Get Paid to Remove Your Grass in Las Vegas

If you live in Las Vegas or anywhere in the Southern Nevada area, you already know that water conservation is a major part of living in the desert. But what many homeowners may not realize is that you can actually get paid to remove your grass and replace it with water-efficient desert landscaping.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) offers its Water Smart Landscapes Rebate Program, commonly known as the “Cash for Grass” program, which provides homeowners with a financial incentive to replace water-thirsty grass with desert-friendly landscaping.

For homeowners who have been thinking about removing their lawn, this program can help offset the cost of making the switch while also reducing outdoor water use and creating a landscape that’s better suited for our Southern Nevada climate.

When Did the Water Smart Landscapes Program Start?

The Southern Nevada Water Authority’s Water Smart Landscapes Rebate Program began in 1999. That means the program has now been helping Southern Nevada homeowners and businesses conserve water for 27 years.

Over those nearly three decades, the program has become one of Southern Nevada’s most recognized water conservation efforts. Since it began, residents and businesses have converted approximately 250 million square feet of grass to water-efficient landscaping, saving an estimated 203 billion gallons of water.

That’s a significant amount of water saved simply by replacing traditional grass with landscaping that’s better suited for our desert environment.

How Much Will SNWA Pay You to Remove Your Grass?

For single-family residential properties, the current SNWA rebate is:

$5 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet of grass converted.

For areas beyond the first 10,000 square feet, the rebate is:

$2.50 per square foot, per property, per fiscal year.

That means if you replace 1,000 square feet of qualifying grass, you could potentially receive:

1,000 sq. ft. × $5 = $5,000

For homeowners with larger lawns, the rebate can add up quickly and help offset a significant portion of the cost of converting to water-efficient desert landscaping.

How Does the Grass Conversion Rebate Work?

One of the biggest things homeowners need to know is: Do NOT remove your grass before applying for the program. SNWA must inspect and approve the existing grass before you begin your landscape conversion. Removing your lawn before receiving approval could make your project ineligible for the rebate.

The basic process works like this:

Step 1: Apply for the Water Smart Landscapes Rebate

Start by submitting an application through the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Step 2: Schedule Your Pre-Conversion Inspection

SNWA will inspect the property and measure the qualifying grass area. Again, don’t start tearing out the lawn yet. You need approval before beginning the project.

Step 3: Receive Approval and Begin Your Conversion

Once SNWA approves the project, you can remove the grass and begin installing your new desert landscaping.

If you live in a community with a Homeowners Association (HOA), you will also need to get approval from your HOA before making changes to the landscaping in your front or backyard. Your HOA may have specific requirements regarding plants, trees, decorative rock, hardscape and the overall landscape design. Once you have the necessary approvals, you can hire a professional landscaper or complete the project yourself.

Step 4: Install Water-Efficient Landscaping

The new landscape can’t simply be bare dirt or an area covered entirely with concrete. Qualifying converted areas generally need water-efficient landscaping that includes living plants, efficient drip irrigation and permeable ground coverings such as decorative rock, bark or other approved materials. SNWA requires the converted landscape to have at least 50% living plant coverage at maturity.

Step 5: Request the Final Inspection

Once your landscaping is completed, SNWA will inspect the property again to verify that the conversion meets program requirements. The conversion and request for inspection generally must be completed within 12 months of the pre-conversion inspection.

Step 6: Receive Your Rebate

After your project has been approved and all program requirements have been completed, the rebate process can be finalized.

An Important Thing to Know About the SNWA Easement

When you receive an SNWA rebate, a conservation easement is placed on the area where the grass was converted, requiring that area to remain water-efficient.

This is important if you decide to make changes in the future. For example, if you received a rebate for converting your backyard and later want to install a swimming pool or water feature in that area, you would need to contact SNWA and may be required to repay the original rebate for the affected area before the easement can be removed.

The easement also stays with the property, so it can apply to future homeowners. If you’re considering a future pool or other major backyard improvements, keep this restriction in mind before participating in the rebate program.

Southern Nevada’s Mandatory Watering Schedule

Whether you have grass or desert landscaping, it’s important to understand Southern Nevada’s watering rules.

The Las Vegas Valley follows a mandatory seasonal watering schedule, and your specific watering days are based on your assigned watering group.

Spring — March 1 through April 30

Landscape watering is limited to three assigned days per week.

Summer — May 1 through August 31

Landscape watering is allowed up to six days per week, depending on your assigned watering group. During the summer, landscape irrigation is prohibited between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. because so much water can be lost to evaporation during the hottest part of the day.

Fall — September 1 through October 31

Landscape watering is limited to three assigned days per week.

Winter — November 1 through February 28

Landscape watering is limited to one assigned day per week.

And there’s one rule that applies throughout the entire year:

No sprinkler watering on Sundays.

Your exact watering days depend on where you live, so homeowners should look up their assigned watering group through the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Desert Landscaping Still Needs Water — Just Much Less

One common misconception is that desert landscaping doesn’t need to be watered. Trees, shrubs and desert plants still need water, but they typically use drip irrigation instead of traditional lawn sprinklers.

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone of the plant, which helps reduce evaporation and water waste.

SNWA also recommends watering desert plants deeply and less frequently rather than running drip irrigation every day. Running drip irrigation too frequently is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make.

Is Converting Your Grass Worth It?

For many Las Vegas homeowners, it certainly can be. If you have a large front or backyard lawn that you rarely use, replacing it with desert landscaping could reduce your outdoor water consumption, lower landscape maintenance and eliminate many of the expenses associated with maintaining grass in the desert.

And with the current SNWA rebate offering $5 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet, the financial incentive can be significant.

• A 500-square-foot conversion could potentially qualify for $2,500.
• A 1,000-square-foot conversion could potentially qualify for $5,000.
• And a 2,000-square-foot conversion could potentially qualify for $10,000.

Final Thoughts

The Southern Nevada Water Authority’s Water Smart Landscapes Rebate Program has been helping conserve water in our valley for 27 years, while giving homeowners an incentive to create landscaping that’s better suited for our desert climate.

For Las Vegas homeowners looking to reduce water use, lower yard maintenance and update their landscaping, this program can be a great opportunity to make the change while receiving money back for doing it.

If you’re considering buying or selling a home in the Las Vegas Valley, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’ll get back to you personally and promptly. Thanks for visiting!

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Angela O’Hare
Favorite Las Vegas Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas
Lic. #180246
702-370-5112
[email protected]
www.neighborhoodsinlasvegas.com

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