929 programs · every state · updated October 17, 2026

Get paid for the work in your yard

929 programs run by cities, counties, utilities and states pay residents to replace lawn, upgrade irrigation, catch rainwater, plant trees, clear wildfire fuel and more. Each one below lists what it pays, who qualifies, the exact rules and every step to apply, taken from the official program page.

By type of project

By state

Some of the largest open programs

Maximum payments per household, from programs that list themselves as open. The largest pays up to $25,000.

  • OpenPlan requiredCalifornia

    LADWP Residential Turf Replacement Rebate

    Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (with Metropolitan Water District)

    $5.00 per sq ft ($3 LADWP plus $2 MWD SoCal Water$mart)

    Up to $25,000 per household

  • OpenCalifornia

    City of South Pasadena Turf Replacement and Irrigation Rebates

    City of South Pasadena with Metropolitan Water District (SoCal Water$mart)

    Turf $4 per sq ft (up to 5,000 sq ft); weather-based controller $250 per unit under 1 acre (limit 2); soil moisture sensor $150 per unit; hose bib controller $35; rotating nozzle $2 each (min 30); rain barrel $35 (limit 2); cistern up to $250-$350

    Up to $20,000 per household

  • OpenPlan requiredCalifornia

    CVWD Residential Turf Conversion Rebate

    Coachella Valley Water District

    $2 per sq ft

    Up to $20,000 per household

  • OpenPlan requiredCalifornia

    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 requiredCalifornia

    Long Beach Water Lawn to Garden Incentive

    Long Beach Utilities Department (Long Beach Water)

    $3.00 per sq ft of lawn removed, plus design reimbursement (see notes)

    Up to $15,000 per household

  • OpenPlan requiredTexas

    City of Sunset Valley WaterWise Landscaping Rebate

    City of Sunset Valley

    75% of cost of design, materials and installation, up to $15,000 lifetime cap per residential address

    Up to $15,000 per household

Common questions

Do I have to apply before I start the project?

Usually, yes. Most lawn replacement, rain garden and cost-share programs require an approved application, and often a pre-inspection, before you remove grass or buy materials. Work started early is the most common reason a rebate is denied. Each program page lists its own order of steps.

Can I combine a local rebate with a state or utility program?

Often. Many water utilities add their own amount on top of a regional program, and statewide tax benefits usually apply regardless of local rebates. Some programs cap the combined total at your project cost. Each program page notes what it stacks with when the official page says so.

Are yard rebates taxable?

It depends on the program and your state. California excludes turf replacement rebates from state income tax for tax year 2026 (Revenue and Taxation Code section 17138.2), and Colorado gives an income tax credit for wildfire mitigation work. Federal treatment varies by program, so check with a tax professional for your situation.

Why does a program ask for a plan or plant list?

Programs that pay for new landscaping want to see that the result meets their rules, such as plant coverage, approved plants and no artificial turf, before they commit funds. 189 of the programs here ask for a plan, sketch or plant list.

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 the project before you apply

189 of these programs ask for a plan or plant list. Sow lays out your new planting on a photo of your yard and keeps the plant list in one place.

Start a plan in Sow