How to Apply for Tempe, Arizona Water Rebates
City of Tempe pays $0.50/sq ft (max $2,000/home/fiscal year) to replace grass with desert landscaping. Pre-approval required before removing turf. Apply at waterrebates.com/tempe. Stackable with Tempe tree and irrigation rebates.
What You Will Need
- Before-and-after photos of the conversion area
- W-9 form (required if total Tempe rebates reach $600+ in the calendar year)
Application Steps
- 1
Schedule a free consultation with a Tempe water conservation specialist
Book a Grass Removal & Conversion Rebate Consultation via the City of Tempe's online booking system. Specialists walk through removal best practices, plant selection guides, and rebate terms. Pre-approval is required — this consultation is part of getting that approval.
Book a consultation with Tempe Water - 2
Receive written pre-approval before removing any grass
Do not remove any turf until you have written authorization from the City of Tempe. Only future grass removal is eligible — work done before pre-approval is disqualified from the rebate.
- 3
Complete the conversion to desert landscaping
Remove the grass and install a desert-adapted landscape. At least 30% of the removed area must be planted with desert-adapted plants (measured at plant maturity). Bare rock or mulch covering the entire area does not meet the program requirement.
- 4
Submit the rebate application at waterrebates.com/tempe
Apply online at the City of Tempe's rebate portal. If your total City of Tempe rebates for the calendar year will reach $600 or more, include a completed W-9 form with your application or email it to conservation@tempe.gov.
- Before-and-after photos of the conversion area
- W-9 form (required if total Tempe rebates reach $600+ in the calendar year)
Questions? Contact the City of Tempe Water Conservation team at conservation@tempe.gov or 480-350-8351. Program details last verified May 2026 at tempe.gov.
Full Program Details
See amounts, eligibility requirements, qualifying plants, and FAQs on the full program page.
Tempe, Arizona Water Rebates — full guide