Quick answer
LADWP customers can apply for a per-square-foot rebate — administered through the SoCal Water$mart program with the Metropolitan Water District — for removing live lawn and replacing it with California-friendly plants, mulch, and a rainwater retention feature. You must apply and receive approval to proceed before removing any grass; starting or finishing the project first makes it ineligible, and current rebate amounts and rules can change, so check LADWP's and SoCal Water$mart's official pages before you begin.
How the rebate programs work
LADWP partners with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) on the SoCal Water$mart Turf Replacement Program, which pays residential customers a set amount per square foot of live lawn removed and replaced with a qualifying water-wise landscape. Other cities' water agencies within MWD's service area may participate in SoCal Water$mart on their own terms, so if you're not an LADWP customer, check with your local water provider.
Apply and get approval before you remove grass
This is the most important rule: you must submit an application and receive a reservation/approval to proceed before removing any turf. If you start or finish the project before approval, the project is not eligible for a rebate. The pre-approval step typically asks for several photos of the area, a simple landscape plan, and a copy of a recent water bill, and approval can take a couple of weeks.
What qualifies
Program rules commonly require the finished project to include:
- Only live turf removed — dead, dying, or bare-dirt areas typically don't qualify
- A minimum project size (often around 250 square feet), with a per-project maximum
- A set number of California-friendly or native plants per 100 square feet of converted area
- A stormwater retention feature (such as a rain garden, swale, or permeable design) and no non-permeable hardscape in the converted area
- Conversion or removal of overhead spray sprinklers, often in favor of drip irrigation
- Synthetic/artificial turf generally does not qualify as a replacement material
Rebate amounts and requirements change
Per-square-foot rebate amounts, project size limits, and program rules are updated periodically by LADWP and SoCal Water$mart and are based on funding availability at the time your application is approved. Rather than relying on a number you saw somewhere else, check the current rebate amount and terms directly on LADWP's Turf Replacement Rebate page or SoCal Water$mart's Turf Replacement Program page before applying.
How we can help
Once your rebate reservation is approved, we can help remove the old turf, install mulch, drip irrigation, and California-friendly plants, and haul away the debris. Send photos of the lawn you're converting through our quote form or call/text (818) 277-2637 to talk through the project.
Common questions
Official sources
Rules and programs change. Confirm current details on these pages.
Rather have us handle it?
Send photos and get a clear price, usually the same day.
