How to Get the Smart Rebate (Lawn Removal)
Carpinteria Valley Water District · Santa Barbara County / South Coast, CA
What you get
Up to $1 per square foot of living lawn removed, up to $750 per property, for single-family and multi-family residences with 1-4 dwelling units. Dead grass and existing low-water landscapes are ineligible; not retroactive; new construction excluded. Requires pre-approval (Carpinteria Valley Water District, administered via CalWEP; last verified June 2026).
- Residential: $1.00/sq ft, up to $750 (1-4 dwelling units)
Are you eligible?
- Be a Carpinteria Valley Water District customer
- Property located in: Carpinteria
- Carpinteria Valley Water District customer
- Existing living non-water-wise lawn (dead grass / low-water landscapes ineligible)
- Single-family or multi-family with 1-4 dwelling units
- Pre-approval before work; not retroactive
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.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Smart Rebate (Lawn Removal)
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with Carpinteria Valley Water District before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with Carpinteria Valley Water District 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 Carpinteria Valley Water District 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 Smart Rebate (Lawn Removal) 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.