California Water Rebates
Valley Water Landscape Conversion Rebate — $2–$4/Sq Ft for South Bay
Valley Water (Santa Clara Valley Water District) runs the Landscape Conversion Rebate for all of Santa Clara County. The program pays $2 per square foot at the base rate to remove existing lawn and plant drought-tolerant or native plants. Several cities have cost-sharing partnerships with Valley Water that raise the rate to $3–$4/sqft on the first 1,000 square feet. The program is funded through June 30, 2026. Pre-approval is required — any turf removal started before receiving a Notice to Proceed is not eligible for reimbursement.
Common steps for every program in this guide
- Confirm your water retailer at valleywater.org. Use the "Find My Retailer" tool to confirm which water company serves your address and whether you qualify for a cost-sharing rate. San Jose has three retailers — make sure you know which one bills you.
- Review the Qualifying Plant List before designing your planting. Download or browse the Qualifying Plant List through the portal. At least 50% of the converted area must be covered by plants from this list at maturity. California natives are encouraged and can be found through Calscape.org cross-references.
- Submit your application at scvwd.dropletportal.com. Create a portal account using your water account number. Submit the application with photos of the existing lawn, estimated square footage, and your proposed plant list confirming 50%+ living coverage at maturity.
- Complete the pre-conversion inspection and receive a Notice to Proceed. Valley Water will review your application and may conduct a file review or on-site inspection. Do not start any work until you receive the written Notice to Proceed. The notice gives you 90 days to complete the project.
- Complete the conversion within 90 days. Remove existing lawn, plant qualifying species, install minimum mulch, and update irrigation to drip if applicable. Keep all receipts — rebate is calculated on documented plant and irrigation equipment costs, capped at the per-sqft rate times converted square footage.
- Request post-inspection and receive your rebate. Notify Valley Water that the project is complete and submit completion photos through the portal. After final inspection approval, Valley Water mails a rebate check within 4–6 weeks. Rebates of $2,000 or more require a W-9 form — you will receive a 1099 for the rebate amount.
Rebates available
Which cities are covered?
Open the official program site (opens in new tab)What does the replacement planting need to look like?
Open the official program site (opens in new tab)Why the pre-approval step is critical
Open the official program site (opens in new tab)Valley Water Landscape Conversion Rebate — $2–$4/Sq Ft for South Bay FAQs
Does this program cover all of San Jose?
Most of San Jose is served by San Jose Water Company (base $2/sqft, max $3,000). Residents in Alviso, Evergreen, Edenvale, and Coyote Valley are served by San Jose Municipal Water System ($3/sqft cost-share, max $4,000). A small eastern area is served by Great Oaks Water Company (base $2/sqft). Use the Find My Retailer tool at valleywater.org to confirm your water company.
Can I start removing lawn before applying?
No. Any lawn removed before receiving a written Notice to Proceed from Valley Water is not eligible for reimbursement, even if you submit the application right after. Brown or dead lawn still physically present on your property qualifies — Valley Water counts the area that was lawn, not the area that was green.
Is this program available if I have California Water Service (Cal Water)?
Cal Water customers in Cupertino, Los Altos, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale may be eligible for the Valley Water base rebate ($2/sqft), but Cal Water also runs its own separate turf rebate program. You cannot receive rebates from both programs for the same project. Contact both Valley Water and Cal Water to understand which program gives you a better rate before applying.
When does program funding run out?
The current program is funded through June 30, 2026, or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first. Valley Water does not publicly disclose the remaining balance. If you are planning a project, apply as early as possible. Call (408) 630-2554 to ask about current funding availability.
Are rebates taxable income?
Rebates of $2,000 or more may be taxable income as of January 1, 2026. Valley Water will ask you to submit a W-9 form and will issue a 1099 for the rebate amount. Consult a tax advisor if you have questions about how the rebate affects your tax situation.
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