Find out how much East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) will pay you to remove your lawn.
Rate
$1–$2/sq ft
Max rebate
$2kper 2 yrs
Complete by
9months
Pre-approval required — Water-Smart Landscape Rebate requires written approval before any work starts. Starting early is an automatic disqualification.
You qualify if all of these apply:
You will be disqualified if any of these apply:
Already know you qualify? Skip to application →
Not sure? More info at EBMUD →
Your estimated rebate
Enter your lawn size in Step 2 to see your estimate →
$1/ sq ft
Data verified May 12, 2026. Not affiliated with East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD).
EBMUD's Water-Smart Landscape Rebate pays $1 per square foot for the Standard Rebate (any drought-tolerant plants with drip irrigation) or $2 per square foot for the Super Rebate (California native plants installed over sheet mulch). The maximum rebate is $2,000 per 2-year period.
The Standard Rebate ($1/sq ft) allows any approved low-water-use plants converted to drip or no irrigation. The Super Rebate ($2/sq ft) requires California native plants installed over a sheet mulch layer — more work, but twice the rebate and greater ecological benefit.
EBMUD serves most of the East Bay including Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, parts of Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond, El Sobrante, and San Pablo. Check ebmud.com to confirm your service address.
No. You must receive pre-approval from EBMUD before removing any turf. Starting early will disqualify your project.
Yes — EBMUD sends a rebate check after your project is inspected and approved.
Nine months from the date of your pre-approval. EBMUD recommends completing well before the deadline to allow time for the inspection and review process.