Turf Replacement Rebate
Replace existing high water use lawn with low-water use grasses, low-water use plants or synthetic turf and receive $1 per square foot of turf replaced. The maximum rebate amount is $1,000 for a single-family home and $3,000 for larger areas such as commercial and multi-family housing landscapes.
Eligibility Requirements
-
The existing turf area to be re-landscaped must be irrigated by an in-ground system and formally maintained.
-
The existing irrigation system must be replaced with low volume drip or removed.
-
50% of the re-landscaped area must be covered at plant maturity with low water using plants. Unplanted areas must be landscaped with permeable hardscape or covered in at least 2 inches of mulch.
-
Labor costs are not rebated.
-
The District will provide the applicant with a pre-approval form that must be signed and submitted to the District representative at the time the pre-approval inspection is completed.
-
Re-landscaping must be completed within 120 days of pre-approval inspection.
-
The re-landscaping project must be inspected by Soquel Creek Water District staff before the rebate credit is approved.
Approval Process
1. Schedule an inspection for pre-approval. Call 831-475-8501 ext. 146 or email roys@soquelcreekwater.org .
2. Complete work, save all materials receipts.
3. Schedule a post-inspection.
4. Submit rebate credit application with attached original receipts for plants and related materials.
| Landscape design by Barbara Olsen Designs and Green Perspectives. Turf replacement rebate recipients redesigned their front yard to save water. The garden was resloped to improve drainage, drip irrigation was installed and 3 inches of mulch was applied to the newly planted drought tolerant plants. The irrigation system is controlled by a weather-based irrigation controller. The outside water use was reduced by 50%. |
Click on the Water-Smart Gardening link below for more information regarding low water use landscaping in Santa Cruz County.
