Rebates / Commercial and HOA / Arizona
Commercial and HOA turf removal rebates in Arizona
Arizona has the most developed non-residential turf conversion funding in the country, and the programs name HOAs explicitly rather than leaving boards to guess whether common area qualifies. Phoenix and Tucson both pay per square foot of live grass removed, with project minimums that suit a common area rather than a front yard.
The tradeoff is process. These programs want a landscape plan, a permit in some cases, and a written notice to proceed before the first square foot comes out. Grass removed early does not qualify, and that rule is enforced.
2 programs tracked. Each amount below is quoted from the program's own page, with the date we last checked it.
- Both major Arizona programs pay per square foot of grass removed, so the award scales with the size of the common area rather than being capped at a homeowner-sized figure.
- Only living, irrigated grass qualifies. Letting the turf die first disqualifies it, which is the opposite of what a board under a water restriction tends to do.
- Plans and approvals come first: expect a landscape plan, a site visit, and a written notice to proceed before any removal.
- Replacement planting has to hit a coverage minimum with low water use species, so a gravel-and-nothing conversion will not pass final inspection.
Programs at a glance
| Program | Provider | Property type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Residential Grass Removal Program | City of Phoenix Water Services Department | Commercial | $2 per square foot |
| Commercial and Multifamily Turf Removal Rebate | Tucson Water | Commercial | $2.50 per square foot, up to $30,000 per project |
Non-Residential Grass Removal Program
City of Phoenix Water Services Department · Phoenix Metro, Arizona, AZ
$2 per square foot
City of Phoenix pays non-residential water customers a per-square-foot incentive for removing grass and converting to low water use, desert-adapted landscapes. Eligible non-residential properties include HOA and multifamily common areas, commercial properties, industrial sites, and schools. Applicants must already participate in the city Business or HOA Water Efficiency program, must be the property owner or an HOA board president, and must receive a Notice to Proceed before any grass is removed (City of Phoenix Water Services, Non-Residential Grass Removal Program, last verified August 2026).
Timing: Rolling, first come first served while funds last. Work must be complete within 6 months of the Notice to Proceed.
What the program requires
- Phoenix Water non-residential customer receiving a city water or city services bill
- Non-residential property: HOA or multifamily common area, commercial, industrial, or school
- Must participate in the City of Phoenix Business or HOA Water Efficiency program
- Applicant must be the property owner or an HOA board president
- Notice to Proceed required before removal; grass removed beforehand does not qualify
Source: City of Phoenix Water Services Department, Non-Residential Grass Removal Program. Last verified 2026-08-13. Official program page
Commercial and Multifamily Turf Removal Rebate
Tucson Water · Tucson Metro, Arizona, AZ
$2.50 per square foot, up to $30,000 per project
Tucson Water rebates commercial, industrial, institutional and multifamily customers for removing ornamental turfgrass and replacing it with desert-adapted trees and shrubs, with optional add-on incentives for qualifying trees and for rainwater harvesting basin capacity installed inside the converted area. Only grass meeting the City of Tucson ordinance definition of ornamental turf qualifies, and only living grass; the final amount is set after a site visit and cannot exceed the pre-tax project cost. Homeowner and Co-Op association applicants must supply a letter of consensus signed by the board president. Applications reopened in July 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis for fiscal year 2027 until funds are spent (Tucson Water, Commercial and Multifamily Customer Rebates, Turf Removal Rebate, last verified August 2026).
Timing: Reopened July 2026, first-come first-served; funding available for fiscal year 2027 until all funds are spent
What the program requires
- Tucson Water commercial, industrial, institutional or multifamily customer with active water service
- HOA and Co-Op applicants must provide a letter of consensus signed by the board president
- Only living grass meeting the City of Tucson ordinance definition of ornamental turf qualifies
- Revised landscape plan submitted to Tucson Water for review and approval
- Replacement planting must reach at least 50% tree canopy or vegetative groundcover at maturity, from the ADWR Tucson AMA low water use plant list
- Final amount determined after a site visit and capped at the pre-tax project cost
Source: Tucson Water, Commercial and Multifamily Turf Removal Rebate. Last verified 2026-08-13. Official program page
Applying as an HOA or community?
Most of these programs need a landscape plan, a plant list, and board approval before the application is accepted. That is the part boards get stuck on. Tell us about your community in Arizona and we will point you at the right program and the documents it asks for.
Talk to us about your communityRelated pages
Program terms change. Confirm current amounts and deadlines with the provider before you budget a project or sign a contract.
