Replacing Your Lawn in Sacramento: Rebates, Rules and Costs

Quick answer

Sacramento-area water providers have offered rebates to replace lawn with water-efficient landscaping, but programs open, pause and change. The City of Sacramento's program requires approval and a pre-inspection before work starts, low-water plants, drip with a smart controller or hand watering, and mulch, and it excludes artificial grass. Check your provider's current program before removing any grass.

Last updated October 22, 2026

Replacing a thirsty lawn is one of the most common landscaping projects in the Sacramento region. Long, dry summers mean lawns use a large share of a home's water, and water providers have offered rebates to help homeowners convert. Done well, a lawn conversion cuts water use and summer maintenance. Done poorly, it leaves you with bare dirt, weeds, a dead shade tree and no rebate. This guide walks through how the programs work, what to replace grass with, and what drives the cost.

Step one: find your water provider

The Sacramento region has many water providers, and rebates, watering rules and requirements differ among them. The City of Sacramento, Roseville, the Sacramento County Water Agency, the Elk Grove Water District, the Citrus Heights Water District and others each run their own programs. Your water bill names your provider. The regional Be Water Smart website has an address lookup that shows rebates and watering guidelines for your address.

How lawn conversion rebates work

Programs differ, but most follow the same pattern:

Apply first. You submit an application with photos of the existing lawn and a simple plan.
Get approval and a pre-inspection. Staff confirm the lawn is live and eligible. Work started before approval is usually not eligible.
Do the project within the program's deadline, using eligible plants, irrigation and mulch.
Submit receipts and photos, then schedule a post-inspection.
Receive the rebate after the project is verified.

Here's what one local program asks for. The City of Sacramento's grass conversion program requires customers to submit an application with photos, a plant coverage worksheet and a landscape plan, wait for approval, and schedule a pre-inspection before beginning. The completed project must be finished and documented within 120 days of approval. Eligible projects use noninvasive, drought-tolerant plants rated very low to low water use, reach at least 60 percent plant coverage at maturity with at least five plants, use drip irrigation with an EPA WaterSense-certified smart controller or no irrigation if you hand water, and have 2 to 5 inches of mulch. Artificial grass, completed projects and labor by a contractor without a C-27 license aren't eligible for reimbursement.

In fall 2026 the city advertised an increased rate of $2.50 per square foot for applications submitted from September 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. Rates and caps change, so confirm the current terms on the city's grass conversion page before you plan around a number.

Other programs come and go. The Sacramento County Water Agency's Cash for Grass page listed its programs as on hold, with applications submitted through June 30, 2026 still being processed. That's a good example of why you should confirm a program is open before you rip anything out.

What to replace the lawn with

A lawn conversion doesn't have to mean a gravel yard. Common elements include:

Low-water plants. California natives and Mediterranean plants that handle heat and dry summers once established. Regional plant databases linked from Be Water Smart let you filter by water use.
Mulch. Wood chips or other organic mulch shade the soil, reduce weeds and keep roots cooler. Rock mulch suits some areas but holds and radiates heat.
Paths and seating areas of decomposed granite, pavers or flagstone, which turn part of the old lawn into usable space.
A smaller lawn where kids or pets actually use it, with the rest converted.
Trees for shade, which cool the yard and the house.

Avoid invasive plants. The California Invasive Plant Council rates pampasgrass as a high-impact invader and Mexican feathergrass as a limited invader, and program rules typically require noninvasive plants.

Removing the grass

How the lawn comes out affects how well the new landscape does:

Sod cutting removes turf and roots quickly but also removes some topsoil.
Sheet mulching smothers the lawn under cardboard and mulch. It's gentle on soil but slow, and it often fails against Bermudagrass.
Bermuda needs extra effort. Its underground runners regrow through mulch and gravel. Plan for repeated removal or a longer kill period before planting.

Ask your contractor which method they recommend and how they handle Bermuda. Before cutting or trenching, contact USA North 811 at least two working days ahead.

Protect your trees

This is the most common mistake in lawn conversions. Established trees that grew up on lawn sprinklers can decline or die when the lawn and its water disappear. Plan dedicated irrigation for every tree, such as drip emitters spread out under the canopy or a soaker ring, and water deeply during dry months. If a tree is large or native, check your city's tree rules before any digging in its root zone. In the City of Sacramento, native oaks, sycamores and buckeyes at 12 inches in diameter are private protected trees.

Irrigation for the new landscape

Most conversions replace lawn spray heads with drip. Drip puts water at the roots, avoids runoff and, in the City of Sacramento, is exempt from the sprinkler day schedule. The existing valves can often be reused. Cap or convert old spray heads properly so they don't leak, and set the controller for establishment watering, then reduce it once plants root in.

HOAs and city rules

Many neighborhoods in Elk Grove, Roseville, Rocklin and Folsom have HOAs with landscaping rules. California law limits an HOA's ability to prohibit water-efficient landscaping, but HOAs can still require you to submit plans for approval. Read your rules and submit early. A large conversion that needs a permit or design review may also fall under the state's water-efficient landscape ordinance or your city's local version.

What drives the cost

Prices vary widely, and we don't publish local price figures. The main cost drivers are:

Size of the area converted.
Removal method and haul-off of sod and soil.
Bermuda control, which can add time.
Plant sizes and quantity. Smaller container plants cost less and often establish faster.
Irrigation conversion, including drip, pressure regulation and a smart controller.
Hardscape such as paths, patios or boulders.
Mulch depth and type over the whole area.

Subtract any rebate from the total only after you confirm the program is open and your project qualifies. Get written estimates that list plant species and sizes, irrigation parts and mulch depth, so you can match them against rebate rules.

Hiring the right company

California requires a CSLB-licensed contractor for landscaping jobs of $1,000 or more, and some rebate programs only reimburse labor by C-27 Landscaping contractors. Verify the license on the CSLB website, ask for a certificate of insurance, and ask whether the company has completed rebate projects before.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a rebate for artificial turf in Sacramento?

Not from the City of Sacramento's grass conversion program, which lists artificial grass as not eligible for reimbursement. Other providers have had different rules, so check yours.

Can I start removing my lawn before my rebate is approved?

Usually not. The City of Sacramento requires approval and a pre-inspection before you begin, and completed projects aren't eligible. Most programs work the same way.

Do I have to hire a contractor to get a rebate?

Not always. Homeowners can often do the work themselves. If you hire help, the City of Sacramento's program doesn't reimburse labor by a contractor without a C-27 license.

Sources and further reading

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