Los Angeles, California Water Conservation Rebates (2025 Guide)
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) pays $5 per square foot for residential customers who replace qualifying turf with drought-tolerant plants or permeable materials. Projects must be between 250 and 5,000 square feet. The maximum residential rebate is $25,000. Customers must apply and receive pre-approval before removing any turf. LADWP also offers free landscape design workshops to help plan the conversion.
How to Apply for Los Angeles Water Rebates
- 1
Apply online at ladwp.com and receive pre-approval before starting
Submit the turf replacement rebate application at ladwp.com. LADWP will review the application and issue pre-approval. Do not remove any turf before you have written pre-approval — projects started before approval are ineligible.
LADWP Turf Replacement RebateYou'll need:
- LADWP account number
- Property address
- Estimated square footage of turf to replace
- Proposed replacement landscaping description
- Before photographs of current turf area
- 2
Attend a free LADWP landscape design workshop (optional but recommended)
LADWP offers free workshops covering drought-tolerant plant selection, soil preparation, irrigation system conversion, and design principles for Southern California conditions. Check the LADWP website for upcoming workshop dates.
LADWP conservation programs - 3
Complete the turf removal and drought-tolerant landscaping installation
After receiving written pre-approval, remove the qualifying turf and install the approved drought-tolerant replacement. Keep all receipts and photograph the completed project.
You'll need:
- Receipts for plants, mulch, and materials
- After photographs of the completed installation
- 4
Submit post-installation documentation to receive the rebate
Submit the completion documentation — after photographs and receipts — to LADWP to trigger the rebate payment. LADWP will verify the project meets the replacement requirements before processing the $5/sq ft payment, up to $25,000.
Pre-approval is required before removing turf — do not start until you have received written approval from LADWP. Check ladwp.com for current rebate availability and workshop dates (last verified May 2026).
Learn MoreRebate Summary
| Rebate Program | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| LADWP Turf Replacement Rebate (Residential) | $5/sq ft, min 250 sq ft, max $25,000 | Residential |
| LADWP Turf Replacement Rebate (Commercial) | $9–$10/sq ft | Commercial |
LADWP pays $5 per square foot (250–5,000 sq ft, max $25,000) to replace turf with drought-tolerant landscaping. Pre-approval is required before removing any grass.
LADWP Turf Replacement Rebate: $5/sq ft, max $25,000
LADWP offers $5 per square foot for replacing qualifying turf on residential properties. Projects must be a minimum of 250 square feet and the rebate is capped at $25,000 per property. Replacement must be drought-tolerant plants, mulch, permeable hardscape, or a combination — artificial turf does not qualify. Customers must apply and receive pre-approval before removing any turf; work started before approval is ineligible. LADWP offers free landscape design workshops for customers planning a conversion.
- Active LADWP water account at the project address
- Minimum 250 square feet of qualifying turf
- Maximum 5,000 square feet per project for the base $5/sq ft rate
- Apply and receive pre-approval before removing any turf
- Replace with drought-tolerant plants, mulch, or permeable materials
- No artificial turf as replacement
Qualifying Replacement Materials
LADWP requires replacement landscaping to be drought-tolerant. Qualifying options include native and adapted plants, wood chip mulch, decomposed granite, and permeable paving. Artificial turf does not qualify. LADWP provides a list of pre-approved plants and offers free landscape design workshops to help customers choose appropriate species for their site conditions. The SoCal WaterSmart program also offers a base $2/sq ft rebate that may stack with the LADWP rebate for qualifying customers — see the SoCal WaterSmart page for details.
Apply / Learn MoreLos Angeles Water Rebate FAQs
Does artificial turf qualify for the LADWP rebate?
Can I stack the LADWP rebate with the SoCal WaterSmart rebate?
What is the minimum project size?
Is there a commercial turf replacement rebate?
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