Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate: about 14 inches of rain a year, nearly all of it in winter, in USDA Zone 10a–10b. Its native plants grow in the wet season and rest through the dry summer. As of September 2026, LADWP customers get $5.00 per square foot to replace lawn ($3 from LADWP plus $2 from the Metropolitan Water District), up to 5,000 sq ft and a $25,000 maximum (LADWP). LADWP limits sprinklers to three assigned days a week, so a lawn in LA costs a lot of water and effort for what it gives back.
Los Angeles growing conditions
| Factor | Los Angeles | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) | 10b downtown and near the coast (90012, 90045); 10a in the San Fernando Valley (91401, 91342) and inland valleys | USDA |
| Annual precipitation | 14.25 inches (downtown), falling mostly from November to March | NOAA 1991–2020 normals |
| Frost | Essentially none downtown. Inland valleys get occasional light frost. | NOAA (no freeze season recorded downtown) |
| Soils | Clay in the basin; decomposed granite and rocky soils in the hills | Local observation |
- Summer is the dormant season. Most natives grow November–April and rest in summer. Overwatering in summer kills more California natives than anything else.
- Microclimates vary a lot. The coastal strand, the basin, the foothills and the Valley are very different gardens. Valley summers are far hotter and drier than Santa Monica's.
- Drainage matters more than fertility. Most natives prefer lean, fast-draining soil. On clay, plant high and water less.
- Fire affects design in the hills and canyons (see below).
Look up your address with our Los Angeles zone lookup.
LA rebates (as of September 2026)
| Program | Amount | Cap | Key requirement | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LADWP Turf Replacement (with MWD) | $5.00/sq ft ($3 LADWP + $2 MWD) | 250–5,000 sq ft; $25,000 max | Pre-approval; finish within 6 months; maintain 5 years | LADWP |
| MWD SoCal Water$mart base (other LA County agencies) | $2.00/sq ft, plus any local add-on | 5,000 sq ft/yr residential | Reservation before removal | SoCal Water$mart |
| MWD tree rebate | $100 per tree | 5 trees ($500) | Planted as part of a turf project | SoCal Water$mart |
If you're not an LADWP customer (Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica and many others have their own utilities), you apply through SoCal Water$mart, and the site's estimator adds any local supplement for your address.
The requirements (Metropolitan's, which LADWP follows):
- Reservation first. Metropolitan says projects "started or completed before reservation are ineligible." LADWP asks for five photos, the first page of your bill, measurements and a landscape plan.
- Existing living turf. Dead or dying grass and bare dirt don't qualify.
- At least 3 plants per 100 sq ft, and no bare soil. Put a 3-inch ring of mulch around plants.
- A stormwater feature, such as a rain garden, dry riverbed, swale, berm or rain barrel.
- Permeable surfaces only, no overhead spray in the converted area (use drip, micro-spray, bubblers or hand watering), and no synthetic turf.
Watering rules: three days a week
The City of Los Angeles is in Phase 2 of LADWP's Water Conservation Ordinance (LADWP):
| Address ends in | Watering days |
|---|---|
| Odd number | Monday, Wednesday, Friday |
| Even number | Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday |
Typical sprinkler systems may run one cycle of up to 8 minutes per station on a watering day, or two 15-minute cycles with water-conserving nozzles. All outdoor watering is prohibited from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is allowed any day before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Violations can bring fines of $100 to $600 after a written warning.
HOA rules and turf laws
Your HOA can't ban it. California Civil Code §4735 voids any HOA rule that "prohibits, or includes conditions that have the effect of prohibiting, the use of low water-using plants as a group or as a replacement of existing turf." HOAs can still apply landscaping rules that comply with that law (Civil Code §4735).
AB 1572 doesn't cover your front yard. The state's ban on watering nonfunctional turf with drinking water applies to commercial, industrial, institutional and government properties and HOA common areas, phased in from 2027 to 2031. Single-family yards are excluded (Water Code §10608.14). Details are in our guide to nonfunctional turf bans.
The LA plant palette
Shrubs: ceanothus (California lilac), manzanita, toyon, Cleveland sage and white sage, coffeeberry and lemonade berry. These evergreen natives give the garden structure year-round.
Perennials and accents: California buckwheat, matilija poppy (six-foot "fried egg" flowers), California fuchsia (fall food for hummingbirds), monkeyflower, yarrow, penstemon and Douglas iris near the coast. Mediterranean imports such as lavender and trailing rosemary follow the same wet-winter, dry-summer rhythm.
Grasses: deergrass (the region's structural workhorse), California fescue and purple three-awn.
Trees: western redbud, desert willow inland, and coast live oak. Coast live oak is the most valuable habitat plant in the region. Never irrigate inside an oak's drip line in summer.
Succulents: dudleyas, agaves, red yucca and aloes. Keep them on a separate watering zone from natives.
CNPS's Calscape lets you enter your address to see which natives grow there naturally.
Design notes: follow the Mediterranean rhythm
- Plant in fall, water in winter, cut back in summer. Natives establish from November to March on rain plus supplemental water. By the second or third year, many need little or no summer water.
- Fire-wise spacing in the hills. Keep the first 5 feet from structures lean and noncombustible: hardscape, succulents, and low, well-hydrated plants rather than woody shrubs against the siding. Separate shrub groupings with gravel paths or low groundcovers.
- Plan for summer dormancy. Buckwheat turns rust-red and deergrass turns gold. Pair them with evergreen ceanothus and manzanita so the garden looks intentional in September.
- Build the stormwater feature into the design. A dry creek bed or rain garden meets the rebate rule and looks good (dry creek bed guide).
From our installs: The most common mistake we see is putting California natives on a lawn-style schedule. Once established, many prefer a deep soak every few weeks in summer, or none at all. LADWP's 8-minutes-a-station rule is written for lawns. Set native beds on drip and water much less often.
Getting started this fall
- Apply at SoCal Water$mart with photos of the living lawn, and wait for your reservation.
- Remove the turf (methods compared) and cap or convert every spray head in the area.
- Plant in October–December at 3 or more plants per 100 sq ft, and add the stormwater feature.
- Mulch, then submit within LADWP's six-month window.
Hire it out
For sod removal, grading, drip and rebate paperwork, browse the landscape pros listed for Los Angeles. Ask for projects they've completed under the LADWP or SoCal Water$mart program, and compare bids against the cost guide.
More California guides: San Diego, Sacramento and the Bay Area. Every district's program is in our California turf rebate guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does LADWP pay to remove grass?
As of September 2026, LADWP residential customers get $5.00 per square foot ($3 from LADWP and $2 from Metropolitan) for 250 to 5,000 sq ft, with a $25,000 maximum. You must be pre-approved before removing any turf.
What are LA's watering days?
Under Phase 2, odd-numbered addresses water Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and even-numbered addresses water Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. No outdoor watering is allowed between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Does artificial turf qualify for the LA rebate?
No. The LADWP and Metropolitan turf program excludes synthetic turf. California law does stop HOAs from banning it, but no rebate pays for it.
When should I plant a native garden in Los Angeles?
October through December is ideal. Winter rains help establish roots before the dry season. Avoid planting natives in summer.
Can my HOA stop me from replacing my lawn?
No. Civil Code §4735 makes HOA rules void if they prohibit low-water plants as a replacement for turf. HOAs can still review designs under rules that comply with the law.
