Waterscape Rebate Program

 

 

Watersmart Edgescaping

Avoid water waste by replacing turf or high water use shrubs along pavement. 

To reduce your water bill and stop runoff, replace up to 10 feet of turf or high water shrubs along the edges of pavement or in parking lot planters with sustainable landscaping.

Watersmart edgescaping provides a discreet, organic barrier between your lawn and the street.  This means that rain and irrigation water stay in your yard instead of running off to a nearby street or storm drain.

Types of sustainable landscaping include non-irrigated ground cover like river-rock or native California-friendly plants.  Artificial turf is not permitted.

 

What are the benefits?

Benefit #1

Use less water.

When you install watersmart edgescaping, you’ll use less water in your yard and waste less,  helping to lower your water bill.

 

Benefit #2

Improve the look of your landscape.

Take a look at this list of beautiful low-water use alternatives to turf. Adding variety to your landscape, like diverse textures, colors and flowers, creates a more designed look, a pollinator-friendly habitat and improves your home’s curb appeal. 

 

Benefit #3

Keep pollutants out of our storm drain system.

When runoff stays in your yard, pollutants that pile up in the street, like pesticides, chemicals, and motor oil, won’t be transported into our waterways, keeping them safe for all to enjoy.

 

Benefit #4

Get the look you want.

Not looking to replace your entire turf landscape? Edgescaping is a good way to dip your toes into a drought-tolerant yard. You’ll see how much better life is with less maintenance, less water and more beauty.

How much is my rebate?

Residential and commercial property owners can get up to $5 per sq. ft. of replaced turf, or up to $6 per sq. ft. if all native plants are used.

Commercial property owners can get up to $4 per sq. ft. on parking planter areas.

There is a lifetime rebate cap for all participants of $2,000 for residential properties and $8,000 for commercial properties.

Only commercial parking lots are eligible for planter area rebate.
 

Who's eligible?

Commercial and residential property owners in unincorporated San Diego County.

 

See if you’re in the Unincorporated Area of San Diego County by checking your address in the embedded map on the Program Eligibility page.

 

 

Sustainable Landscaping in a Front Yard

What are the requirements?

VERY IMPORTANT: PROJECTS MUST NOT BE STARTED BEFORE APPLYING FOR AND RECEIVING APPROVAL TO PROCEED.

  1. Edgescape must be within 10 ft of the street or paved driveway to be eligible.
  2. Projects involving artificial turf are not eligible for rebates.
  3. Eligible pre-project landscaping includes:
    • Turf grass with spray irrigation
    • High-water use shrubs with spray irrigation for commercial properties only
  4. Eligible post-project landscaping includes:
  • Sustainable, low water use landscaping including the following mulches at least 3” deep:
    • Shredded bark
    • Bark nuggets
    • Wood chips 

OR:

  • Non-irrigated, erosion-resistant ground cover, including:  
    • Decomposed granite path
    • River rock dry stream beds
    • River rock covered yards
      • Rock yards are not eligible for additional incentives through other programs such as SoCal Watersmart’s turf replacement program.

Erosion: Mulch, soil, and other qualifying ground cover must remain on property during heavy rain.

    5. Eligible post-project irrigation systems include:

  • Drip Irrigation
  • Hand Watering

    6. Sprinklers that are in the edgescape area must be:

  • Removed
  • Capped or
  • Upgraded to high-efficiency, drip nozzles

    7. All plants used must be native according to the Calscape website to receive the native plant rebate. There must be at minimum 3 native plants per 100 sqft converted.

    8. Projects must meet site-specific requirements identified by WRP staff  during the rebate process.

What documents are needed from me?

VERY IMPORTANT: PROJECTS MUST NOT BE STARTED BEFORE APPLYING FOR AND RECEIVING APPROVAL TO PROCEED.

For all applications, you will need to submit:

  • Two clear photographs of the pre-project area, showing both the irrigated turf and adjacent pavement. Grass must be in place (dormant/brown/dying is okay) at the time of application and approval.

If you are applying for the $6/sq ft. native plants rebate, you will also need to submit:

  • Verification that the plants you are using are native, using the Calscape website to confirm species names. Verification documents considered valid are: a landscaper invoice, nursery receipt, OR photograph of plant in pot with species name shown;  

AND

  • Photographs of complete project with all listed plants in place.

 

Apply Now

START YOUR APPLICATION

 

 

Waterscape Rebate Program Home Page | Watershed Protection Program Home Page