California Water Rebates
Sacramento, California Water Rebates
The City of Sacramento Utilities department pays $1.50 per square foot to replace grass with drought-tolerant or native plants, up to $3,000 for residential customers (and up to $50,000 for commercial). The program leans on a preferred plant list of 830+ varieties, including 300+ California natives, and you have to get pre-approval before you start any work.
$1.50 / sq ft, up to $3,000 · Verified June 2026
Grass Conversion Rebate
Open the official program site (opens in new tab)How to apply
- Confirm you are a City of Sacramento Utilities water customer
- Apply and get pre-approval before starting any work
- Choose at least 5 plants from the preferred plant list reaching 60% coverage at maturity
- Remove the grass, install drip irrigation with a WaterSense controller, plant, and add 2 to 5 inches of mulch
- Submit your after photos and receipts to receive $1.50 per sq ft, up to $3,000 residential
What you'll need
- City of Sacramento Utilities water account number
- Before photos of the existing grass
- Pre-approval confirmation
- Plant list from the preferred plant list
- After photos and itemized receipts
Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Sacramento-appropriate Central Valley natives from the preferred plant list, designs an HOA-friendly layout that meets the 5-plant and 60% coverage rules, and assembles your before-photo and plant-list packet.
Avoid these mistakes
- Don't start work before pre-approval. It is required and starting early can disqualify the project.
- Don't drop below 5 plants or 60% coverage at maturity, and don't skip the 2 to 5 inches of mulch.
- Don't confuse this with the Sacramento County (SCWA) Cash for Grass program. This rebate is for City of Sacramento Utilities customers only.
Sacramento Water Rebate FAQs
How much does Sacramento pay to remove grass?
Can I start before I get pre-approval?
What does the new landscape have to include?
Is this the same as the Sacramento County Cash for Grass program?
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. A few high-value programs also offer an optional ready-to-file application packet for a one-time $29.99.
Get started
Plan a native yard with Pollinator Patch.
Pick the right native plants for your region, design an HOA-friendly layout, and generate documentation that supports your rebate application.
