Valley Water rebate guide
Valley Water may pay $2 per sq ft for landscape conversion.
Valley Water's Landscape Rebate Program can help Santa Clara County residents and businesses convert approved high-water-use landscape areas to lower-water landscapes. The project must go through the official approval sequence before work begins.
Planning facts
Rates, caps, and timing to verify.
- Landscape conversion base rate: $2 per sq ft.
- Residential default cap: $3,000 for single-family and multifamily properties with 4 or fewer units.
- Residential cost-sharing cap: $6,000 where applicable.
- Commercial and multifamily 5+ default cap: $100,000.
- Current funding is listed through June 30, 2027, or until depleted.
- A written Notice to Proceed is required before removal or material purchases.
Checked against official Valley Water public pages in August 2026. Valley Water controls eligibility, funding, approval, deadlines, and final payment.
Do not start early
The Notice to Proceed is the green light.
Valley Water states that projects started or completed before application approval are not eligible. Keep the lawn and proof intact until the official process reaches the right step.
Readiness checks
Prepare the evidence before applying.
- Confirm the site is within Valley Water rebate service context.
- Use the online portal to document existing site conditions.
- Prepare photos, estimated project size, and existing equipment details.
- Wait for pre-inspection and official Notice to Proceed.
- Prepare a complete plant list and project description before approval.
- Plan to complete the project within the post-approval deadline.
Yard Rebate is an independent educational and referral platform. Yard Rebate is not affiliated with LADWP, Metropolitan Water District, SoCal WaterSmart, or any water agency. Yard Rebate does not guarantee rebate eligibility, approval, payment, project outcome, or contractor performance. Program rules change, and users should verify current official requirements before starting work.