California

Yard rebates in San Diego

20 programs can pay San Diego residents for yard projects: 3 run by the city, the county or the utilities and districts that serve it, and 1 open to anyone in California. The largest, San Diego County Waterscape Turf Replacement Rebate, pays up to $20,000 per household. 3 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.

San Diego's own programs

Run by the city or by a utility or district that serves it.

May apply

These cover only part of the county. Check that your address or utility is in the service area.

  • OpenPlan required

    San Diego County Waterscape Turf Replacement Rebate

    County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (Waterscape Rebate Program)

    County supplement stacks on SoCal WaterSmart base: total $3-$4 per sq ft (County page; the page notes the County $1/sq ft portion was not paid for July-Aug 2026 notices-to-proceed, SoCal WaterSmart $2/sq ft still paid). Properties not eligible for SoCal WaterSmart: $4 per sq ft. Plus $1 per sq ft for California native plants.

    Up to $20,000 per household

  • OpenPlan required

    SoCal Water$mart Turf Replacement Program

    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (SoCal Water$mart)

    $2.00 per sq ft of lawn removed; optional tree add-on of $100 per tree up to 5 trees ($500). Local water agencies may add to this.

    Up to $10,000 per household

  • Open

    San Diego County Waterscape Rain-Saving Containers and Gutters

    County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (Waterscape Rebate Program)

    Containers: $1.00 per sq ft of roof captured, up to $2,000. Gutters: $5 per linear foot up to $500. Upgrades: Volume +$0.25/sq ft (up to $500) and Full-Capture +$0.25/sq ft (up to $500); total up to $3,000. SoCal WaterSmart rebate ($35-$350 per container) is deducted from the County total. Older County rates of $30/barrel and $100/cistern appear in a July-Aug 2026 notice.

    Up to $3,000 per household

  • Open

    San Diego County Waterscape Rain-Saving Gardens Rebate

    County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (Waterscape Rebate Program)

    $1.00 per sq ft of roof captured, up to $2,000; upgrades +$0.25/sq ft each (Volume, Full-Capture, up to $500 each); total up to $3,000

    Up to $3,000 per household

  • OpenPlan required

    San Diego County Waterscape Native Plant Incentive

    County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (Waterscape Rebate Program)

    extra $1 per sq ft of area planted with native plants, capped at 2,000 sq ft

    Up to $2,000 per household

  • Open

    SoCal Water$mart Rain Barrel and Cistern Rebate

    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (SoCal Water$mart)

    Rain barrel $35 each (max 2); cistern 200-500 gal $250, 501-999 gal $300, 1000+ gal $350 (max 1)

    Up to $350 per household

  • Open

    SoCal Water$mart Flow Monitor Device Pilot Rebate

    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (SoCal Water$mart)

    Base incentive of $100 per qualifying flow monitor device; may be higher by agency

    Up to $100 per household

  • Open

    SoCal Water$mart Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate

    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (SoCal Water$mart)

    $80 per controller for landscapes under 1 acre; $35 per station for landscapes over 1 acre (base Metropolitan amounts; many agencies add more, e.g., South Pasadena $250 and Palmdale $150)

    Up to $80 per household

  • Open

    Fire Safe Council San Diego Defensible Space Assistance

    Fire Safe Council of San Diego County

    free contractor work (value not published)

  • Open

    Fire Safe Council San Diego Free Curbside Chipping

    Fire Safe Council of San Diego County

    free chipping

  • Open

    SoCal Water$mart Rotating Sprinkler Nozzle Rebate

    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (SoCal Water$mart)

    Starts at $2 per nozzle; amounts vary by agency

  • Open

    SoCal Water$mart Soil Moisture Sensor System Rebate

    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (SoCal Water$mart)

    Starts at $80 per controller and $35 per station; amounts vary by agency and funding (LADWP lists up to $200 per unit, up to $35 per station)

  • Limited funds

    San Diego County Waterscape Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate

    County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (Waterscape Rebate Program)

    Up to $60 per station for landscapes over 1 acre (County page); the per-controller amount for smaller landscapes is not in the page text, but Otay Water District's official page lists $80 per controller or $60 per station. The County's own supplemental amount ($25 per weather-based controller station) is paused (see status). Rebates cannot exceed the purchase price.

  • Seasonal

    Cal OES California Wildfire Mitigation Program

    California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), California Wildfire Mitigation Program, with local program partners

    Financial assistance for home hardening retrofits and defensible space; amount per home and homeowner cost share not stated on the homeowner page (secondary Cal OES reports reference full cost up to about $40,000 for homeowners at or below 120% of area median income, with 0/10/25% cost-share tiers; not verified)

  • Status not posted

    SDG&E Sustainable Tree Program (Free Trees)

    SDG&E with Fire Safe Council of San Diego County and Davey Resource Group

    Free trees (up to 10 per household per earlier SDG&E description; the Fire Safe Council page states no number)

  • Ended

    SDG&E Community Tree Rebate Program

    San Diego Gas & Electric

    $25 for a 1-gallon tree, $35 for 5-gallon, $50 for 15-gallon; up to five rebates per year

    Up to $250 per household

Anywhere in California

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 San Diego yard project in Sow

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