The short answer

In the Metropolitan Water District's SoCal Water$mart program, which LADWP and other LA-area agencies use, you must apply for and receive approval before removing any turf. In the East Bay, EBMUD says a lawn conversion project must not start until EBMUD sends notice of approval. Rebates come from local water agencies, and amounts vary by location.

Keep your lawn in place until you have written approval from your water agency. Check the current rebate amount with that agency before you build a budget around it.

How the SoCal Water$mart process works in the LA area

The SoCal Water$mart approval is a reservation of funds. The pre-approval application needs at least five color photos of the turf areas. The program FAQ also lists a simple landscape plan and a copy of a recent water bill.

A pre-approval is only an estimate. The final amount can change after verification or inspection. After approval, you have 180 days to finish the project and submit the post-project rebate application.

A typical sequence looks like this:

  1. Confirm which water agency serves your address and which program it uses.
  2. Photograph the lawn areas, sketch a simple plan and gather a recent water bill.
  3. Submit the pre-approval application and wait for approval to proceed.
  4. Remove the turf and install the plants, rainwater capture and new irrigation.
  5. Submit the post-project application before your deadline, and keep records in case of an inspection.

Typical SoCal Water$mart requirements

The lawn itself

SoCal Water$mart requires existing live turf. Dead or dying lawns and bare dirt don't qualify. SoCal Water$mart doesn't pay rebates for lawns already converted, even if you didn't know about the program. The minimum project size is 250 square feet of turf removed, or all turf on the site if there is less than 250 square feet.

Don't let the lawn die back before you apply. Keep caring for it normally until your project is approved and ready to start.

Plants

The project needs at least three in-ground plants per 100 square feet of project area. Existing trees in the area count toward that number. Potted plants don't count. Synthetic turf isn't an eligible replacement in the SoCal Water$mart turf program.

Rainwater capture

Every SoCal Water$mart project must include a rainwater-capture feature. Options include rain gardens, rock gardens, dry river beds, swales, berms, rain barrels and cisterns. A rain barrel or cistern only counts as the rainwater feature if the house has gutters around the full roof perimeter and existing downspouts.

If your gutters only cover part of the roof, compare ground-level options such as a swale or dry river bed with your designer before you commit.

Irrigation

Every project must change the irrigation: convert to drip, micro-spray, bubblers or rotating nozzles, or cap the heads and hand-water. Overhead spray sprinklers aren't allowed in the finished project.

Permeable surfaces

SoCal Water$mart projects must be permeable to air and water. Impermeable surfaces and structures, such as raised patios and decks, are disqualified and should be left out of the measured area.

If you also want a patio or walkway, plan it as a separate area from the rebate zone. For hardscape material choices, see concrete vs. pavers for Southern California homes.

East Bay homeowners: EBMUD's lawn conversion rules

EBMUD requires the lawn to have been irrigated with EBMUD potable water and maintained for at least three years. EBMUD checks this against water-use history and satellite imagery.

Plants must cover 50% of the converted area once grown. The plants must be low-water-use. EBMUD requires 3 inches of mulch. EBMUD bans landscape fabric and weed cloth. Drip systems must have a pressure regulator and filter.

EBMUD gives 9 months after approval to finish the project and submit documentation. Extensions are case-by-case.

If a different Bay Area water agency serves your home, its program and rules may not match EBMUD's. You can find your program by entering your ZIP code at Save Our Water.

Where to check current rebate amounts

In the MWD area, the place to check current amounts is the SoCal Water$mart 'Estimate Your Rebate' tool. Amounts vary by local water agency. Amounts also depend on available funding.

LADWP residential customers apply for the turf rebate through SoCal Water$mart. LADWP requires pre-approval. LADWP listed $5 per square foot for LADWP customers. That rate is a snapshot that can change.

Because funding shifts, check the tool or your agency's rebate page again right before you apply rather than relying on an older figure.

The state's water-savings page says turf-removal rebates are tax-free on California state taxes. The same page says this is claimed via FTB 4197. Tax situations differ, so confirm with a tax professional how this applies to you.

What affects your project cost and timeline

Rebates offset part of the work, but your total cost and schedule depend on factors like these:

  • Size and layout of the lawn: irregular strips and slopes take more labor than one open rectangle.
  • Irrigation work: converting existing lines to drip or low-flow fixtures involves more work than capping heads.
  • Rainwater feature: a dry river bed, swale or rain garden involves grading, while a barrel or cistern may depend on your gutter setup.
  • Plant count and size: larger plants fill in faster but cost more up front.
  • Mulch and soil prep: mulch rules in your program and the condition of your soil both affect materials and labor.
  • Approval wait and program deadline: build the agency's review time and completion window into your schedule.
  • Hardscape outside the rebate zone: patios, paths or walls add cost and must be planned around the measured area.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Starting demolition before the approval notice arrives.
  • Letting the lawn go brown while you wait to apply.
  • Planning artificial grass and assuming it will earn a rebate.
  • Counting potted plants or a raised deck in the rebate plan.
  • Choosing a rain barrel without checking your gutters and downspouts.
  • Leaving overhead spray heads in place after the conversion.
  • Budgeting around a rebate figure you saw months ago.
  • Missing the post-project deadline because the installation ran long.

Questions to ask a landscape contractor

  • Which water agency serves my address, and which program rules apply?
  • Will you wait to start demolition until I have written approval?
  • How will the plan meet my program's plant, mulch and irrigation requirements?
  • Which rainwater-capture option fits my roof and gutters?
  • Which parts of the design are permeable, and which areas should be left out of the measured rebate area?
  • Can you help me document the finished project with photos for the post-project application?
  • Is your contractor license current? (See the contractor licensing guide for how to check.)

You can read more about landscaping and hardscaping projects or request a quote once your approval is in hand.

Next Step

Planning a landscaping and hardscaping project in Greater Los Angeles or the Bay Area? See EC Construction Group's landscaping and hardscaping service or request a free estimate. You can also call (310) 310-4108 in Los Angeles or (415) 316-7307 in the Bay Area.

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