Below are the eligibility details and program requirements for CUWCD's Landscape Incentive Program. Please note that while this information outlines the requirements to qualify for an incentive, it is the applicant's responsibility to verify that projects comply with city and/or HOA ordinances and requirements.

Turf Replacement

Incentive Amount = $3.00/square foot

Eligibility

1. Must be in a city that has adopted Water Efficiency Standards

2. Must have existing well-maintained, living lawn in the project area at initial site visit.
   

3. Must have a site visit before work on the project can begin.
   

4. Project must be completed within 12 months of initial site visit.
   

5. Property owner must sign project agreement. Incentive amount will be sent to property owner only.
   

6. Can be a partial project, park strip, full front yard, full back yard.
   

7. 200 Square foot minimum (Can be in aggregate)
   

8. No impervious hardscape, water features, or artificial turf will be incentivized.
   

9. Must attend the free class associated with the program.
   

10. Must submit photos of existing landscape with application.
    

11. Must submit a 2-dimensional landscape design showing the project area and an explanation of what will replace the lawn.
    

Requirements to Receive Incentive

1. Cannot create new areas of lawn that are less than 8 feet wide.
   

2. Must have 50% plant coverage at maturity. Does not include tree canopy, bulbs, and annuals.

3. The project area must be covered in 3-4 inches of mulch (inorganic, organic mulches, and groundcover planted densely enough to cover 100% of the ground will meet this requirement)
   

4. The converted area must have drip irrigation on its own zone accompanied by a filter and pressure regulator.
   

5. Must be one type of drip irrigation. (point source or inline)
   

6. Drip emitters cannot exceed 5 gallons per hour.
   

7. Micro-sprays, bubblers, and soaker hoses are not permitted as drip irrigation.
   

8. 24” plant height maximum in park strip
   

9. Must have the irrigation operational and visible at the final visit, which will typically only occur between April 15th and October 15th.
   

10. Hardscape cannot exceed 50% of the front yard landscaped area or 75% of the backyard landscaped area.
    

11. The entire square footage of the proposed project can be 100% permeable hardscape if the remainder of the landscaped area does not exceed the above hardscape percentage.
    

12. Any portion of the installed project that does not meet the requirements at the final inspection can be corrected within 60 days from the inspection or within the remainder of the designated time frame, whichever is greater, without penalty.
    

Switch to Drip

Incentive Amount = $1.00/square foot

Eligibility

1. Must be in a city that has adopted Water Efficiency Standards

2. 200 square foot minimum (If not in conjunction with a lawn removal project. Can be in aggregate.)
   

3. Must submit photos of existing planting bed(s)/project area.

4. Traditional landscape plan or Google map image highlighting the planting beds to be converted.
   

5. Must have existing overhead spray.
   

Requirements to Receive Incentive

1. Planting beds must be switched to drip irrigation, its own zone with a filter and pressure regulator.

2. The project area must be covered in 3-4 inches of mulch (inorganic, organic mulches, and groundcover planted densely enough to cover 100% of the ground will meet this requirement)
   

3. The converted area must have drip irrigation on its own zone accompanied by a filter and pressure regulator.
   

4. Must be one type of drip irrigation. (point source or inline)
   

5. Drip emitters cannot exceed 5 gallons per hour.
   

6. Micro-sprays, bubblers, and soaker hoses are not permitted as drip irrigation.
   

7. Must have the irrigation operational and visible at the final visit, which will typically only occur between April 15^th and October 15^th.
   

8. Any portion of the installed project that does not meet the requirements at the final inspection can be corrected within 60 days from the inspection or within the remainder of the designated time frame, whichever is greater, without penalty.
   

Treebate

Incentive Amount = $50/tree

Eligibility

1. Participation must be done in conjunction with one of the above-mentioned programs. No stand-alone treebates are offered.

2. Maximum of 5 trees per year.
   

3. Cannot be a tree on the provided exclusion list.
   

4. Must provide plant tags at final visit.
   

5. Trees planted in park strips less than 10 feet wide are not eligible.
   

6. Must comply with local city or HOA requirements.
   

Requirements to Receive Incentive

1. Trees must be planted in the ground. Trees planted with burlap or cages, or in pots, will not be eligible.

2. 1” caliper minimum at time of purchase
   

3. Must be drip irrigated on a zone free from lawn areas and that include a pressure regulator and filter.
   

New Construction Projects

Incentive Amount = $1.00/square foot

Eligibility

1. Must be in a city that has adopted the Water Efficiency Standards.

2. Full back yard projects only.
   

3. Incentive available to all areas of the landscape not including lawn, impervious hardscape, artificial turf, or water features.
   

4. No square foot minimum required.
   

5. A 2-dimensional landscape design is required.
   

6. Must have the irrigation operational and visible at the final visit.
   

Requirements to Receive the Incentive

1. Planting beds must have 50% plant coverage at maturity.  Does not include tree canopy, annuals, and bulbs.

2. Planting beds must be irrigated with drip irrigation on a zone separate from the lawn if lawnis installed. The drip irrigation must contain a pressure reducer and filter.
   

3. Drip emitters cannot be greater than 5 gallons per hour.
   

4. Drip must be either point source or inline drip. Micro-sprays, bubblers, and soaker hoses are not allowed.
   

5. Hardscape cannot exceed 75% of the back yard landscaped area.
   

6. If grass is used, it must meet the following criteria:
   

   • Cannot exceed 35% of the landscaped area.
   • Cannot be less than 8 feet wide at its narrowest point.
   • Cannot be obstructed or used as a path.
   • Cannot be on slopes greater than 4:1 grade (25%).