How to Get the Residential Lawn Replacement Program

What you get

The Town of Johnstown pays $1 to $2 per square foot, depending on project scope, to replace high water use turf grass with low or no water use plant beds or low water use grasses, capped at $2,000 per water account per year. Replacing high water use grass with low water use grass qualifies at the $1 per square foot rate. The rebate is paid as a credit on the utility account and cannot exceed the cost of the project. Applications for the 2026 season are CLOSED: the Town closed new applications on June 15, 2026, ahead of the published June 30 deadline, and states that residents who could not participate this year are encouraged to apply next summer. Residents who already applied may still complete their projects and submit the final project submittal form (johnstownco.gov Lawn Replacement Resources, last verified September 2026).

• Residential: $1 to $2 per square foot depending on project scope, up to $2,000 per water account per year

Are you eligible?

• Be a Town of Johnstown customer
• Property located in: Johnstown
• Property must receive water from the Town of Johnstown and have a Town of Johnstown water account
• Project design must be approved by Town staff before ground is broken; work started before approval will not be rebated
• Minimum 200 square feet of turf grass replaced
• Living plant material must account for 50% of the new design area, measured at mature canopy size
• Artificial turf is not eligible
• Mulch may be shredded bark, bark chips, or rock; rock or wood mulch within one foot of a sidewalk or drive must be edged or contained
• No longer needed irrigation zones must be capped or decommissioned, and the irrigation system must be designed for the new landscape
• Proof of HOA approval where applicable
• A final site visit by Town staff is required before the rebate is finalized
• Rebates are first come, first served and limited to available annual funds

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 Town of Johnstown 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.