How to Get the Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate
California Water Service (Cal Water) · California (Multiple Districts), CA
What you get
Cal Water offers $2.00–3.50 per square foot for turf removal and replacement with water-efficient or native landscaping. The rate varies by service district. Cal Water operates multiple separate service areas across California including Bakersfield, Chico, Salinas, Stockton, Livermore, Los Altos, and Redwood City. Check your district's specific rate at the Cal Water rebates portal.
- Residential: $2–3.50/sq ft (varies by district)
Are you eligible?
- Be a California Water Service (Cal Water) customer
- Property located in: Bakersfield, Chico, Salinas, Stockton, Livermore, Los Altos, Redwood City
- Must be a Cal Water customer in a participating district
- Pre-approval required before starting work
- Replace with water-efficient or drought-tolerant plants
- Synthetic turf typically not eligible
Before you start
Do not remove turf or begin work before you have written approval. This program requires pre-approval. Starting early can disqualify the project even if everything else is correct.
Livermore and Los Altos customers may also qualify for the BAWSCA Lawn Be Gone rebate, so check both programs.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with California Water Service (Cal Water) before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with California Water Service (Cal Water) and take before photos of the existing yard first.
- 3
Do the work
Complete the project, take before and after photos, and save every receipt.
- 4
Submit your application
Send California Water Service (Cal Water) the completed application with your photos and receipts, then watch for the confirmation.
Get help applying
Want a hand with the application?
A 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder. He reads the Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate rules with you, tells you what to photograph and file first, and answers anything this page does not cover.
Confirm your project ZIP first. If this program does not serve your address, do not buy; check your city or utility on the rebates page instead.
One-time $29.99. Guidance, not filing: you submit to the program yourself. Not legal or financial advice. Rebate amounts and approval are decided by the program.
Every program listed cites its official source, and each program page shows the date we last verified it against that source. Program details change throughout the year, so always confirm requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with the program before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.
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.