The 2026 rebates at a glance
| City | Grass removal rebate | Minimum | Irrigation upgrades | The rule that trips people up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa | $2 per sq ft, up to $50,000 per property per 12 months | 2,500 sq ft | Up to $20,000 per property per 12 months; smart controllers at 50% of wholesale, up to $2,000 each | City inspects first; no grass out before the notice to proceed. Rock or artificial turf alone doesn't count |
| Phoenix | $2 per sq ft | 1,000 sq ft | Free HOA and business water efficiency consultations | Needs a CLS permit, a plan by a registered landscape architect, drip irrigation and a notice to proceed |
| Scottsdale | Up to $40,000, plus up to $10,000 for street-adjacent grass ($50,000 max) | 2,000 sq ft in recent program years | Rebates for WaterSense controllers and efficiency technology; free HOA program | Planning approval and a notice to proceed first. 2026 to 2027 deadline: April 30, 2027 |
| Tempe | 50% of conversion cost, up to $20,000 | Not stated | Commercial TreeBate: 50% of a desert tree, up to $100 each (5 per site); Water Efficiency and Education Grant | Pre-approval required. HOAs and apartments can also apply for Neighborhood Grants |
| Chandler | 25% of project cost, up to $20,000 per property per year | 5,000 sq ft | Smart controllers at 50%, up to $3,000 (up to 5); monitoring tech up to 50% | Finish within 90 days of the notice to proceed. Artificial turf capped at 1,000 sq ft, case by case |
| Gilbert | Non-residential grass removal rebate; confirm the current amount with the Town | Check current terms | Up to $5,000 per site per fiscal year ($10,000 lifetime), $500 minimum | Approval before any grass comes out. Flood-irrigated sites can't use the equipment rebate |
Quick math for a 10,000 square foot conversion: Mesa and Phoenix pay $20,000 at $2 per square foot. Scottsdale paid the same at its recent $2 rate. In Tempe and Chandler the check depends on what the project costs, at 50% and 25% respectively, each capped at $20,000.
What every program has in common
- Approval comes first. Every city on this list requires approval before grass is removed. Grass removed early usually doesn't qualify
- The grass has to be alive. Mesa, Scottsdale and Phoenix all want healthy, irrigated turf at the inspection
- Rock alone isn't a landscape. Programs want low-water plants, with canopy coverage rules in Mesa and Chandler
- Drip, not spray. Phoenix requires drip in the converted area, and Scottsdale wants drip and remaining sprinklers on separate zones
- Funding runs out. Most programs are first come, first served, so apply early in the program year
Don't let decorative grass die to save water while you wait to apply. Dead grass can shrink the rebate or disqualify the area.
Mesa
Mesa has one of the most generous programs: $2 per square foot of grass removed, up to $50,000 per property in a 12-month period, for HOAs, apartments, businesses, churches and schools. Its irrigation equipment incentives add up to $20,000 more, and single-family HOAs with a landscape meter get free Waterfluence water budgeting. Full details in our Mesa HOA water incentives guide.
Phoenix
Phoenix pays $2 per square foot with a 1,000 square foot minimum, but it has the most steps: join the city's Business or HOA Water Efficiency program, get a CLS permit, have a registered landscape architect prepare the plan, and finish on drip within six months of the notice to proceed. See the Phoenix grass removal program guide.
Scottsdale
Scottsdale reopened its rebates on July 9, 2026: up to $40,000 per property for grass removal, plus a streetscape bonus of up to $10,000 for grass along streets and sidewalks. The program runs until April 30, 2027 or until funding runs out. See the Scottsdale grass removal rebate guide.
Tempe
Tempe covers 50% of conversion costs, excluding tax, up to $20,000, for commercial, HOA and multifamily customers, with pre-approval required. Pair it with the Commercial TreeBate for new shade trees. See the Tempe commercial grass removal rebate guide.
Chandler
Chandler reimburses 25% of the project cost, up to $20,000 per property, under the policy in effect January 1, 2026, with a 5,000 square foot minimum and a 90-day completion window. Its smart controller rebate covers half, up to $3,000. See the Chandler HOA rebates guide.
Gilbert
Gilbert offers HOAs and businesses a non-residential grass removal rebate, plus up to $5,000 per site per fiscal year for irrigation equipment like smart controllers and flow sensors. See the Gilbert HOA water rebates guide.
Glendale, Peoria and other cities
The City of Glendale offers water conservation rebates; check which apply to non-residential customers. In Peoria, Paradise Valley and other cities, ask your water provider about current programs. Even without a rebate, converting unused grass and fixing irrigation usually pays for itself in lower water bills.
Which grass should go, and which should stay?
The goal isn't to remove every blade of grass. Turf people use for play, pets and gathering is still worth its water. The best candidates are areas that are only decorative.
- Keep: play fields, dog parks, event lawns and courtyards people use
- Convert: streetscapes, parking islands, slopes and decorative strips
- Consider: synthetic turf for small, high-use areas, but check the city's rules first, since most programs don't count it
How Pro Turf helps
We identify areas that may qualify, provide the measurements, photos and itemized quotes programs ask for, and build the project to each city's rules after approval. Approval decisions are always made by the city. Contact us to talk through a project.
