California
Yard rebates in San Francisco
9 programs can pay San Francisco residents for yard projects: 7 run by the city, the county or the utilities and districts that serve it, and 1 open to anyone in California. The largest, SFPUC Rain Barrel and Cistern Rebate, pays up to $350 per household. 2 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 Francisco's own programs
Run by the city or by a utility or district that serves it.
- Open
SFPUC Rain Barrel and Cistern Rebate
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Up to $100 per rain barrel (max 2 barrels) or up to $350 for one cistern
Up to $350 per household
- Open
SFPUC Laundry-to-Landscape Graywater Rebate
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Up to $100: PVC pipe up to $25, one full-port 3-way diverter valve up to $50, one air admittance valve/auto-vent up to $25
Up to $100 per household
- Open
FUF Free Street Tree Planting
Friends of the Urban Forest (nonprofit, in partnership with San Francisco Public Works)
Free tree, planting and 3 years of care
- OpenPlan required
SFPUC Stormwater Credit Program
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Ongoing monthly credit on the stormwater charge, max 90% off. Simplified residential rate (parcels 6,000 sq ft or less, 6 units or less) uses flat tiers; FY2025-26 examples: ground-level 100-200 sq ft drained in Tier 1 = $1.24/month (15% of charge), more than 600 sq ft roof drained in Tier 3 = $11.56/month (60%). FY2026-27 rates not published in the guidebook.
- Seasonal
FUF Adopt-A-Yard-Tree Free Yard Trees
Friends of the Urban Forest (nonprofit, funded by Arbor Day Foundation grant)
Free native or fruit tree
- Out of fundsPlan required
SFPUC Green Infrastructure Grants for Homes (Pilot)
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
not published on the program page (funds design and construction; see guidelines)
San Francisco County programs
Open to residents anywhere in the county.
- Paused
BAAQMD Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange Program
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
not published (page lists no amounts)
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 San Francisco 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.