Scottsdale, Arizona Water Conservation Rebates (2025 Guide)

How to Apply for Scottsdale Water Rebates

1. 1

   Sign up for email notifications to know when the 2026 season opens

   The 2026 season has not opened as of May 2026. Sign up for Scottsdale Water Conservation email alerts so you are ready to apply on day one. First-come, first-served programs fill fast.

   Sign up for email alerts at scottsdaleaz.gov
2. 2

   Review the Selected Plant List before designing your replacement landscape

   Replacement plants must be on the city's Selected Plant List (Arizona-friendly, low-water-use xeriscape species). Plan your plant list before applying so the pre-inspection review goes quickly.

   Scottsdale residential rebate page
3. 3

   Submit your application with before-photos on the season opening day

   When the program opens, submit the application online with your current Scottsdale Water bill, before-photos of the existing grass, and your proposed landscape plan citing the Selected Plant List. Applications are first-come, first-served until funding is exhausted.

4. 4

   Receive a Notice to Proceed — then and only then remove the grass

   After your pre-inspection is approved, Scottsdale Water sends a Notice to Proceed email. Do not remove any turf before this arrives. Removal without it cancels your eligibility.

5. 5

   Complete the project and submit after-photos

   Complete the replacement planting within one year of application. Upload after-photos and completion documentation through the secure link in your Notice to Proceed email. Scottsdale reviews documentation in approximately 2 business weeks, then issues a rebate check within 4–6 weeks.

Is the program open right now?

The 2025 residential season closed October 31, 2025. The 2026 season has not yet opened as of May 2026. Scottsdale Water Conservation has indicated that requirements will be similar to the 2025 season, but the opening date has not been announced. The fastest way to know when it opens is to sign up for email notifications at scottsdaleaz.gov/water/water-conservation/rebates. The program historically opens in May and runs through October. Applications are first-come, first-served until the season's funding pool is exhausted.

• 2025 season: closed October 31, 2025
• 2026 season: not yet open as of May 2026 — email alerts available at scottsdaleaz.gov
• Historical open window: approximately May through October
• First-come, first-served within seasonal funding allocation

What grass and replacement plants qualify?

The program targets warm-season grass (Bermuda, St. Augustine, and similar species used in Arizona lawns). Replacement must use plants from the City of Scottsdale's Selected Plant List, which consists of Arizona-friendly, low-water-use species — native and adapted xeriscape plants. Artificial turf alone is not sufficient; the replacement must include approved low-water plants. A minimum of 500 square feet of warm-season grass must be removed.

• Warm-season grass (Bermuda, St. Augustine, and similar) must be removed
• Minimum 500 square feet of grass removed
• Replacement plants must be from the Scottsdale Selected Plant List (Arizona-friendly, low-water-use)
• Artificial turf alone not sufficient — must include approved low-water plants
• Products purchased before the program's official season launch date are not eligible
• Project must be completed within one year of application

Why pre-approval is required by city ordinance

Scottsdale's pre-inspection requirement is codified in city ordinance, not just program policy. Any turf removed before receiving a Notice to Proceed is ineligible for reimbursement, no exceptions. After submitting your application with before-photos and a proposed plant list, Scottsdale Water Conservation staff conduct a pre-inspection (typically virtual). Once approved, you receive a Notice to Proceed email. Do not touch the grass until that email arrives.