Replacing Grass With Desert Landscaping in Phoenix: Rebates, Steps and Costs

Quick answer

To convert a lawn to desert landscaping in the Phoenix metro, check your city's grass-removal rebate and get approval before you remove anything, get HOA sign-off, then remove the grass completely, convert sprinklers to drip, grade for drainage, plant desert-adapted plants from the state's Phoenix AMA list, and finish with rock or mulch. Costs depend mostly on area, removal, irrigation work and plant and rock choices.

Last updated October 22, 2026

Across the Phoenix metro, more homeowners are trading thirsty lawns for desert landscaping. The motivations are practical: lower water bills, less mowing, and in many cities a rebate for removing grass. A conversion done well looks intentional and stays low maintenance for years. Done poorly, it becomes a hot field of gravel with Bermudagrass poking through. This guide walks through how to plan it, in the order things should happen.

Step 1: Check your rebate before you touch the grass

Several Valley water providers pay homeowners to remove living grass and replace it with desert-friendly landscaping. The rules differ by city and change from year to year, but they share a pattern that matters a lot: you usually have to apply and be approved before you remove anything. Removing grass first and applying later can disqualify you.

City of Phoenix: Phoenix Water Services runs a residential grass removal incentive for its water customers. Its program flyer describes a minimum area of living grass, requires approval and a Notice to Proceed before work begins, and says removed grass can't be reinstalled while you own the property. Funds are first come, first served.
Scottsdale: Scottsdale Water's residential grass removal rebate has run in seasons. The city requires a pre-inspection before removal, says the grass must be replaced with approved desert-friendly landscaping, and tells residents not to begin until they receive a Notice to Proceed. Check whether the program is currently open.
Chandler: Chandler offers a single-family grass removal rebate for its water customers who irrigate grass consistently. Areas served by flood irrigation are not eligible, and the city revised its rebate amounts for 2026.
Other cities: Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria and others have their own water conservation offices. Programs, amounts and requirements vary, so check directly with your water provider.

Most programs require that the grass be living and irrigated, set a minimum area, and require photos or an inspection. Many also expect replacement plants to come from approved low-water lists and limit how much of the area can be bare rock. Read the current policy carefully.

Step 2: Get HOA approval

A large share of Valley homes sit in HOAs, and many of them regulate front-yard landscaping: plant lists, minimum plant counts, rock size and color, and sometimes how much grass must remain. Read your HOA's guidelines, submit plans, and get written approval before you start. A designer or landscape company that has worked in your community can save time here.

Step 3: Decide how much grass to keep

A conversion doesn't have to be all or nothing. Many families keep a small, efficiently watered patch of Bermuda in the backyard for kids or dogs and convert the front yard and side strips, where grass is hardest to water evenly and rarely used. Narrow strips along sidewalks and driveways are classic water wasters because spray heads overspray onto pavement.

Step 4: Kill and remove the grass completely

Bermudagrass is persistent. It spreads by runners above and below ground and will come back through rock and even fabric if it isn't fully removed. Common approaches include stopping irrigation and removing the sod and roots mechanically, or treating actively growing grass before removal. If herbicides are used by a company, that work for hire falls under the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Pest Management Division licensing. Expect to spot-treat regrowth for a season or more. Rebate programs may have rules on how grass is removed, so check.

Step 5: Rework the irrigation

This is the step people skip and regret. Lawn spray heads should be capped or removed at the valve or converted, and new plants should get drip irrigation zoned by plant type: trees on their own valve, shrubs and groundcovers on another. The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association's Landscape Watering by the Numbers guide explains how much water each type needs through the year. In Arizona, irrigation installation by a contractor falls under the Registrar of Contractors' R-21 classification for residential work, which includes backflow devices.

Step 6: Grade for monsoon storms

Turf holds soil in place. Once it is gone, monsoon downpours can move soil and small rock quickly. Grade the yard so water flows away from the house and into any retention area or basin. Small planted basins around trees can capture runoff for them, a long-standing desert water-harvesting technique. Don't fill a retention area that's part of your subdivision's drainage plan.

Step 7: Choose plants

The Arizona Department of Water Resources maintains a Low Water Use and Drought Tolerant Plant List for the Phoenix Active Management Area, and AMWUA's plant guide narrows it to about 200 commonly used plants with photos. Good conversions mix layers:

Shade trees such as palo verde, mesquite, ironwood or desert willow to cool the yard and walls.
Shrubs such as Texas ranger, desert ruellia, brittlebush or cassia for structure and seasonal flowers.
Groundcovers and perennials to soften rock and cover soil.
Accents such as agave, red yucca or hesperaloe, kept away from paths.

Avoid invasive grasses such as fountain grass and buffelgrass. A rebate program may require a minimum amount of plant cover, so a yard of rock alone may not qualify. Fall is generally the best season to plant most desert plants in the low desert.

Step 8: Rock, DG and mulch

Decomposed granite and landscape rock are the standard finishes. Pick a size and color that fits your HOA rules and the house. Many designers now suggest skipping plastic sheeting, which blocks water and air to roots, and using landscape fabric only where it makes sense. Organic mulch around trees and shrubs helps soil hold moisture and keeps roots cooler, though it can look less tidy. Large boulders add structure but add cost and need equipment to place.

What affects the cost

Rather than relying on a single number, compare quotes on the factors that drive price:

Area: total square feet of grass removed and new landscape installed.
Removal and haul-off: sod and soil removal, disposal, and access for equipment.
Irrigation: capping spray zones, new drip lines, valve changes and a smart controller.
Plants: number and container size. A 24-inch box tree costs far more than a 5-gallon shrub.
Rock and boulders: tons of DG or rock, depth, and delivery.
Hardscape and lighting: any paths, borders, walls or low-voltage lights.
Design and HOA work: drawings, submittals and revisions.

Subtract any rebate you are approved for, and remember that rebates usually pay after the work is inspected. Get written, itemized estimates from more than one company.

Before any digging

Arizona law requires notifying Arizona 811 at least two full working days before you dig so utility lines can be marked. Grass removal, trenching for drip lines and tree planting all count. Marks are valid for a limited time, so plan the work schedule around them.

Bottom line

A lawn conversion is easiest when you do it in the right order: rebate approval and HOA approval first, then complete grass removal, irrigation changes, grading, planting and rock. If you'd like help, request a landscaping company and mention which city provides your water. You can also read more about landscape design and installation in the Phoenix area.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to apply for a grass removal rebate before removing my lawn?

In the programs we reviewed, yes. Phoenix and Scottsdale both require approval and a Notice to Proceed before work begins. Check your own city's rules before removing anything.

Will Bermudagrass come back through rock?

It often does if roots and runners weren't fully removed. Expect to spot-treat or pull regrowth for a season or more after removal.

Can my HOA stop me from removing grass?

Many Valley HOAs regulate front-yard landscaping, including plant lists and how much grass must remain. Read your HOA guidelines, submit plans and get written approval first.

Sources and further reading

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