Commercial Turf Replacement: Up to $10/Sq. Ft. Rebate

LADWP Offers Up to $10/Sq. Ft. Turf Replacement Rebate Ahead of 2027 Watering Ban on Nonfunctional Turf

Does your business maintain a grass lawn that’s mostly for appearance and not used for recreation or other purposes? Now’s the time to act and replace the turf with more sustainable landscaping.

Under California’s new Assembly Bill 1572, watering nonfunctional turf (grass not used for recreation or other purposes) with potable water will be phased out starting in 2027. LADWP is offering our highest commercial turf replacement rebate to date for a limited time to help you get ahead of the curve to replace your non-functional turf.

What’s Changing?

Assembly Bill 1572 introduces a three-year rollout of outdoor watering restrictions for businesses and agencies:

• January 2027: Applies to public agency properties.
• January 2028: Extends to commercial, industrial, and institutional properties.
• January 2029: Includes common areas of HOAs and community organizations.

This legislation aims to conserve water by eliminating irrigation of purely decorative turf. For businesses and agencies, this means a shift to drought-tolerant landscaping is not just eco-friendly, it will soon be required.

Commercial Turf Replacement Rebates that Make a Difference

To help businesses get ahead of the mandate, LADWP has significantly increased its turf replacement rebate. Commercial, multi-family (5+ units), industrial, institutional, and public agency customers can now receive:

Commercial Customers:

• $9/sq. ft. for projects between 250 and 50,000 sq. ft. (up to $450,000)
• $3/sq. ft. for additional square footage up to 7 acres

Public Agencies:

• $10/sq. ft. for projects between 250 and 200,000 sq. ft. (up to $2,000,000)
• $3/sq. ft. for additional square footage up to 7 acres

This marks an 80–100% increase from previous rebate levels, making it easier than ever to invest in California Friendly® landscaping. To date, LADWP has helped customers replace over 56 million square feet of turf, the equivalent of nearly 1,000 football fields, with water-efficient, drought tolerant landscaping. Over 25 percent of that total square footage replaced has been in the commercial sector.

Why Your Business Should Act Now

• Stay ahead of the new regulations: Avoid last-minute compliance issues by starting your transition early.
• Limited-time funding. The increased rebates are backed by state and federal grants and are available only while funds last. Businesses and institutions are encouraged to apply by March 1, 2026, and must complete their projects within 180 days.
• Save money. With a generous rebate, your landscape upgrade could be fully covered and lower your water bills.
• It’s good for business. Eco-friendly landscapes demonstrate environmental responsibility and modernize your property’s appearance.

If your turf doesn’t serve a recreational or operational purpose, now’s the time to replace it with a California Friendly landscape. Pre-approval is required before beginning any project.

Visit LADWP.com/landscaping for full program details and to apply.