SNWA's board approved a December 2021 resolution prohibiting irrigated grass in the front and back yards of new residential developments, and local codes implement it.
- HOAs can't ban drought-tolerant landscaping. NRS 116.330 says an HOA "shall not… prohibit a units' owner from installing or maintaining drought tolerant landscaping" in their front or back yard. You still submit plans for architectural review, and the design should be "compatible with the style of the common-interest community," but approval can't be unreasonably withheld (NRS 116.330).
We compare these rules with California's and Colorado's in our guide to nonfunctional turf bans.
The Mojave plant palette
Trees: desert willow (pink summer flowers), palo verde, mesquite (water deeply to prevent shallow roots and blow-downs) and Texas ebony.
Structure: red yucca, agaves (americana and parryi; see cold-hardy agave), Mojave and banana yucca, ocotillo and golden barrel cactus.
Color: globe mallow (apricot spring flowers), penstemon (firecracker and Parry's), brittlebush, desert marigold, verbena, lantana for summer color, and autumn sage for hummingbirds.
Groundcovers and cactus: trailing rosemary, damianita, prickly pear, and myoporum in milder spots.
Design notes: desert done right
- Plant shade first. Put desert trees where they shade windows, patios and the west wall. Shade cools the yard and counts toward the 50% plant cover.
- Bold, sculptural designs work here. Agave-and-gravel compositions look native in Vegas. Keep living coverage up for looks, cooling and the rebate (xeriscape vs. zeroscape).
- Use light-colored rock. Buff and tan decomposed granite stays cooler than dark rock and looks at home in the Mojave.
- Plant in fall. September through November planting beats spring in the Mojave, because roots grow all winter before the first 110°F week.
From our installs: Most dead desert plants we're called to look at in new conversions were drowned, not baked. That's especially true in caliche, where water pools under the root ball. Test drainage by filling each planting hole with water. If it's still full the next day, break the caliche or move the plant.
Hire it out
SNWA lists "Water Smart Landscaper" contractors, and our directory lists local landscape pros. Get two itemized bids, and confirm the contractor has built conversions that passed SNWA inspection. The cost guide shows how far $7/sq ft goes.
Heading north? See our Reno guide, or St. George up I-15. The national rebate directory compares Nevada's program with other states'.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Las Vegas grass removal rebate in 2026?
SNWA pays single-family homes $5 per square foot for the first 10,000 sq ft converted each fiscal year, then $2.50. LVVWD customers get an additional $2 per square foot, for $7 combined. SNWA also pays $100 per qualifying new tree.
Do I have to remove my lawn under Nevada's grass ban?
Not at a single-family home. AB 356 applies to nonfunctional turf on properties not zoned exclusively for single-family residences, such as HOA streetscapes and commercial frontage, starting January 1, 2027.
What days can I water in Las Vegas?
Your assigned group days: three a week in spring and fall, one a week from November through February, and no landscape irrigation between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from May through August. Sunday sprinkler watering is always prohibited.
Can my HOA stop me from xeriscaping in Las Vegas?
No. NRS 116.330 prohibits HOAs from banning drought-tolerant landscaping in your yard. You must submit plans for architectural review, and the HOA can't unreasonably deny them.
Does artificial turf qualify for the SNWA rebate?
It can be part of a project, but the whole front or back yard where the conversion happens must still meet SNWA's 50% plant-cover, irrigation and mulch rules. Plants elsewhere in that yard can count toward the canopy requirement.
