Coachella Valley Water District Turf Rebate 2026

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Coachella Valley, California Water Rebates

The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) pays up to $3 per square foot of turf removed, up to a $30,000 maximum (about 10,000 square feet). It is one of the largest residential turf rebates in California. The two rules that disqualify most people: you have to be pre-approved before any work, and your lawn has to be alive when you apply.

$3 / sq ft, up to $30,000 · Verified June 2026

Lawn Conversion Rebate

Open the official program site

How to apply

Apply through the CVWD rebate portal while your lawn is still alive
Wait for written pre-approval before doing any work
Remove the turf and install desert-friendly landscaping, planting one tree per 250 sq ft removed
Submit your completed project for inspection and your rebate (up to $3 per sq ft, max $30,000)

What you'll need

CVWD account number
Photos of the live lawn at application
Pre-approval confirmation
Landscape and tree plan
After photos and receipts

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks desert-adapted natives for the Coachella Valley, plans the required trees, and assembles your live-lawn photos and plant list before you apply.

Avoid these mistakes

Don't begin or finish the project before pre-approval. CVWD does not pay retroactive rebates.
Don't apply after the lawn is dead or already removed. It has to be green or golden-brown with full thatch when you apply.
Don't skip the tree requirement if you want the full $3 per sq ft (one tree per 250 sq ft removed).

Coachella Valley Water Rebate FAQs

How much does CVWD pay for turf removal?

The actual cost, up to $3 per square foot of turf removed, up to a $30,000 maximum (about 10,000 square feet). A 200 square foot minimum applies (CVWD lawn conversion, verified June 2026).

Do I have to plant trees?

To earn the full $3 per square foot, you plant one new native or desert-adapted tree for every 250 square feet of turf removed.

Can I apply after I remove the lawn?

No. The lawn has to be alive (green or golden-brown with full thatch) when you apply, and the project must be pre-approved before any work. There are no retroactive rebates.

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.