Sacramento Grass Conversion Rebate — Get Paid to Replace Your Lawn

The City of Sacramento will pay you to replace your lawn through the Sacramento grass conversion rebate. For a limited time, the rebate pays $2.50 per square foot to replace existing grass with water-efficient, drought-tolerant landscaping.

The increased rebate is available for applications submitted September 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027. Single-family customers can receive up to $5,000 for grass converted in the front, side, and back yards. Multi-family properties of three or more units, commercial, and institutional customers can receive up to $50,000 for eligible grass conversion and irrigation upgrades. Rebates are only available while funds last. See the official City of Sacramento Grass Conversion page for the complete program details.

Who Qualifies for the Sacramento Grass Conversion Rebate

• City of Sacramento water customers — single-family homes, plus multi-family properties of three or more units, commercial, and institutional customers.
• You must apply and receive approval from City staff BEFORE you begin work — projects that are already completed are not eligible.
• The rebate reimburses eligible expenses verified by receipts — keep itemized receipts for everything.
• The single-family rebate covers up to 2,000 square feet of converted turf (the $5,000 cap) — there is no minimum conversion area under the current program.

How It Works

1. Apply: Submit the City’s grass conversion rebate application with photos of your existing turf, a plant coverage worksheet, and a landscape plan.
2. Wait for approval from City water-conservation staff.
3. Schedule a pre-inspection before beginning your project.
4. Complete the project and submit receipts and a photo within 120 days of project approval.
5. Schedule a post-inspection — staff verify the finished landscape and your itemized receipts.
6. Receive your rebate check, usually within 12 weeks of your post-inspection approval.

To qualify, projects must include noninvasive, drought-tolerant plants (at least 60% coverage once mature, with a minimum of five plants), a drip irrigation system with an EPA WaterSense-certified smart controller (or hand-watering), and mulch. Important: labor is only reimbursable when performed by a licensed (C-27) contractor, and artificial grass is not eligible for the rebate.

How American Gardens Helps

• Landscape design — a rebate-ready plan that meets the City’s requirements.
• Drought-tolerant (xeriscape) installation — water-efficient plants, drip irrigation, and mulch, installed to pass inspection.
• Paperwork & inspection sequence — we help you get the application, plan, pre-inspection, and post-inspection steps right, in the right order.
• Artificial grass options — we also install artificial grass; please note it is not covered by the City rebate, so we can price it as a separate option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a minimum lawn size to qualify?

No — the current City of Sacramento Grass Conversion program has no minimum conversion area. The single-family rebate covers up to 2,000 square feet of converted turf (the $5,000 cap) and applies to projects of any size. The only size rule is that distinct converted areas larger than 250 square feet must include at least five plants. The older River Friendly Landscape Rebate (up to $3 per square foot, up to $15,000) did require at least 500 square feet of living turf (200 square feet where native plants were used), but that program has been replaced by the current Grass Conversion program.

Neighboring Cities

Live outside the City of Sacramento? Neighboring cities run their own turf-removal rebates, so check the program where your water comes from. Elk Grove homeowners in the Sacramento County Water Agency service area use the county’s Cash for Grass program instead of a city rebate — that program is on hold until further notice, with applications submitted through June 30, 2026 still being processed, and projects must be at least 200 square feet. Roseville pays $1.50 per square foot of turf removed, up to $2,000 per address, through the City of Roseville’s Cash for Grass program — a pre-inspection site visit is required before you remove your lawn. Folsom also runs its own Cash for Grass Turf Replacement Program — check the City of Folsom’s rebate page for the current rate and cap. Programs change, so confirm the latest terms with your city or water agency before starting work.

Call (916) 579-3063

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Rebate terms can change — please confirm the latest details on the City of Sacramento website or with the city before starting.