Desert Water Agency Grass Removal Rebate 2026 | $2 per sq ft

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Palm Springs, California Water Rebates

Desert Water Agency (DWA) pays $2 per square foot to remove grass and replace it with desert-friendly landscaping. The City of Palm Springs used to add $1 per square foot, but that funding is exhausted, so Palm Springs residents now get $2 as well. A pre-inspection is required before you start, so you have to apply while the grass is still there.

$2 / sq ft · Verified August 2026

Grass Removal Rebate

Open the official program site

How to apply

Apply to Desert Water Agency while your grass is still in place
Schedule and pass the pre-inspection before removing grass
Remove the grass and install desert-adapted landscaping
Submit for your rebate ($2 per sq ft)

What you'll need

Desert Water Agency account number
Before photos
Pre-inspection confirmation
Planting plan
After photos and receipts

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks desert-adapted natives for the Coachella Valley, designs a low-water layout, and assembles your pre-inspection packet.

Avoid these mistakes

Don't remove grass before the pre-inspection. Applicants must accommodate the agency schedule for the visit first.
Don't plan on the old $3 rate. The City of Palm Springs supplement is exhausted, so the rebate is $2 per square foot.
Don't replace grass with high-water plants. The rebate is for desert-adapted landscaping.

Want help with this application?A 30-minute call, $29.99

Palm Springs Water Rebate FAQs

How much does Desert Water Agency pay for grass removal?

$2 per square foot. The City of Palm Springs supplement that once added $1 per square foot is exhausted (Desert Water Agency, verified October 2026).

Do I need an inspection first?

Yes. A pre-inspection is required, and you have to accommodate the agency schedule for the visit before removing any grass.

Is the $3 rate still available?

No. The extra $1 per square foot came from a City of Palm Springs contribution, and Desert Water Agency says that funding is exhausted. The total for Palm Springs residents is $2 per square foot.

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. Every open program above also offers a 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder, for a one-time $29.99. Open the program to book it.