Aurora GRIP Grass Replacement Rebate 2026

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Aurora, Colorado Water Rebates

Aurora Water runs the Grass Replacement Incentive Program (GRIP), which pays $3 per square foot to convert irrigated Kentucky bluegrass into a water-wise landscape of shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses with mulch. A separate $0.50 per square foot rate applies if you replace the lawn with a warm-season native or low-water grass. The detail most people miss: Aurora Water must approve your project before you remove any grass, and the rebate is never retroactive.

$3 / sq ft · Verified June 2026

Grass Replacement Incentive Program (GRIP)

Open the official program site

How to apply

Confirm you are an Aurora Water customer with irrigated, well-maintained bluegrass
Discuss your project scope with Water Conservation before applying (303.739.7195 or conservation@auroragov.org)
Apply during the spring (Mar 1 to Jul 1) or fall (Nov 1 to Jan 1) group and wait for written approval
Remove the lawn and install the water-wise landscape with mulch after approval
Submit your completed project and W-9 to receive the one-time payment by check

What you'll need

Aurora Water account number
Before photos of the existing irrigated lawn
Written project approval from Aurora Water
Completed W-9 form
After photos and project details

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Aurora-appropriate Colorado natives for the Front Range, designs an HOA-friendly water-wise layout that replaces the bluegrass Aurora wants gone, and assembles your before-photo and plant-list packet.

Avoid these mistakes

Don't remove your lawn before Aurora Water approves the project. The rebate is not retroactive and starting early disqualifies you.
Don't apply for bare soil, weed patches, or unirrigated areas. The conversion area has to be existing, irrigated, well-maintained grass.
Don't expect to skip the tax paperwork. Rebates of $600 or more require a W-9 and generate a 1099.

Aurora Water Rebate FAQs

How much does Aurora pay to replace grass?

$3 per square foot to convert irrigated Kentucky bluegrass into a water-wise landscape of shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses with mulch, or $0.50 per square foot to convert to a native or low-water grass (Aurora Water Grass Replacement Incentive Program, verified June 2026).

Can I remove my lawn first and apply later?

No. Aurora Water must approve your project before you remove any grass. The rebate is not retroactive, so starting work early disqualifies the project.

How much lawn do I have to remove to qualify?

At least 500 square feet of existing front-yard lawn. The area has to be irrigated, well-maintained grass, not bare soil or weeds.

Is the rebate taxable?

Rebates of $600 or more are considered taxable income. You submit a W-9 with your application and receive a 1099 form.

Free step-by-step help with every rebate above

Every program above comes with a free guided checklist in the Pollinator Patch app: the steps in order, warnings before the mistakes that disqualify applications, and a photo locker that keeps your before and after photos and receipts together. A few high-value programs also offer an optional ready-to-file application packet for a one-time $29.99.