How to Get the Turf Removal Rebate Program
Mission Springs Water District · Coachella Valley, Riverside County, CA
What you get
Mission Springs Water District (MSWD) pays $2 per square foot to convert lawn to desert-friendly landscaping, up to $3,000 for residential customers ($10,000 for commercial customers). Half of the conversion area must be covered by plants at maturity, and the area needs a smart irrigation controller, a low-flow irrigation system on its own valve, and a pressure regulator and filter. Synthetic turf and hardscape do not qualify. A pre-conversion inspection, signed project agreement, and approved planting list come before the Notice to Proceed, and the project must be finished within 4 months. Funding is limited (Mission Springs Water District, Turf Rebates, last verified September 2026).
- Residential: $2 per square foot, up to $3,000 for residential customers
Are you eligible?
- Be a Mission Springs Water District customer
- Property located in: Desert Hot Springs
- MSWD water customer; property owner or designee present at the pre-conversion inspection
- Signed Project Agreement and MSWD-approved planting list before the Notice to Proceed; no work before that letter
- Plants must cover 50% of the conversion area at maturity
- Smart irrigation controller, low-flow irrigation on a separate valve from any remaining turf, and a pressure regulator and filter
- Synthetic turf and hardscape are not eligible
- Notify MSWD of completion within 4 months of approval; post-conversion inspection before payment
- Maintain the water-wise landscape with no reintroduced lawn, spray irrigation, or water features, or repay the rebate
Before you start
Do not remove turf or begin work before you have written approval. This program requires pre-approval. Starting early can disqualify the project even if everything else is correct.
Mission Springs Water District serves Desert Hot Springs and nearby unincorporated Riverside County. Desert Water Agency also serves Desert Hot Springs, so apply to whichever utility bills you for water.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Turf Removal Rebate Program
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Plan desert plants that cover half the area
Pick water-wise plants that will cover at least half of the turf area once full grown. Each plant counts at its mature size. Tamarisk and other non-native plants are not allowed. Cover the rest with p
- 2
Send the application, agreement, planting list, and W-9
Fill in the application here and export your packet. Print and sign the application and the program agreement. Return them to the district with your planting list, a sketch of the project area, and a
- 3
Be home for the pre-conversion inspection
The district inspects the lawn and measures the area to be replaced. The property owner must be there. If approved, you get a Notice to Proceed and a contract. Sign the contract and return it.
- 4
Finish within 4 months
Replace the lawn with your approved plants and permeable mulch. You have up to 4 months from the pre-conversion inspection to tell the district the project is done. Keep every receipt for materials an
- 5
Post-conversion inspection and receipts
Call the district at 760-329-6448 when you are done. They inspect the finished project. Hand over your original itemized receipts at the visit or mail them. Your rebate is issued after the inspection
The call below also unlocks the ready-to-file packet for this program in the app.
Get help applying
Want a hand with the application?
A 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder. He reads the Turf Removal Rebate Program rules with you, tells you what to photograph and file first, and answers anything this page does not cover.
Confirm your project ZIP first. If this program does not serve your address, do not buy; check your city or utility on the rebates page instead.
One-time $29.99. Guidance, not filing: you submit to the program yourself. Not legal or financial advice. Rebate amounts and approval are decided by the program.
Every program listed cites its official source, and each program page shows the date we last verified it against that source. Program details change throughout the year, so always confirm requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with the program before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.
See a problem with a program? Report it
Programs change throughout the year. If something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we'll check it against the provider.
What people report after they apply
We ask people who filed Turf Removal Rebate Program whether it was approved, what they were paid, and how many days it took. A public payout time appears here only after 5 reports include a day count. Your dollar amount is stored and is not published on this page.