Turf Replacement Program

Turf Replacement Program is sponsored by Irvine Ranch Water District. This program offers rebates to residential, commercial, and public agency customers to replace turf with water-efficient landscaping. Artificial turf is not eligible.

Participants may also receive rebates for installing new trees and for landscape design services.

We'll pay you to remove your lawn. Help California save water by replacing your grass with water-efficient landscape. Say goodbye to the hassle, maintenance, and expense of lawns - and say hello to a beautiful outdoor living space!

Artificial turf is not eligible for the rebate. Program terms and conditions are subject to change and rebate amounts may fluctate based on funding availability . View current terms and conditions .

• Receive $2 per square foot for removing lawn using potable water. • Receive $2 per square foot for removing lawn using recycled water. Capped at max of 5,000 sq.

ft. ; 250 sq. ft.

minimum • Receive $3 per square foot for removing lawn using potable water. • Receive $2 per square foot for removing lawn using recycled water. Capped at max of 50,000 sq ft per fiscal year • Receive $3 per square foot for removing lawn using potable or recycled water.

Capped at max of 200,000 sq. ft. per fiscal year Turf Replacement participants may be eligible to receive $100 per new tree installed (maximum of 5 trees) as part of their turf replacement project.

View the Turf Replacement Program's terms and conditions for details. Turf Replacement participants may be eligible to receive a $1000 rebate (or actual cost of design, whichever is less), upon completion of their Turf Replacement project. View the Turf Replacement Program's terms and conditions for details .

Note: Customers may be eligible for the tree rebate and landscape design rebate only if they are participating in the Turf Replacement Program. Replace your grass and create a Yardtopia™ Not sure what to put in place of grass? Join the Yardtopia™ Initiative to get inspired.

Go to yardtopia. com . Frequently asked questions What is the rebate process and how long does it take?

Customers start the rebate process by filling out the application . Normally, customers receive a response within 2-3 weeks* for an inspection date, where an employee comes out to measure the landscape area and confirm the presence of turf. The customer then receives a Notice to Proceed.

The work must be completed within 60 days but extensions may be granted if needed. A post-inspection will be conducted after work is completed. If approved, a rebate check will be mailed out.

Please allow 8-10 weeks for delivery of the rebate check. Rebate funding for your project is not established until you receive your Notice to Proceed. It may take up to 5 weeks to process and send out your Notice to Proceed.

*Due to increased participation in this program, processing times have increased. Do I have to keep watering my grass while I wait for my inspection? No. You may allow your grass to brown out while waiting for your inspection but be sure to leave it in place so it can be measured for your rebate amount.

As long as the presence of grass is still evident, then you still qualify for the rebate. The grass’ condition does not matter. Areas where grass is absent, such as bare soil patches, will not be counted.

My HOA won’t allow me to replace turf. What can I do? AB 2100 prohibits HOAs from imposing fines against homeowners for reducing or eliminating irrigation during drought, while AB 2104 states that any provision of an HOA's governing documents (CC&Rs, etc) is void and unenforceable if it prohibits the use of low water-using plants or replacement of turf.

If you are still having trouble with your HOA, please email us at WaterEfficiency@IRWD. com or call us at 949-453-5581. Is artificial turf covered by the rebate?

No, IRWD does not rebate artificial turf. I am planning to replace turf with cement, do I qualify? No. All projects will need to follow the Program Terms and Conditions to qualify.

I already removed my grass. Can I get the rebate? No. Rebate applications must be filled out prior to removing your grass.

What is the best way to remove my turf? There are multiple ways to remove your existing turf. Take a look at the multiple do-it-yourself options Nan Sterman provides in this Bye Bye Grass video .

The rebate amount won’t cover all my costs to replace my turf. What can I do? The rebate is meant as an incentive to replace turf and to subsidize replacement costs, not completely eliminate them.

However, with newly-approved IRWD rates calculated based on water-efficient landscape rather than turf, residents can expect savings through their water bill. Replacing turf is also a great way to help California save water. I don’t have the minimum 250 sq.

ft. required. Can I still apply?

Eligible areas are as follows: Front yards, back yards, and/or side yards as long as a minimum of 250 square feet is removed. If you have less than 250 square feet the entire turf must be removed. Do I need to change or modify my existing irrigation system?

The project area must be a low flow system (drip or high efficiency, low precipitation rotating nozzles). If part of the turf is converted, the sprinkler system must be properly modified to provide adequate coverage to the remaining lawn without spraying the converted area. If the irrigation system is not replaced with a low-flow system, it must be properly capped off or removed and hand-watered.

Do you recommend landscapers to help replace my lawn? Please review our list of local residential landscapers that have completed the IRWD training, or visit our Resource Hub for more help. How can I learn more about which plants are water-efficient?

Got more questions? Call our Water Use Efficiency Department at (949) 453-5581 or email WaterEfficiency@IRWD. com Participation in rebate programs could be discoverable under the California Public Records Act.

Irvine Ranch Water District