City of Sonoma Cash for Grass / Turf Removal Rebate

Requirements

• Apply and get approval before removing any lawn.
• Replant with low-water or native plants.
• Mulch the converted area.
• Drip for all new plants (spray heads are not accepted), on its own valve so the new area is controlled separately; the old lawn sprinkler heads removed. A project watered by the same sprinklers as the lawn, or by well water, is ineligible.
• Call the City's Water Conservation Office at (707) 933-2247 for a brief pre-inspection before removing anything; the lawn must be green, mowed, irrigated and cared for at that visit. Dead or already-removed lawn gets nothing.
• $1.00 per sq ft of lawn removed: homes up to $1,000, commercial and HOA sites up to $3,000. One rebate per property; labor and materials are not reimbursed.
• Water customer of the City and owner of the property; the account holder's name goes on the check.
• Replace the lawn with water-conserving plants, a vegetable garden or other low-water planting with enough mulch; pools, building extensions, hardscape and thirsty plants do not qualify.
• Finish and have the post-inspection within 120 days of approval, then mail the application. Reinstalling turf means returning the whole rebate.

Steps, in order

1. Apply on City of Sonoma’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.