Custom Landscape Design Plans for LADWP's Lawn Replacement Rebate

Residential rebate

Rebate amount

Residential LADWP customers can earn $5 per square foot (LADWP $3 plus the Metropolitan Water District's $2 base rebate), for up to 5,000 square feet, a maximum of $25,000. Rebate amounts can change and depend on funding when your application is approved.

Before starting

Apply before removing grass

Get pre-approval before removing any grass or starting your project. You apply at socalwatersmart.com with at least five photos, the first page of your LADWP bill, project measurements, and your landscape plan. After pre-approval, you must complete the project within six months. Your project will be reviewed and may be inspected before the rebate is issued.

Project requirements

Plan the replacement area

At least 250 square feet of live grass must be removed (or all of it, if you have less). The finished area needs at least 3 plants per 100 square feet, a stormwater feature such as a rain garden, dry river bed, swale, or rain barrel, 3 inches of mulch around plants, and permeable surfaces only. Overhead spray sprinklers must be converted to drip or similar, or capped. Synthetic turf is not allowed.

Planting season

When to plant

LADWP says the best planting time is October to March, when cooler weather helps roots establish.

Cash for Grass

Live in Santa Monica? Santa Monica has its own water utility and its own Cash for Grass rebate, so the LADWP details above don't apply to you. Your property must receive water service from the City of Santa Monica.

Single-family homes can receive $3.50 per square foot of grass replaced, up to $6,000.

Apply before you start

The City reviews your application and emails you a project approval with an Installation Checklist. Wait for that approval before removing any grass. The area must have living turf grass when you apply. Projects that are part of new construction or a major remodel aren't eligible. After a final inspection, the City says to allow up to 8 weeks for the rebate check.

Project requirements

All grass in the project area must be removed and replaced with climate-appropriate plants covering at least 25% of the converted area at maturity, with organic mulch around plants. The area must stay permeable to air and water. Spray irrigation must be removed or capped and replaced with drip irrigation or hand-watering. Artificial turf and lawn-like grasses aren't allowed. The landscape must be maintained for at least 5 years.

Lawn to Garden

Live in Long Beach? Long Beach Utilities runs its own Lawn-to-Garden program, so the LADWP details above don't apply to you. Your property must get its water service from Long Beach Utilities, and the area must be living grass (dead lawns and bare dirt don't qualify). Front yards visible from the street can receive $3 per square foot of lawn removed, for up to 5,000 square feet at a home. Long Beach's FAQ lists $2 per square foot for backyards and side yards. Projects must be at least 250 square feet. Funding is first come, first served, and amounts can change. Synthetic turf isn't allowed.

Get your design approved first

After Long Beach Utilities approves your application, you take a landscape class and submit your landscape design within 90 days. Your design must show the name and location of each plant. Don't kill or remove any grass until Long Beach approves your design and completes a pre-inspection, or you'll be disqualified. The design that's approved is the one you must install, and a final inspection happens before payment.

Project requirements

New gardens must use low-water California native and/or California-friendly plants with at least 65% plant coverage, a stormwater retention feature built into the landscape (a rain barrel alone doesn't count), habitat for wildlife, mulch and natural materials, and efficient irrigation such as drip or high-efficiency heads, with separate valves for areas with different watering needs, or sprinklers capped for hand watering. The garden must be kept up: if it isn't maintained or is changed from the approved design within 5 years, the owner may have to pay back part or all of the incentive.