California
Yard rebates in Los Altos
8 programs can pay Los Altos residents for yard projects: 6 run by the city, the county or the utilities and districts that serve it, and 1 open to anyone in California. The largest, Valley Water Landscape Rebates (Lawn and Pool Conversion), pays up to $3,000 per household. 1 ask for a plan or plant list before they approve a project.
Utility programs only apply to that utility’s customers, so check who supplies your water and power.
Los Altos's own programs
Run by the city or by a utility or district that serves it.
- Status not posted
Cal Water Lawn-to-Garden Rebate
California Water Service (Cal Water)
Per-square-foot rebate; the rate is not published on the official page or FAQ (the $3 per sq ft figure from a search summary remains unverified)
Santa Clara County programs
Open to residents anywhere in the county.
- OpenPlan required
Valley Water Landscape Rebates (Lawn and Pool Conversion)
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
$2 per sq ft for landscape conversion (lawn or pool to low-water landscape); Lawn to Mulch $1 per sq ft is for commercial/5+ unit sites only; other categories have separate rates in the portal
Up to $3,000 per household
- Open
Valley Water Graywater (Laundry-to-Landscape) Rebate
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
$200 base; $400 for residential customers of Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto Utilities, Santa Clara Utilities or San Jose Municipal Water
Up to $400 per household
- Open
Valley Water Water Wise Outdoor Survey
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
Free outdoor irrigation survey and written report; free DIY indoor survey kit on request
- Paused
BAAQMD Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange Program
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
not published (page lists no amounts)
- Paused
Our City Forest Lawn Busters Subsidized Lawn Conversion
Our City Forest (nonprofit, funded by Valley Water)
Subsidized plan, materials and labor on a donation basis (dollar value not published)
May apply
These cover only part of the county. Check that your address or utility is in the service area.
- Paused
BAAQMD Wildfire Prevention Chipping Program
Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
Free chipping service (Davey Tree Expert Company)
Anywhere in California
- Open
California State Income Tax Exclusion for Turf Rebates
State of California (Franchise Tax Board; Revenue and Taxation Code section 17138.2)
Full exclusion of the rebate, voucher or other financial incentive from California taxable income
Sow is not affiliated with any of these agencies or utilities. Amounts and rules change, often at the start of a fiscal year, so confirm the details on the official page before you start a project. How we research these programs
Plan your Los Altos yard project in Sow
Lay out the new planting on a photo of your yard with plants native to the area, and keep the plant list ready for the application.