Skip to main content
Home/Rebates/California/East Bay

California Water Rebates

EBMUD Lawn Conversion Rebate: $1–$2/Sq Ft for Oakland, Berkeley, and East Bay

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) offers the Lawn Conversion Rebate Program for residential customers in Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Orinda, and other East Bay service area cities. The standard rebate is $1 per square foot for removing lawn and replacing it with climate-appropriate, low-water plants. The Super Rebate doubles the rate to $2 per square foot for projects that use sheet mulching with compost, are planted during the cool season (September through February), and use California native plants for at least 50% of plant coverage. The maximum rebate is $2,000 per 24-month period. Pre-approval is required before starting any work (last verified May 2026, ebmud.com).

Common steps for every program in this guide

  1. Submit the pre-approval application at ebmud.com before removing any lawn. Go to ebmud.com and navigate to the Lawn Conversion Rebate application (or apply directly at form.jotform.com/ebmud/landscape-rebate-program). Include your EBMUD account number, the planned square footage, and photos of the existing lawn. Specify whether you are pursuing the standard rebate or the Super Rebate. Do not remove any lawn before you receive written approval.
  2. Receive written approval and complete the conversion within 9 months. EBMUD will review your application and issue written approval. Once approved, remove the lawn and install the climate-appropriate, low-water landscaping per your plan. If pursuing the Super Rebate, apply sheet mulch with compost during the conversion, use California native plants for at least 50% of coverage, and complete during September through February. Complete within 9 months of the approval date.
  3. Submit completion documentation and receive your rebate. After completing the project, submit the post-completion photos, measured square footage, and receipts to EBMUD. EBMUD will verify the project meets the requirements (standard or Super Rebate) and process the rebate payment — $1/sq ft standard or $2/sq ft Super Rebate, up to $2,000.

Full application guide for East Bay: required documents and how to avoid rejection

Rebates available

EBMUD Lawn Conversion Rebate FAQs

What cities are in the EBMUD service area?
EBMUD serves Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Emeryville, Piedmont, Albany, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Concord, and portions of other East Bay cities. If you are unsure whether your address is served by EBMUD, confirm at ebmud.com using the service area lookup before applying.
How do I qualify for the $2/sq ft Super Rebate?
To qualify for the Super Rebate rate, your project must: (1) use sheet mulching with compost during the conversion, (2) plant during the cool season from September through February, and (3) use California native plants for at least 50% of the total plant coverage. All three conditions must be met — partial compliance gives you the standard $1/sq ft rate.
Can I apply for multiple projects to get more than $2,000?
The $2,000 cap is per EBMUD account per 24-month period. You cannot receive more than $2,000 per account within any 24-month window, regardless of how many separate projects you submit.

We're considering this

Want help applying for one of these rebates?

We're considering a guided concierge service that walks you through the paperwork for your local rebate. Tell us if you'd use it.

Get started

Plan a native yard with Pollinator Patch.

Pick the right native plants for your region, design an HOA-friendly layout, and generate documentation that supports your rebate application.

Open on desktop

iPhone appAndroid app

See a problem with a program? Report it

Programs change throughout the year. If something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we'll check it against the provider.

We compile these programs from utility and city pages, and not every amount here has been independently confirmed. Program details also change throughout the year. Always verify requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with your water utility before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.