Is your thirsty lawn driving your summer water bills too high? You're not alone - and that's why SCV Water's Lawn Replacement Program is gaining even more traction now that temperatures are heating up.
The program empowers Santa Clarita residents to create a yard that is both beautiful and water efficient. SCV Water's Lawn Replacement Program offers rebates to customers who replace living grass with sustainable, climate-appropriate landscaping. The program helps residents reduce outdoor water use while creating landscapes that thrive in the Santa Clarita Valley's warm, dry climate.
Customers may qualify for base incentives for lawn replacement, plus bonuses for sustainable features like California native plants, rain gardens and sheet mulching. Rebates are also available for customers who install owl boxes, bee hotels and rain barrels, as well as when making irrigation efficiency upgrades.
One of the most popular features of the Lawn Replacement Program is its flexibility. Customers do not need to remove their entire lawn to participate. Partial lawn removal is allowed if the project area includes full irrigation zones and at least 50 percent of living grass before the project begins. Eligible areas include front yards, side yards, backyards and sloped areas. Residential projects must be at least 100 square feet, with rebates available for up to 5,000 square feet per account each year.
The program also emphasizes long-term sustainability, drought-resilience and attractive landscape designs. Today's water-efficient yards are far from plain rock landscapes. Homeowners are incorporating colorful California native and friendly plants, decorative pathways, mulch, shade trees and outdoor living spaces that provide year-round curb appeal with less maintenance and water use.
To help residents feel more confident during the planning
process, SCV Water offers a Design Assistance Program.
Customers can receive reimbursement for a two-hour consultation with a professional landscape designer after successfully completing their lawn replacement project. The consultation helps residents create customized plans that meet program requirements while fitting their personal style and budget.
Summer is an especially smart time to begin planning a lawn replacement project so that, come early fall, you're ready to take advantage of cooler temperatures and seasonal rainfall that will help new plants establish healthy root systems.
Water-efficient plants often require more frequent watering during their initial establishment period, so planting in the fall can help reduce stress on both plants and homeowners.
Before beginning any project, customers must first apply to reserve funding from SCV Water. Pre- and post-inspections are required to confirm eligibility and verify project completion. Living grass must be in place during the pre-inspection and projects cannot begin until the reservation is approved.
Outdoor irrigation accounts for a significant portion of residential water use in Santa Clarita and replacing water-intensive turf can make a meaningful difference in both household water bills and regional water use efficiency efforts. Even small changes can lead to long-term savings.
Whether homeowners want to replace a small patch of grass or completely redesign their landscape, SCV Water's Lawn Replacement Program provides financial incentives, educational resources and design support to help bring those projects to life.
Residents interested in learning more about the
Lawn Replacement Program, rebate requirements,
or available incentives can log on.
yourscvwater.com/rebates