LADWP Turf Rebate 2026: $5 per Sq Ft, and Why Artificial Turf Does Not Qualify

The LADWP turf replacement rebate pays residential customers $5 per square foot ($3 from LADWP plus $2 from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California) to replace a living lawn with a low-water landscape, for 250 to 5,000 square feet, up to $25,000. Artificial turf does not qualify, and you must get pre-approval through SoCal Water$mart before you remove any grass.

Those are the program terms listed on LADWP's Turf Replacement Rebate page as of October 2026. Below we cover who qualifies, what the new yard has to include, the steps in order, and how to plan a yard that uses turf where you need it and rebate-eligible planting everywhere else. Option 1 Builders designs and builds yards across Los Angeles from our office in Encino, and this question comes up in almost every estimate we write.

LADWP Turf Replacement Rebate at a Glance

Commercial and multi-family properties (5 or more units) get $6 per square foot for the first 50,000 square feet, and public agencies get $7. Rebate amounts can change at any time, so check the live page before you plan around a number.

Does the LADWP Rebate Cover Artificial Turf?

No. The program pays to replace lawn with a living, low-water landscape, and LADWP's own program flyer states that artificial or synthetic turf is not allowed. The same rule applies to the regional program run through SoCal Water$mart, and to most other Southern California water agencies. In the Santa Clarita Valley, for example, SCV Water's lawn replacement program also excludes residential artificial turf.

This surprises a lot of homeowners, because the goal of both turf and the rebate is to stop watering a lawn. The difference is that the rebate is built around plants, mulch, and soil that soak up rain, which artificial turf does not do.

What Your New Landscape Has to Include

LADWP describes the finished yard as a sustainable, low water-use landscape. The program page lists these as the parts of a qualifying yard:

• California Friendly® or California native plants. LADWP's flyer calls for at least three plants per 100 square feet of converted area.
• Mulch or other groundcover to hold moisture in the soil.
• Drip irrigation in place of spray sprinklers where the area is watered.
• A rain capture feature such as a rain garden, dry swale, rain barrel, or infiltration trench.

Read the current Sustainable Landscape Checklist before you finalize a design, since it is what your finished project is reviewed against.

How to Apply for the LADWP Turf Rebate: The Application Process Step by Step

1. Plan the project. Measure the lawn you will convert and sketch the new design. LADWP offers free landscape classes and design templates.
2. Get pre-approval first. Reserve your rebate at SoCal Water$mart. You will need at least five photos of the existing lawn, the first page of your LADWP bill, measurements, and your plan.
3. Wait for approval before any work. If grass comes out before you are approved, the area is not eligible.
4. Build the project within six months. Do it yourself or hire a contractor. LADWP notes that October to March is the best planting window.
5. Submit photos of the finished yard. Your project is reviewed and may be inspected before you receive the rebate.

Turf Replacement Rebates Outside LADWP

LADWP serves the City of Los Angeles. Many neighboring cities in Southern California run their own turf replacement program through the same SoCal Water$mart website, including Burbank Water and Power and Glendale Water and Power, and the Metropolitan Water District's bewaterwise Turf and Trees program lists a base rebate starting at $2 per square foot plus a rebate for qualifying trees. Rebate amounts vary by water agency, so check which utility sends your water bill before you plan your project.

Turf and the Rebate in the Same Yard

You do not have to choose one or the other for the whole property. Many Los Angeles homeowners split the yard:

The key is to apply for the rebate only on the area you will plant, and to get pre-approval before any lawn comes out, including the part that will become turf. Our Santa Clarita front yard project shows the look of a mixed yard: turf on the lawn areas and drought-tolerant rock gardens beside the steps.

Is the Rebate Worth It?

For a 1,000 square foot lawn, the rebate is worth up to $5,000. A rebate-compliant landscape can cost more or less than that to build, depending on plants, irrigation, and hardscape, so look at it as a discount, not free money. On the other side, artificial turf has no rebate but uses no irrigation water and needs little upkeep. Compare both with a written estimate. Our artificial turf cost guide for Los Angeles has current turf prices, and our drought tolerant landscaping ideas for Los Angeles show what the planted option can look like.

Questions About the LADWP Turf Rebate