California Water Rebates
Fresno, California Water Rebates
The City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities runs an expanded Lawn to Garden rebate that currently pays $4 per square foot to replace a front lawn with water-efficient plants, up to 10,000 square feet for residential customers. This is a temporary, grant-funded rebate increase from the standard $1.05 per square foot, available only while funds remain and while the City approves projects by December 31, 2026. The step most people miss: you have to request a free Water-Wise Landscape Consultation and get your project approved before you remove any grass.
What the stated caps add up to in Fresno
Turf rebates, stormwater fee credits, tree programs, and federal cost-share are listed separately. A dollar is included in the total only when that program states a cap and is still open. Fee credits stated as a percentage, and USDA programs with no published dollar figure, stay on the list and stay out of the total.
Turf rebate
Lawn to Garden Rebate
City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities
$4/sq ft (temporary grant-funded rate), up to 10,000 sq ft
No dollar cap is stated. Left out of the total.
Source, checked 2026-11-03
Federal cost-share
Conservation Reserve Program: Pollinator Habitat (CP-42)
USDA FSA
No dollar cap in our directory.
No dollar cap is published for this program in our directory. Left out of the total.
Source, checked 2026-09-30
Federal cost-share
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
USDA NRCS
No dollar cap in our directory.
No dollar cap is published for this program in our directory. Left out of the total.
Source, checked 2026-09-30
Federal cost-share
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
USDA NRCS
No dollar cap in our directory.
No dollar cap is published for this program in our directory. Left out of the total.
Source, checked 2026-09-30
Federal rows are Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Program: Pollinator Habitat (CP-42), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Payment rates are set by USDA and are not copied here because this directory does not hold a verified dollar figure for them (last reviewed 2026-09-30). Confirm stacking rules with each provider before you apply to more than one.
$4 / sq ft (temporary rate), up to 10,000 sq ft · Verified November 2026
Fresno Lawn to Garden Rebate Program
Open the official program site (opens in new tab)How to apply
- Confirm you are a City of Fresno water customer
- Request a free Water-Wise Landscape Consultation through the FresGO app or by dialing 3-1-1 within city limits
- Wait for your project to be approved before removing any grass
- Remove the lawn and install water-efficient plants per the consultation recommendations
- Submit your after photos and receipts to receive $4 per sq ft, up to 10,000 sq ft, while the temporary grant-funded rate lasts
What you'll need
- City of Fresno water account number
- Water-Wise Consultation confirmation
- Before photos of the existing lawn
- Project approval confirmation
- After photos and itemized receipts
Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Fresno-appropriate San Joaquin Valley natives, designs an HOA-friendly low-water layout, and assembles your before-photo and plant-list packet so the Water-Wise Consultation and approval go smoothly.
Avoid these mistakes
- Don't remove your lawn before the Water-Wise Consultation and project approval. Starting early disqualifies the project.
- Don't assume funding is open-ended. The rebate is grant-funded and first-come, first-served, so apply early.
- Don't skip the consultation step. It is required, not optional, and it sets the approved plant and irrigation plan.
- Don't wait past December 31, 2026 for project approval. The $4 per sq ft rate is tied to a temporary grant and is scheduled to return to the standard $1.05 per sq ft rate after that date or once funds run out.
Fresno Water Rebate FAQs
How much does Fresno pay to remove a lawn?
Can I remove my lawn first and apply later?
Is the Fresno rebate first-come, first-served?
What is the Water-Wise Consultation?
Rebate Concierge
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.
Get started
Plan a native yard with the Pollinator Patch App.
Pick the right native plants for your region, design an HOA-friendly layout, and generate documentation that supports your rebate application.
