How to Get the Sustainable Lawn Replacement Rebate
City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation Program · South Coast (Santa Barbara County), CA
What you get
Standard lawn replacement pays $2 per square foot, up to $1,500 for properties of 1 to 4 units. Projects that build a rain garden retention area earn a combined $5 per square foot, capped at $5,000 per residential property. Requires converting spray sprinklers to drip (or removing them), at least 3 water-wise plants per 100 sq ft, and 3 inches of mulch (City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation, last verified June 2026).
- Residential: $2/sq ft (up to $1,500); $5/sq ft combined with a rain garden (up to $5,000)
Are you eligible?
- Be a City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation Program customer
- Property located in: Santa Barbara
- Lawn must be living or recently irrigated
- Convert spray sprinklers to drip or remove them
- At least 3 water-wise plants per 100 sq ft, 3 inches of mulch
- Application appointment and pre-approval before starting; complete within 120 days
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.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Sustainable Lawn Replacement Rebate
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation Program before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation Program and take before photos of the existing yard first.
- 3
Do the work
Complete the project, take before and after photos, and save every receipt.
- 4
Submit your application
Send City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation Program the completed application with your photos and receipts, then watch for the confirmation.
Get help applying
Want a hand with the application?
A 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder. He reads the Sustainable Lawn Replacement Rebate 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.