Lawn replacement · California

SMWD Residential Turf Removal Rebate

Run by Santa Margarita Water District

OpenPlan requiredLast checked October 17, 2026
What you get
$2 per sq ft for residential turf removal, plus a landscape design rebate of $1,000 (or actual design cost, if less) paid with the turf check after completion
Who qualifies
SMWD residential customers with healthy, green living grass at pre-inspection.
Where
Residential customers of Santa Margarita Water District in south Orange County.
Status
Open. Per official SMWD pages (checked 2026-10-17); no closing date or funding level stated.
Type of payment
Rebate
Official program page

What you do

Remove turf with regional MWD/MWDOC funding as listed by SMWD.

Requirements

  • Minimum 250 sq ft removed; artificial turf not eligible; HOA approval first if you have an HOA
  • Include a sustainability feature that captures rainwater, 3 plants per 100 sq ft, and convert pop-up spray irrigation to high-efficiency irrigation
  • Mulch in all project areas with an organic mulch ring around plants; no invasive plants
  • Apply and get approval before removing grass; pre-inspection, signed Letter to Proceed, complete within 90 days, then post-inspection
  • Application needs your SMWD bill, five photos of the lawn and a simple site-plan sketch; W-9 for rebates of $600 or more

The plan or design it asks for

A simple sketch of the project is required with the application: project area relative to the house, street and driveway, the plants you will install, and the proposed sustainability features (per SMWD Turf Replacement Site Plan Guidelines). A professional design is optional and earns the $1,000 design rebate.

Native plant lists for the area: Lake Forest, Mission Viejo

Make the plan in Sow

Draw the layout and build the plant list

Sow places plants on a photo of your yard and keeps a list of everything you add. Check SMWD's rules for exactly what to submit.

Start a plan in Sow

How to apply

  1. 1Apply online on the SMWD Turf Replacement page with your bill, five photos and a site sketch
  2. 2Sign the terms and conditions and schedule the pre-inspection
  3. 3Sign the Letter to Proceed and complete the project within 90 days
  4. 4Submit 5 or more completion photos and receipts
  5. 5Post-inspection, then check in 6 to 8 weeks

Estimate your rebate

Uses the published rate per square foot of turf removed. The program sets the final amount after its inspection.

Enter an area to see an estimate

Timing and deadlines

90 days to complete after the Letter to Proceed; check 6-8 weeks after approved inspection

90 days after the Letter to Proceed

Combining it with other programs

Also lists device rebates and H2OC RainSmart

Sources

Last checked October 17, 2026. See something out of date? Tell us.

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

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