How to Get the Turf Removal Rebate
City of Sonoma · North Bay / Sonoma County, CA
What you get
The City of Sonoma pays $1.00 per square foot for removing turf, up to a $1,000 total for single-family residential properties. The rebate is part of the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership; residents apply through the city's official turf removal rebate application (City of Sonoma; last verified July 2026).
- Residential: $1.00 per sq ft, up to $1,000
- Commercial: $1.00 per sq ft, up to $3,000
Are you eligible?
- Be a City of Sonoma customer
- Property located in: Sonoma
- Property within Sonoma city limits
- Turf removal must be pre-approved before work begins
- Replace removed turf with drought-tolerant or native landscaping per program guidelines
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.
Resolves a long-open carry-forward lead (unconfirmed since 2026-06-30): the amount was previously only a search-index snippet because the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership program-detail page loads it dynamically. The City's own official application PDF (linked from its live water-conservation FAQ) has an explicit rate table confirming the figure. Neighboring North Bay independents Valley of the Moon WD, Healdsburg, and Cotati are separate, already-covered entries with their own distinct rates.
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
Apply and get written approval first
Submit your application to City of Sonoma 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
Do the conversion
Replace your lawn with the qualifying landscaping, following the eligibility requirements above.
- 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.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Turf Removal Rebate
These are the steps this application actually takes. The Pollinator Patch app walks you through each one free, with reminders and a photo locker.
- 1
Call the city to schedule your pre-inspection
Call the City of Sonoma Water Conservation Office at (707) 933-2247 and schedule a brief pre-inspection visit. Your lawn must be green, regularly mowed, irrigated, and well taken care of at the visit.
- 2
Replace the lawn within 120 days of approval
After the pre-inspection approves your project, do the replacement. Replace the lawn with water-conserving plants, vegetable gardens, or other low-water plant material with sufficient mulch. Put the n
- 3
Schedule the post-inspection
When the project is finished, call (707) 933-2247 again to schedule the post-installation inspection. The post-inspection must take place within the 120-day period that started at your pre-inspection.
- 4
Mail your application
Fill in the application, check both inspection boxes, sign it, and mail it to: Turf Removal Rebate Program, c/o Mike Brett, No 1 The Plaza, Sonoma, CA 95476. Make copies for your own files first. The
When you are ready to file, an optional ready-to-file packet is available in the app for a one-time $29.99.
In the app
Track this rebate free in the Pollinator Patch app
Free step-by-step guidance for the Turf Removal Rebate, warnings before the mistakes that disqualify applications, and a photo locker that keeps your before and after photos, receipts, and notes together for the months a rebate takes.
Rebate Concierge
Want your application packet prepared?
For a one-time $29.99 we build your ready-to-file packet for the Turf Removal Rebate: the program's paperwork filled in from your plan, the plant list and documentation they ask for, and a pre-approval checklist so you do not start work before the program signs off.
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 purchase per application. 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.