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Colorado Water Rebates

Cortez, Colorado Water Rebates

The City of Cortez reimburses residential customers up to $2,000 to replace turf with low-water landscaping, capped at 1,000 square feet. The 2026 application period runs through a September 1 deadline, and the rebate is paid after the project is finished and passes a final inspection. The detail most people miss: City staff must approve the project before you start, and projects begun or completed before approval are not eligible.

Up to $2,000

Turf Replacement Program

Open the official program site

How to apply

  1. Confirm the property is in City limits and metered by the City of Cortez
  2. Submit your project for City staff approval before starting any work
  3. Wait for written approval (projects started before approval are not eligible)
  4. Install low-water plants to at least 50% coverage at maturity and convert irrigation to drip
  5. Request the final inspection, then submit receipts to receive up to $2,000

What you'll need

  • City of Cortez water account information
  • Before photos of the existing turf
  • Project plan or plant list from the City Plant List
  • Written City staff approval
  • Itemized receipts and after photos for the final inspection

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Cortez-appropriate Colorado natives for the Southwest Colorado high desert, designs an HOA-friendly layout that clears the 50% plant-coverage requirement, and assembles your plant-list and before-photo packet.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Don't start or finish the project before City staff approval. Work done before approval is not eligible for reimbursement.
  • Don't install artificial turf, concrete, water features, or any impervious surface. They are strictly prohibited.
  • Don't go rock-only. The project has to reach at least 50% live plant coverage at maturity.

Cortez Water Rebate FAQs

How much does Cortez pay for turf replacement?
Up to $2,000 for residential projects (1,000 square feet maximum) and up to $4,000 for commercial projects (2,000 square feet maximum), reimbursed after completion and a final inspection (City of Cortez Turf Replacement Program, verified June 2026).
Can I start before I get approved?
No. City staff must approve the project before you begin. Projects started or completed before the approval process are not eligible for reimbursement.
Does artificial turf qualify?
No. Artificial turf, water features, concrete, and any other impervious surfaces are strictly prohibited. The project must reach at least 50% live plant coverage at maturity.
What is the 2026 deadline?
The 2026 application period has a September 1 deadline, and costs must be incurred in the 2026 calendar year.

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Plan a native yard with Pollinator Patch.

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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.