Santa Rosa's Cash for Grass

Header image courtesy of local landscaping company and Barber Insurance client, Zen Gardens

Santa Rosa homeowners! The city of Santa Rosa has all sorts of rebates and incentives to encourage residents to pursue water-concious landscapes, appliances, accessories and more. Their newest addition to the ever-growing list is their "Cash for Grass" rebate. Learn more below:

Rebate Amounts:

Residential: $0.75/sq. ft. up to max of 1,000 sq. ft. or $750.00 once for the life of the account
Commercial: $0.75/sq. ft. up to max of 10,000 sq. ft. or $7,500.00 annually

Applicant must:

• Have a City of Santa Rosa water account (service) in their name for the property where the project will be completed.
  • If the property owner is the participant in the program and not the water account holder, they must receive written consent from the water account holder using a City of Santa Rosa Tenant/Account Holder Permission Form
• Have lawns that are green, regularly mowed, irrigated and well taken care of (dead lawns or lawns already removed at the time of the pre-inspection are not eligible for rebate).
• Agree that lawn must not be reinstalled while you are the current account holder or property owner. If lawn or any other high-water use plants (such as gardens) are reinstalled during that time, the entire rebate amount must be refunded.

Steps to Participate:

1. Call Water-Use Efficiency staff at 707-543-3985 for pre-qualification, eligibility verification and a potential site visit. All rebates require a pre-qualification before any work is started.
2. After eligibility of site is verified, you will receive your Green Exchange Eligibility Form (required to qualify for rebate). You may then proceed with lawn replacement. You have 120 days from the date on the eligibility form to complete the project.
3. Project Guidelines:

• ​It is recommended that the lawn is sheetmulched however physical removal may be used but is not recommended.
• Only permeable landscapes are allowed (mulch, rock, decomposed granite, small pavers, etc.).
  • Not allowed: solid plastic sheeting, rubber mulch, artificial turf, concrete, patios, mortared or glued paths.
• Only non-invasive low or very-low water use plants are allowed as determined by WUCOLS: http://ucanr.edu/sites/wucols/
  • A plant density requirement of 50% at plant maturity is required as calculated by planted square footage divided by total project area. Planting areas 6 feet wide or under are exempted from this plant coverage requirement.
• If you have an existing irrigation system in the project area, you must do one of the following:
  • Cut off irrigation valve, remove it and cap the pipes (resulting in hand or no watering)
  • Cut and cap all sprinkler heads (resulting in hand or no watering)
  • Cut and cap all but select sprinkler heads and convert those heads to a drip system using an all-in-one conversion kit (must have a pressure regulator and a filter built in).
  • Cut the output side of the irrigation valve and convert to a drip system with a pressure regulator and filter from there
• If you do not have an existing irrigation system you may either install a new irrigation valve with a pressure regulator, filter, and drip system, or you can hand water.

      4. Once project is finished, and within the 120-day period, call 707-543-3985 to setup a post-inspection.
      5. City staff will verify project completion and that the project follows the guidelines above.
      6. Rebates are processed within 4 to 8 weeks after completed project is approved.

Learn more about the City of Santa Rosa's rebate and incentive programs at https://srcity.org/834/Rebates-Free-Services#Residential%20Rebates