California
Tree rebates and free trees in California
20 programs in California pay residents for trees. 12 list themselves as open now, and the median maximum is $200 per household. 5% ask for a plan, sketch or plant list before they approve a project.
Utilities, cities and state forestry agencies give away trees or rebate part of the price, mostly to add shade on the south and west sides of homes. Free-tree programs often deliver a young tree in a 5-gallon pot and ask you to plant and water it.
20 programs
- OpenPlan required
City of South Pasadena Tree Rebate
City of South Pasadena Public Works, Sustainability Division
Up to $100 per tree, maximum 10 per household
Up to $1,000 per household
- Open
Roseville Electric Shade Tree Rebate
Roseville Electric Utility (City of Roseville) with Roseville Urban Forest Foundation
$80 rebate per tree, up to 6 trees per residence
Up to $480 per household
- Open
RPU Tree Power Shade Tree Rebate and Free Tree
Riverside Public Utilities
rebate up to $40 per tree, up to 5 trees per calendar year; annual coupon for one free tree up to $40 value
Up to $200 per household
- Open
EBMUD Treebate Pilot Rebate
East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)
Up to $100 per tree; 1 tree for single-family and 2-4 unit properties
Up to $100 per household
- Open
SCWA Drought Tolerant Treebate
Solano County Water Agency (SCWA)
50% of tree cost, up to $50 per tree; maximum two trees per household
Up to $100 per household
- Open
Anaheim TreePower Shade Tree Rebate
Anaheim Public Utilities with City of Anaheim Community Services
up to $20 per tree, up to 3 trees ($60)
Up to $60 per household
- Open
Anaheim TreePower Free Shade Tree Delivery
Anaheim Public Utilities with City of Anaheim Community Services
up to 6 free trees delivered
- Open
City of Long Beach Free Street Tree Program
Long Beach Office of Climate Action and Sustainability
Free street tree, planted by the City
- Open
City of Palo Alto Request a Free Street Tree
City of Palo Alto Public Works Urban Forestry
Free city-planted street tree (city also maintains it)
- Open
City Plants Free Yard Trees (home delivery)
City Plants (City of Los Angeles with Community Forest Advisory Committee, LA Conservation Corps delivery)
Free shade trees, up to 7 per household, delivered to your door (donations optional)
- 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
- Open
Our City Forest Free Trees for Yards and Park Strips
Our City Forest (nonprofit)
Free tree and planting services in eligible areas; suggested donation $50 or more
- Seasonal
City of Mountain View Arbor Day Tree Giveaway
City of Mountain View Urban Forest (Community Services)
One free 15-gallon tree per property, delivered
- 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
- Seasonal
IID Residential Shade Tree Program (Tree for All)
Imperial Irrigation District
one free shade tree, professionally planted
- Seasonal
Lodi Electric Shade Tree Program
Lodi Electric Utility with Tree Lodi (nonprofit)
Free shade trees plus stakes, ties and planting instructions (number per household not published; season goal 500 trees)
- Seasonal
SMUD Sacramento Shade Free Shade Trees
SMUD with Sacramento Tree Foundation
Up to 10 free trees (#5 pots, 3 to 6 feet tall) plus a free siting consultation
- 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)
- Waitlist
Canopy South Palo Alto Tree Initiative (Free Yard Tree)
Canopy (nonprofit) with City of Palo Alto
Free tree, installation and up to 3 years of care advice
- 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
Other California programs
- Lawn replacement 72
- Irrigation upgrades 56
- Rain barrels and cisterns 22
- Rain gardens and stormwater projects 6
- Stormwater fee credits 1
- Native plants and pollinator habitat 4
- Wildfire defensible space 22
- Electric lawn equipment 5
- Compost and mulch 14
- Graywater 9
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
Sow lays out your new planting on a photo of your yard and builds the plant list from plants suited to where you live.