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California Water Rebates

Sacramento County, California Water Rebates

The Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) runs a Cash for Grass rebate that is distinct from the City of Sacramento grass-conversion program. It pays $1 per square foot of grass converted to drought-resistant landscaping with drip irrigation, up to $2,000 per household. Two steps catch people out: you need SCWA pre-approval before you start, and your grass (dead or alive) has to be intact when you apply.

$1 / sq ft, up to $2,000

Cash for Grass Rebate

Open the official program site

How to apply

  1. Confirm you are a Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) customer
  2. Apply with your grass (dead or alive) still intact and get SCWA pre-approval before beginning work
  3. Wait for acceptance before removing any grass
  4. Convert to drought-resistant landscaping with drip irrigation within 120 days of acceptance
  5. Submit your after photos and receipts to receive $1 per sq ft, up to $2,000

What you'll need

  • SCWA water account information
  • Before photos with the grass intact
  • Pre-approval and acceptance confirmation
  • Drought-resistant plant list
  • After photos and itemized receipts

Pollinator Patch can help: It picks Sacramento-County-appropriate Central Valley natives, designs an HOA-friendly drought-resistant layout with drip irrigation, and assembles your grass-intact before-photo and plant-list packet for the SCWA application.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Don't remove your grass before you apply. It has to be intact (dead or alive) when you submit, and you need SCWA pre-approval before beginning work.
  • Don't skip the drip irrigation. The conversion has to use drip irrigation with drought-resistant landscaping.
  • Don't let the 120-day window lapse. The project has to be completed within 120 days of acceptance.

Sacramento County Water Rebate FAQs

How much does Sacramento County pay to remove grass?
$1 per square foot of grass converted to drought-resistant landscaping with drip irrigation, up to $2,000 per household for residential customers (Sacramento County Water Agency Cash for Grass, verified June 2026).
Do I have to keep my grass before applying?
Yes. Your grass (dead or alive) has to be intact when you apply, and you need SCWA pre-approval before you begin any work.
How long do I have to finish the project?
The project has to be completed within 120 days of acceptance. The rebate is then issued within roughly 6 to 8 weeks after the project inspection is approved.
Is this the same as the City of Sacramento grass conversion rebate?
No. This is the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) Cash for Grass program, which is separate from the City of Sacramento Utilities grass-conversion rebate.

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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.