How to Get the Lawn Conversion Rebate

What you get

Two tiers. Standard rebate: $1 per square foot for replacing lawn with climate-appropriate low-water plants, capped at $2,000 in any 24-month period. Super Rebate: $2 per square foot (same $2,000 cap, twice the coverage area) for projects that use sheet mulching with cardboard, plant-based mulch plus a half-inch of compost, mostly California native plants, and planting between September and February.

• Residential: Up to $2,000 ($1–$2/sq ft)

Are you eligible?

• Be a East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) customer
• Property located in: Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, Albany, El Cerrito
• Must be an EBMUD water customer
• Pre-approval required before starting work
• At least 50% of converted area planted with low-water plants (standard tier)
• Permeable hardscape only (pavers, brick, or gravel set in sand)
• 3 inches of mulch required
• Super Rebate adds: sheet mulching with cardboard, compost layer, majority California natives, Sept–Feb planting window
• Synthetic turf not eligible

What applying usually looks like

A general guide. Always confirm the exact steps on the official program page, since each provider runs its process a little differently.

1. 1

   Apply and get written approval first

   Submit your application to East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and wait for written approval before you remove any turf or start work. Starting early is the most common reason a rebate is denied.

2. 2

   Do the conversion

   Replace your lawn with the qualifying landscaping, following the eligibility requirements above.

3. 3

   Submit your claim

   After the work is done, submit your claim on the official program page. Confirm the exact forms, receipts, and any photos they require there, since those vary by program.