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California Water Rebates

Santa Monica, California Water Rebates

Santa Monica funds its own Cash for Grass rebate, separate from the regional Metropolitan Water District program. Single-family homes get $3.50 per square foot, up to $6,000, to replace living lawn with climate-appropriate plants and mulch. Because it is city-funded, it keeps running even when the regional fund runs dry.

$3.50 / sq ft, up to $6,000

Cash for Grass Rebate

Open the official program site

How to apply

  1. Review the Cash for Grass program guide and confirm you are on City of Santa Monica water service
  2. Submit your application before removing any lawn
  3. Wait for written approval
  4. Replace the lawn with climate-appropriate plants and mulch
  5. Submit your installation checklist and W-9, then schedule the inspection to receive your rebate

What you'll need

  • Santa Monica water account information
  • Photos of the existing living lawn
  • Approval confirmation
  • Completed installation checklist and Form W-9
  • After photos

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Santa Monica-appropriate California natives for the coastal Westside, designs an HOA-friendly layout, and assembles your before-photo and plant-list packet.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Don't remove your lawn before you apply and get approval.
  • Don't install synthetic turf. The program requires living climate-appropriate plants and mulch.
  • Don't let the new landscape die within 5 years. The program requires you to maintain it.

Santa Monica Water Rebate FAQs

How much does Santa Monica pay to remove a lawn?
$3.50 per square foot, up to $6,000 for single-family homes. Multi-family and commercial properties get an extra $1.00 per square foot (City of Santa Monica Cash for Grass, verified June 2026).
Is this different from the MWD rebate?
Yes. Santa Monica funds Cash for Grass itself, so it continues even when the regional Metropolitan Water District turf fund is depleted.
Can I use artificial turf?
No. The program requires climate-appropriate living plants and mulch. Synthetic turf does not qualify.

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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.

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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.

We compile these programs from utility and city pages, and not every amount here has been independently confirmed. Program details also change throughout the year. Always verify requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with your water utility before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.