Desert Water Turf Conversion (Grass Removal) Rebate

Requirements

• Apply and get approval before removing any lawn.
• Mulch the converted area.
• All irrigation in the rebate area, or on the same valve, must be low flow (0.33 gallons per minute or less). Groundcover (decomposed granite, rock, mulch) must cover every area; bare sand, Kurapia, clover and other grass-like groundcovers, and non-permeable surfaces are not rebated. Artificial turf is allowed but discouraged.
• Apply for pre-approval before removing any grass; DWA pre-inspects and measures the area, and grass must be in place (dormant or brown is fine). Grass removed in the past gets nothing.
• $2 per square foot. The City of Palm Springs' extra $1 is exhausted, so Palm Springs residents also get $2. First come, first served while funds last; call (760) 323-4971 or rebates@dwa.org to confirm funding.
• The applicant may be the authorized owner, manager or landscaper for the property. Commercial and HOA projects also check their city's own landscape rules; projects over 20,000 sq ft must show readiness to proceed.
• 90 days to finish for homes, 180 for everyone else, with one extension of a month at DWA's discretion.
• Plant coverage must meet the local land-use agency's standard, for example Palm Springs' 50% at maturity.
• After the project: photos, a W-9 (the rebate is taxable income), receipts for commercial, HOA and municipal projects, a post-inspection, then a check about 45 days after approval. Keep receipts two years.
• One check per property per year; no replanting grass in the rebated area; areas on recycled water are not eligible.
• The terms state no area or dollar cap; a 2,000 sq ft figure cited elsewhere is not in them.
• The online application asks for: property type, how you heard of the program, first and last name, email, phone, the installation address (street, unit, city, zip) and a mailing address, plus a checkbox for the terms. Receipts can be added after, and other rebates can be added to the same submission.

Steps, in order

1. Apply on Desert Water Agency’s site and wait for approval. Lawn removed before approval usually does not qualify.
2. Remove the lawn and plant to the requirements above.
3. Send what the program page asks for once the work is done.