Cash for Grass in Sacramento - Turf Removal Rebate Guide 2026
Sacramento County · California
Cash for Grass
$1/sq ft residential — $1.50/sq ft commercial (max $2,500)
Administered by Sacramento County Water Agency
Sacramento’s Cash for Grass programme is run by the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) and offers $1 per square foot for residential conversions and $1.50/sq ft for commercial and institutional properties, with a $2,500 cap per project. The programme is smaller than MWD’s SoCal Water$mart but serves a specific need: Sacramento’s hot, dry summer climate means lawns here consume significantly more water than coastal California cities. A 1,000 sq ft Sacramento lawn can use 45,000–60,000 gallons annually compared to 30,000–40,000 in San Diego. The Cash for Grass rebate, combined with the expected 2026–27 California drought response, makes Sacramento one of the most economically compelling places to convert in Northern California.
Eligibility Rules
- ✓Active water account with SCWA or participating member agency
- ✓Property pre-inspection required to document existing grass area
- ✓Approval BEFORE starting work
- ✓Replacement must be drought-resistant, low-water-use plants
- ✓Residential: $1/sq ft; Commercial/institutional: $1.50/sq ft
- ✓Project cap: $2,500 per project
How to Apply
- Visit waterresources.saccounty.gov/scwa and find the Cash for Grass application
- Complete the application with your property details and photos of existing grass
- Schedule pre-inspection with SCWA
- Receive approval letter before purchasing materials
- Complete the conversion within the programme timeline
- Submit post-project photos for final inspection
- Receive rebate check after inspection approval
What Qualifies as Replacement Landscaping
- ✓Drought-resistant, low-water-use plants (natives, succulents, groundcovers)
- ✓Native California trees and shrubs
- ✓Permeable mulch, rock, and decomposed granite
- ✓Drip irrigation replacing spray
- ✓Permeable pathways alongside planted zones
What Does NOT Qualify
- ✗Artificial turf
- ✗Concrete or impermeable hardscape
- ✗Dead grass at the time of pre-inspection
- ✗High-water-use ornamental plants
- ✗Projects completed before approval
How Much Can You Actually Save?
Calculation Example:
Typical 1,000 sq ft Sacramento residential front lawn: 1,000 × $1 = $1,000 rebate (residential cap applies). Commercial property 1,600 sq ft: 1,600 × $1.50 = $2,400 (under $2,500 cap). Installation cost for drought-tolerant landscape in Sacramento runs $4,000–8,000 for 1,000 sq ft — after rebate, net out-of-pocket is $3,000–7,000.
5-Year Water Savings:
1,000 sq ft of turf in Sacramento’s Central Valley climate uses 45,000–60,000 gallons annually. At SCWA’s current rates water cost runs $200–350/year. Five-year savings: $1,000–1,750. Combined with the $1,000 rebate, most Sacramento residential conversions pay back in 5–8 years. Commercial conversions pay back faster due to the higher $1.50/sq ft rate.