California turf removal rebates pay you to replace a natural grass lawn with drought-tolerant landscaping. This is your complete guide to turf replacement rebates, the now-closed Cash for Grass program, and water conservation incentives across the High Desert and Inland Empire, plus the artificial turf and desert landscapes Monarch installs once the grass is gone. Reviewed September 2026: the regional base rebate is $2 per square foot, and the High Desert is outside the program.
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The SoCal Water$mart program, funded by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is the largest turf replacement rebate available in our service area. It covers Inland Empire water districts that belong to MWD. The High Desert is outside MWD’s service area, so High Desert homes do not qualify.
Rates have come down from the drought-era peak: as of August 2026, new applications are approved at a $2 per square foot base rate, and projects approved at the old $7/sqft rate that are not completed by September 30, 2026 step down to $4/sqft. Rebate amounts can change at any time based on funding availability, so apply before you demo.
Turf-removal rebates in our service area are run by your local water provider. Most Inland Empire cities route through SoCal Water$mart (Metropolitan Water District), and several stack their own rebate on top. High Desert cities are outside that program. Rates and rules change often, confirm and get pre-approved before you start.
$2/sq ft base
SoCal Water$mart
Inland Empire MWD member agencies, not the High Desert
Apply
Up to $3/sq ft
Corona Water & Power
Corona, first 2,000 sq ft, then up to $2
Apply
$2+/sq ft
Western Municipal WD
Norco & western Riverside County (MWD regional)
Apply
Turfrebates
Cucamonga Valley WD
Rancho Cucamonga turf-replacement program
Apply
Water-wiseprograms
Riverside Public Utilities
City of Riverside landscape incentives
Apply
Turfrebates
San Bernardino Water
City of San Bernardino turf-removal program
Apply
Check first
Liberty Utilities
Apple Valley, no active program confirmed
Apply
Check who bills your water. Most route to SoCal Water$mart; some cities add their own.
Submit before any work. Approval locks in your rate and square footage.
Pull the living grass and install qualifying low-water landscaping.
Take before/after photos and keep receipts for the inspection.
Pass inspection and your rebate check follows, often 6–10 weeks.
A typical 1,500 sq ft front lawn in an Inland Empire MWD area, at rebate rates from $2 up to $5 per square foot where programs stack (not available in the High Desert):
Monarch also serves the greater Inland Empire, where several water districts offer their own turf removal and conservation incentive programs in addition to the regional SoCal Water$mart rebates.
Corona stands out with one of the most generous local programs in the Inland Empire: up to $3 per square foot for the first 2,000 sqft of turf removal, then up to $2 per square foot. A 2,000 sqft lawn conversion in Corona could earn up to about $6,000. The city’s tiered water budget system also penalizes overwatering heavily ($2.13 to $5.69 per unit), making the ongoing savings substantial.
The Metropolitan Water District SoCal Water$mart program provides region-wide turf removal rebates ($2/sqft base as of August 2026, before local top-ups) to customers of participating member agencies. Check socalwatersmart.com to confirm your specific water provider’s participation and current rebate amounts.
There is no state-level turf replacement supplement for homeowners, so check your local water agency’s program instead for statewide programs that can stack with local rebates.
No. The SoCal Water$mart program and the local water district rebates we checked all require replacement with living, drought-tolerant landscaping, not artificial turf. The replacement landscape must include plants that reduce water use long-term. Some programs accept a mix of permeable hardscape and drought-tolerant plants, but synthetic grass does not qualify. If you want artificial turf for play areas or pet runs, you can install it alongside a rebate-qualifying drought-tolerant conversion on the rest of your yard, just apply the rebate to the planted area only.
As of August 2026, the SoCal Water$mart base rebate is $2 per square foot for residential turf replacement (up to 5,000 sqft per year) and $2 per square foot for commercial properties (up to 50,000 sqft). The Metropolitan Water District also offers $100 per shade tree, up to 5 trees, when planted as part of a turf replacement project. For a typical 1,500 sqft front lawn, that is $3,000 in base rebates before local district add-ons. Some local water districts, like Corona DWP at $5/sqft, offer additional incentives that may stack with the regional program, check with your specific provider.
Yes, this is the most common mistake homeowners make. ALL turf removal rebate programs require pre-approval before any work begins. You must submit an application, receive a reservation confirmation, and then start the project. Completing the removal before approval disqualifies you entirely. Once approved, you typically have 180 days to complete the conversion and submit before-and-after photos.
Qualifying replacements include drought-tolerant plants (species with a WUCOLS plant factor of 0.3 or below are ideal), permeable hardscape like decomposed granite or flagstone, mulch, drip irrigation systems, and rain gardens. The replacement must demonstrably reduce water use. Rock-only yards with no plants may not qualify. Artificial turf, impermeable concrete, and non-porous surfaces generally do not qualify. The best approach is a designed xeriscape with native and adapted plants on drip irrigation.
MWELO is California’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. It applies to rehabilitated landscapes over 2,500 sqft and all new construction landscapes over 500 sqft. It sets a Maximum Applied Water Allowance based on your property size and local evapotranspiration rates. In the High Desert (CIMIS Zone 16), the math makes full-turf landscapes nearly impossible to comply with. MWELO does not directly affect rebate eligibility, but if your project exceeds the 2,500 sqft threshold, you will need a landscape documentation package with your building permit, which actually favors water-efficient designs that also qualify for rebates.
Sometimes. SoCal Water$mart rebates from the Metropolitan Water District may stack with local water district incentives in some areas. Corona DWP, for example, offers up to $3 per square foot for the first 2,000 sq ft and up to $2 per square foot after that, one rebate per fiscal year (confirm current terms with Corona DWP). There is no state-level California turf replacement supplement for homeowners that stacks with local programs may also stack with local programs. Stacking rules vary by district, always verify with both your local provider and the SoCal Water$mart program before counting on combined amounts.
We help homeowners across San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire, including homeowners across Menifee, navigate water rebates and install qualifying drought-tolerant landscapes.
Victorville Water Dept • Stage 2 water shortage • Cajon Series sandy soil • Outside the SoCal Water$mart area
View Victorville services →Hesperia Water District • 3-tier pricing ($1.30-$2.69/HCF) • Hesperia Series sandy loam • Outside the SoCal Water$mart area
View Hesperia services →Liberty Utilities (CPUC-regulated) • Zone 8b • Outside the SoCal Water$mart area
View Apple Valley services →Adelanto Public Utilities • Tier 2 rate nearly double Tier 1 ($5.42 vs $2.99/CCF) • Adelanto Series clay with caliche
View Adelanto services →PPHCSD • Zone 8a (coldest in service area) • High wind exposure • Outside the SoCal Water$mart area
View Phelan services →Golden State Water • 70-80 days over 100°F/year • Contact Golden State for rebate resources
View Barstow services →Unincorporated SB County • Rural properties • Outside the SoCal Water$mart area, no active turf rebate we can confirm (check with your provider)
View Oak Hills services →Riverside Public Utilities • Water-wise landscaping programs • MWD regional rebates
View Riverside services →Corona DWP • Up to $3/sqft turf removal (first 2K sqft, then up to $2/sqft) • Smart controller rebate (confirm amount) • Tiered water budget
View Corona services →Fontana Water Company • SoCal Water$mart rebates • Conservation programs
View Fontana services →Cucamonga Valley Water District • Turf replacement rebates • MWD member agency
View Rancho Cucamonga services →Ontario Municipal Utilities Co. • Conservation incentives • MWD regional rebates
View Ontario services →SB Municipal Water Dept • Turf removal rebates • Conservation programs
View San Bernardino services →We help High Desert and Inland Empire homeowners navigate rebate programs, design qualifying landscapes, and maximize their savings. Free estimates on every project.
Or call now: (760) 792-7627
