Turf Rebates & Water-Wise Landscaping on the Central Coast

“About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors,” according to the Department of Water Resources (DWR). That’s why landscaping is where many water-saving rules and rebates are aimed.

State rules for new and redone landscapes

California’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) applies to:

“New construction projects with a landscape area … equal to or greater than 500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review”
“Rehabilitated landscape projects with a landscape area … equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review”

(DWR, 2025 MWELO text). “All local agencies must adopt, implement, and enforce the MWELO or a local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) that is at least as effective,” and DWR notes local ordinances are often more stringent (DWR). If your project needs a permit or design review, ask your city or county which rules apply.

Your HOA can’t ban it

A homeowners association’s rules are “void and unenforceable” if they prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, “the use of low water-using plants as a group or as a replacement of existing turf,” or “the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass.” An HOA can still apply landscaping rules that respect this (Civil Code §4735).

A separate state law phases out watering decorative, nonfunctional lawns with drinking water at public, commercial, industrial and institutional properties and HOA common areas, phased in from 2027 by property type. Single-family homes aren’t on its list (Water Code §10608.14).

Planning the change

DWR suggests that before turf is removed, you start by “assessing your current irrigation system and identifying needed modification, finding the plants that work best in your climate, characterizing your soil, and assessing sun conditions in your yard.” For choosing plants, it points to the WUCOLS database, “which lists plants for your region based on plant water needs” (DWR).

Rebates: check before you start

Rebates change often and funding runs out, so we link the programs rather than list amounts. One rule shows up again and again: get approved before you tear anything out. Goleta’s program says “Projects must be approved in advance and landscapes for new construction are not eligible. The program is not retroactive” (Goleta Water District), and Carpinteria’s says the same (CVWD).

Santa Barbara County

City of Santa Barbara: “Sustainable Lawn Replacement Rebate” and “Irrigation Efficiency Rebates.”
Goleta Water District: Smart Landscape Rebate Program, to “replace water thirsty landscapes and inefficient irrigation with water-wise plants and irrigation.”
Montecito Water District: drip irrigation, smart controller and landscape conversion rebates.
Carpinteria Valley Water District: smart irrigation controllers and turf/lawn removal.
WaterWiseSB, the county’s regional water-efficiency site, lists landscape rebates and other resources.

San Luis Obispo County

Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach: “Cash for Grass” programs.
Atascadero Mutual Water Company: “Turf Conversion Rebate.”
SLO County’s rebate page lists programs for some areas and groundwater basins.

Santa Maria, Lompoc, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and elsewhere: we couldn’t check these cities’ pages, so look on your water bill or your water provider’s website for current programs.

What affects the cost

Lawn area, how the turf is removed, soil preparation, the plants you choose, converting sprinklers to drip, and any hardscape such as gravel paths or a patio. Our landscaping page walks through how a project usually goes.

Water-wise landscaping and rebates on the Central Coast