Program Eligibility

• 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.
  

Lawn Replacement Project

Incentive Rate: $3.00 per square foot

Eligibility

• The lawn slated for removal must be living, maintained, currently irrigated by overhead spray, and verified on site prior to project approval.
• If lawn has already been removed or is dead, the project will not qualify.
  

Planting Beds

• 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.
  

Irrigation System

• 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.
  

Remaining Lawn

• Turf replacementprojects may not result in the creation of lawn areas that are narrower than 8 feet and are inefficient to irrigate.

Park Strips Requirements

• In the park strip, mature plant height must not exceed 24 inches.
• Poured concrete is not permitted.

Exclusions

• Incentives will not be provided for water features, artificial turf, or impervious hardscapes such as poured concrete and asphalt.
• Artificial turf and impervious hardscape are not eligible for incentives but are allowed within the landscaped area. These elements count toward the overall hardscape allowance and must remain within the program’s hardscape limitations.

Hardscape Limitations (Residential projects only)

• Front yards:  Hardscape cannot exceed 50% of the total landscaped area.
• Backyards: Hardscape cannot exceed 50% of the total landscaped area. However, some backyard designs may be eligible for up to 75% hardscape with written approval. Approval is at the sole discretion of JVWCD and must be granted before project approval.
• The entire project area may be converted to hardscape if the remaining landscaped area stays within these limits.

Switch to Drip

Incentive Rate: $1.00 per square foot

Eligibility

• 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 replacement project.
  

Planting Beds

• 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.
  

Irrigation Requirements

• 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

Incentive Rate: $50 per tree (up to ten trees)

Eligibility

• Must be in conjunction with qualifying turf replacement, switch to drip, or new construction project.

Requirements

• Maximum of 10 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 reach a minimum height of 12 feet at maturity.
• Must be drip irrigated correctly for mature size.

New Construction Projects

Incentive Rate: $1.00 per square foot

Eligibility

• Only full backyard projects are eligible for new construction lawn prevention incentives.
• The incentive applies to all areas of the landscape except lawn, artificial turf, water features, or impermeable harscapes such as concrete and asphalt.
• 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

• 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.

Irrigation System

• 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

• Front yards:  Hardscape cannot exceed 50% of the total landscaped area.
• Backyards: Hardscape cannot exceed 50% of the total landscaped area. However, some backyard designs may be eligible for up to 75% hardscape with written approval. Approval is at the sole discretion of JVWCD and must be granted before project approval.

Lawn

• 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%).

New Construction Projects - Upgrade Option

Incentive Rate: $1.50 per square foot for qualifying backyard project area

To assist homeowners in installing new landscapes that fully comply with the required Water Efficiency Ordinances, participants may qualify for a higher incentive rate if the entire landscape—including the front yard, side yards, and backyard—is completed at the time of final inspection and all areas meet program requirements.

• The entire lot must be landscaped
• Lawn is evaluated across the entire lot, not just the backyard. The total lawn area must not exceed 35%.
• Park strips must meet the program standards, outlined above, including no lawn, overhead spray, or non-permeable surfaces.
• A 2-D design must be approved before installation, and final inspection must verify that all areas comply

Although the entire lot meets program standards, the incentive is only paid on the designated project area (backyard), at the upgraded $1.50 per square foot rate.
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Project Payments

Incentive Amounts

• Switch to Drip: $1.00 per sq ft
• Turf Replacement: $3.00 per sq ft
• Treebate: $50 per tree (up to ten trees) in conjunction with a Lawn Removal, or Switch to Drip, or New Construction project.
• New Construction (Backyard only): $1.00 per sq ft
• New Construction (Upgrade Option): $1.50 per sq ft

Other

• A final inspection visit is required.
• The legal agreement and IRS W-9 form must be signed and returned prior to payment.