- The property must be in a city that has adopted qualifying water efficiency standards.
- A project area minimum of 200 square feet is required for participation in the program. This requirement can be met by aggregating multiple areas.
- Before photos of the project area must be submitted.
- A landscape design or drawing depicting the project area and explaining the proposed project is required.
- An initial site visit is required.
Turf Removal Project
- The lawn slated for removal must be living, maintained, and verified on site prior to project approval.
- Projects with lawn that has already been removed or is dead do not qualify.
- Lawn areas converted to planting beds will have at least 50% perennial and shrub plant coverage at maturity at the ground level. This does not include tree canopy, bulbs, and annuals.
- Planting beds must be covered with 3-4 inches of mulch.
- Groundcover plants, densely planted to cover 100% of the ground at maturity, do not require mulch.
- Drip emitters must not exceed a flow rate of 5 gallons per hour.
- Only one type of drip irrigation per zone (point source or inline) is permitted.
- Micro-sprays, bubblers, and soaker hoses are not permitted as drip irrigation.
- Planting beds in the converted area must have drip irrigation, on dedicated irrigation zones that are not connected to overhead spray.
- Drip irrigation must be properly installed and be accompanied by a filter and pressure regulator.
- Irrigation must be operational and accessible for testing during the final visit.
- Turf removal projects may not result in the creation of lawn areas that are narrower than 8 feet and are inefficient to irrigate.
- In the park strip, mature plant height must not exceed 24 inches.
- Poured concrete is not permitted.
- Incentives for water features and/or artificial turf will not be provided.
- Artificial turf is analyzed as hardscape and cannot exceed hardscape limitations.
- Hardscape cannot exceed 50% of the front yard landscaped area or 75% of the backyard landscaped area.
- 100% of the project area can be converted to hardscape if the remainder of the landscaped area does not exceed the above hardscape percentage.
Switch to Drip (Residential projects only)
- Participants must have an existing overhead spray irrigation system in place.
- A minimum area of 200 square feet is required. There is no minimum if done in conjunction with a qualifying lawn removal project.
- Planting beds will have at least 50% perennial and shrub plant coverage at maturity at the ground level. This does not include tree canopy, bulbs, and annuals.
- Planting beds must be covered with 3-4 inches of mulch.
- Groundcover plants, densely planted to cover 100% of the ground at maturity, do not require mulch.
- Drip emitters must not exceed a flow rate of 5 gallons per hour.
- Only one type of drip irrigation per zone (point source or inline) is permitted.
- Micro-sprays, bubblers, and soaker hoses are not permitted as drip irrigation.
- Planting beds in the converted area must have drip irrigation, on dedicated irrigation zones that are not connected to overhead spray.
- Drip irrigation must be properly installed and be accompanied by a filter and pressure regulator.
- Irrigation must be operational and accessible for testing during the final visit.
Treebate (Residential projects only)
- Must be in conjunction with qualifying turf removal or switch to drip project.
- Maximum of 5 trees per year
- Must comply with local city or HOA requirements
- May not be a tree from the excluded species list
- Must provide plant tags at the final visit
- Must be planted in the ground in a planting bed. Trees planted in pots, with burlap, or cages, will not be eligible.
- Minimum 1" caliper at the time of purchase.
- Must be drip irrigated correctly for mature size
New Construction Projects
- Projects must be located in a city that has adopted the WES.
- Only full backyard projects are eligible.
- The incentive applies to all areas of the landscape except lawn, artificial turf, or water features.
- There is no minimum square footage requirement, however, the entire yard must meet program requirements.
- A 2-dimensional landscape design is mandatory.
- Irrigation must be operational and visible during the final visit.
- Planting beds will have at least 50% perennial and shrub plant coverage at maturity at the ground level. This does not include tree canopy, bulbs, and annuals.
- Planting beds must be covered with 3-4 inches of mulch.
- Groundcover plants, densely planted to cover 100% of the ground at maturity, do not require mulch.
- Drip emitters must not exceed a flow rate of 5 gallons per hour.
- Only one type of drip irrigation per zone (point source or inline) is permitted.
- Micro-sprays, bubblers, and soaker hoses are not permitted as drip irrigation.
- Planting beds in the converted area must have drip irrigation, on dedicated irrigation zones that are not connected to overhead spray.
- Drip irrigation must be properly installed and be accompanied by a filter and pressure regulator.
- Irrigation must be operational and accessible for testing during the final visit.
- Hardscape cannot exceed 75% of the backyard landscaped area.
- Grass cannot exceed 35% of the landscaped area.
- Grass must be a minimum of 8 feet wide at its narrowest point.
- Grass cannot be obstructed or used as a pathway.
- Grass cannot be installed on slopes steeper than a 4:1 grade (25%).
Project Payments
- Switch to Drip: 50 cents per sq ft
- Turf Removal: $3.00 per sq ft
- Treebate: $100 per tree (up to five trees) in conjunction with a Lawn Removal or Switch to Drip Project
- New Construction (Back yard only): $1.00 per sq ft
- A final inspection visit is required.
- The legal agreement and IRS W-9 form must be signed and returned prior to payment.
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