Turf Replacement Rebates: We Handle the Paperwork

Ready to trade a thirsty lawn for a water-wise yard? Depending on where you live and who supplies your water, rebates may be available to help pay for the change. Most programs have strict rules: the application comes first, the inspection happens before any grass comes out, and there are plant lists, irrigation specs and deadlines. Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds lawn conversions across San Luis Obispo County, and we handle the rebate paperwork so the project qualifies from day one.

Call or text 805-712-4440 or send us a note. We'll check which programs may apply to your address.

What "we handle the paperwork" means

1. Check eligibility. We confirm who supplies your water and whether your property may qualify for a city, water-district or County program (for example, whether it sits over the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin).
2. Measure and photograph. We measure the lawn area and photograph it as it is today. Programs base the rebate on the area removed and many require "before" photos.
3. Prepare the plan. We draw the landscape plan, pick plants from the program's approved list and spec the irrigation (drip, pressure regulator, filter and, where required, a rain sensor).
4. Assemble the application for your signature. The property owner is the applicant, so you sign. We fill in everything else and tell you where it goes.
5. Pre-inspection first. We schedule around the agency's pre-inspection, and no grass comes out until the project is approved.
6. Build to the program's specs. Several programs give you 120 days from pre-inspection or approval to finish, so we schedule the install to fit.
7. Final inspection. We gather the "after" photos and receipts the program asks for and are available for the final inspection.

Each agency decides eligibility and issues any rebate. Funding is limited and rules change, so we can't guarantee a rebate. We can make sure the project is built and documented the way the program asks.

Programs for San Luis Obispo County homeowners

Checked on the official program pages on September 26, 2026. Amounts are quoted from those pages and can change at any time.

Not sure your area has a program? Call and we'll check.

• Morro Bay: the City has published Cash for Grass terms in the past. We couldn't confirm the current status online, so call and we'll check.
• Nipomo CSD and City of San Luis Obispo: as of September 26, 2026, neither lists a lawn-replacement rebate on its website. Nipomo Mesa properties may still qualify for the County's Cash for Grass program.
• Everywhere else (Cambria, Cayucos, Santa Margarita, Creston, Shandon and other areas): it depends on your water provider or whether you're on a private well. The California Water Efficiency Partnership has a free address lookup that shows which agency serves a property and the turf rebates it lists.

Can you combine programs? Sometimes, but each agency sets its own rules on stacking, and some won't pay if you've already received another rebate. We check before you apply.

What can replace the lawn?

That depends on the program, which is why we design to its rules from the start. Common options:

• Drought-tolerant and native planting on drip irrigation. See our sustainable landscapes.
• Gravel, river rock and decomposed granite for paths, dry creek beds and courtyards. See mulch and rock installation.
• Permeable pavers and patios. Several programs only count hardscape that lets water through.
• Artificial turf, where the program allows it. The County's program, for example, requires permeable turf installed by a licensed landscape contractor with at least a 10-year manufacturer warranty. See our artificial turf installation page.

Mistakes that can cost you the rebate

• Removing grass before the inspection. The County says conversions started before its inspection and approval are ineligible, and Paso requires a pre-inspection before any work.
• Too small an area. Minimums apply (for example, 200 sq ft for Paso and Templeton, 500 sq ft for the County).
• Solid concrete where permeable material is required, or plants that aren't on the program's list.
• Missing the deadline or losing receipts and photos.

Frequently asked questions

Do you guarantee I'll get a rebate?
No. Each agency decides eligibility, and funding can run out. We make sure the plan, the paperwork and the finished yard follow the program's rules.

My home is brand new and has no lawn. Can I get a rebate?
Usually not. These are conversion programs for existing irrigated lawn, and Paso's terms exclude new construction. We can still design a water-wise yard from the start.

Is my property over the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin?
It's parcel-specific, and the property also has to draw its water from the basin. We'll check with the County before you apply.

Who signs the application?
The property owner. Tenants need the owner's written consent (Paso's terms require it).