IRWD Turf Replacement Rebate 2026 | $2 per sq ft Grass Removal in Irvine

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Irvine, California Water Rebates

Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) customers can earn a turf replacement rebate run through MWDOC, the Municipal Water District of Orange County, alongside the regional Metropolitan Water District base. It pays $2 per square foot to remove turf, with a 250 square foot minimum and a 5,000 square foot maximum, plus an extra $100 per tree (up to 5 trees). Free landscape design assistance is available. The step most people miss: do not remove any grass until you receive your written Letter to Proceed.

$2 / sq ft + $100 per tree · Verified June 2026

Turf Replacement Program

Open the official program site

How to apply

Confirm you are an IRWD water customer
Apply through the MWDOC droplet portal with photos of your existing turf
Wait for your written Letter to Proceed before removing any grass
Remove the turf (250 sq ft minimum, 5,000 sq ft maximum) and install water-efficient landscaping, with trees if claiming the tree bonus
Submit your after photos and documentation to receive $2 per sq ft plus $100 per tree

What you'll need

IRWD account number
Before photos of the existing turf
Letter to Proceed confirmation
Planting plan or plant list
After photos and itemized receipts

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks water-efficient California natives suited to Irvine and inland Orange County, designs an HOA-friendly layout, and assembles your before-photo and plant-list packet so you are ready when the Letter to Proceed arrives.

Avoid these mistakes

Don't remove grass before you receive your Letter to Proceed. Starting early disqualifies the project.
Don't install artificial turf. It is not an eligible conversion.
Don't go below the 250 sq ft minimum or above the 5,000 sq ft maximum for the residential rate.

Irvine Water Rebate FAQs

How much does IRWD pay to remove turf?

$2 per square foot of turf removed for residential customers, with a 250 square foot minimum and a 5,000 square foot maximum, plus $100 per tree for up to 5 trees (IRWD and MWDOC, verified June 2026).

Can I remove my grass first and apply later?

No. You have to wait for your written Letter to Proceed before removing any grass. Removing it first disqualifies the project.

Does artificial turf qualify?

No. Artificial turf is not an eligible conversion. You replace the turf with water-efficient, climate-appropriate living plants.

Is there help with the landscape design?

Yes. Free landscape design assistance is available to participants in the IRWD turf replacement program through MWDOC.

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.