Expanded Lawn to Garden Program

Expanded Lawn to Garden Rebate Additional Information

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Eligibility Checklist

Residential Customers

  • Utility account(s) must be in good financial standing; delinquent accounts are not eligible.
  • Must be a residential property owner who receives water for their landscape through metered service from the City of Fresno. Renters must have permission from property owner to alter the landscape.
  • Renters with a City of Fresno utility account may participate in the program provided the Property Owner completes the Permission to Participate form.
  • Lawn areas to be converted must be at least 200 sq-ft.
  • Lawn areas to be converted have a maximum rebate square footage of 1,500 sq-ft.
  • Lawn areas to be converted must be in the front yard and/or visible to the public.
  • Lawn areas to be converted must be living or have been irrigated. Brown or dead lawns that are not currently irrigated due to drought are eligible, provided there is evidence of previous two-year watering pattern. (Bare earth areas or areas with seasonal weeds are not eligible for the rebate program.)

Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Customers

  • Utility account(s) must be in good financial standing; delinquent accounts are not eligible.
  • Must be a property owner who receives water for their landscape through metered service from the City of Fresno.
  • Renters or tenants must have permission from property owner to alter the landscape.
  • Renters with a City of Fresno utility account may participate in the program provided the Property Owner completes the Permission to Participate form.
  • Lawn areas to be converted must be at least 200 sq-ft.
  • Lawn areas to be converted have a maximum rebate square footage of 4,000 sq-ft.
  • Lawn areas to be converted must be in the front yard and/or visible to the public.
  • Lawn areas to be converted must be living or have been irrigated. Brown or dead lawns that are not currently irrigated due to drought are eligible, provided there is evidence of previous two-year watering pattern. (Bare earth areas or areas with seasonal weeds are not eligible for the rebate program.)

Terms and Conditions

A City of Fresno Landscape Water Conservation Specialist can help assess your eligibility. Call us at (559) 621-5480 or email [email protected]

  • A landscape consultation, performed by a City of Fresno Water Conservation specialist, is required. A work request will be generated for this service once the consultation questionnaire is approved.
  • Projects that have been started or completed prior to the Water Conservation Program’s review and approval will NOT be eligible. The rebate program is not retroactive.
  • A viable lawn or evidence of the previous lawn must remain in place until your approved start date.
  • The minimum allowable area eligible for rebate is 200 square feet of lawn.
  • The maximum allowable area for Residential properties is 1,500 square feet. The maximum allowable area for Commercial, Industrial, or Institutional properties is 4,000 square feet.
  • All existing non-drip irrigation must be capped below grade.
  • This program does not specify the method of lawn removal.
  • Artificial turf is not allowed in the converted portion of landscape. Rebate does not cover artificial turf.
  • Converted landscape must include plants at a minimum of 33% of the converted area at maturity.
  • Converted landscape may only include low-water use, drought-tolerant, and/or California native plants with ET factor of 0.60 or less. (Consult with a landscape/nursery specialist for recommendations)
  • At least one tree, either existing in the converted lawn area or new, must be incorporated. Must be 15 ft. tall minimum at maturity.
  • All exposed soil surfaces must be covered with 3-4 inches of approved mulch; this includes landscapes that are converting to lawn alternative options such as Myoporum or Kurapia. Approved mulch types shall consist of either organic materials, such as bark chips, or inorganic materials, such as rock or decomposed granite.
  • Rock materials can cover no more than 35% of the converted landscape area. This includes bricks, pavers, decomposed granite (limited to 25%), boulders, river rock, and gravel. Concrete is not allowed. Excess rock or concrete will reduce the rebate amount or disqualify the application. Refer to Fresno Municipal Code Section 15-2307 for details.
  • Impervious decks or patios are not allowed as part of the rebated converted landscape.
  • Structures such as outbuildings or sheds are not allowed as part of the rebated square footage.
  • All bricks and pavers must be filled with loose material such as paver sand.
  • Lawn to Garden landscape conversion must be completed within 120 days of application approval.
  • The lawn replacements performed under the “Expanded Lawn to Garden Rebate” are intended to be permanent.
  • You consent to allowing the City of Fresno to use before and after photos of the water-wise landscape for promotional purposes.

Program FAQs

1. What are the key steps for converting my front lawn to a water-wise garden?

  • Plan a landscape project: Like any home project, planning is one of the most important aspects of re-landscaping your front yard. For best results, we recommend hiring a landscape designer to develop an appropriate site-specific design or take advantage of our free landscape consultation service.
  • Remove the lawn: Do not kill the lawn until after you have completed the landscape consultation with a City of Fresno Water Conservation Team Member. Depending on what your plan is for a new landscape and how much you plan to regrade the yard, we recommend sheet mulching or physical removal.
  • Install Hardscape: This optional step can potentially improve a front yard’s functionality and curb appeal. For example, adding a pathway from the sidewalk to the front door can add a functional benefit and create a visually appealing garden element. Another way to create visual interest and a contract to the landscape is by incorporating dry creek beds and boulders, or steps and walls on sloped properties. Visit www.fresnogardening.org for hardscape ideas and inspiration.
  • Build a Healthy Soil: Starting a new landscape is the perfect opportunity to improve the soil before planting new plants. Healthy soil is essential to a healthy garden because it helps your plants and landscaping thrive. Healthy soil is alive and is made up of minerals, living and dead plant material, fungi, bacteria, mycorrhizae, insects, and billions of microorganisms.
  • Install an Irrigation System: A functional watering system is important for the longevity of your new garden. The goal is to install a system that effectively applies water to the root zones of the plants. Drip irrigation is generally the most efficient system for water-wise landscapes, and it is easy to install.
  • Purchase and Install Plants: For best results, it is important to select the right plants for your yard; purchase quality plants and install them properly.

2. What are some of the changes to the new Expanded Lawn-to-Garden Program (EL2G)?

The City of Fresno Water Conservation Program will begin accepting applications for its new Expanded Lawn-to-Garden Program. There are a few new core requirements that will come into effect:

  • A minimum of 200 sq. ft. is required to participate in the program.
  • An increase in the incentive from $1.05 per sq. ft. to $2.00 per sq. ft. and the eligible converted area for commercial, industrial, and institution customers increased from 1,500 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft.

3. I have already started or completed my project. Can I still get a rebate?

No. Projects that have already started or been completed are not eligible for this incentive.

4. My lawn has been dead for several months. Do I still qualify for the program?

If your lawn is dead but still in place, we will evaluate your water use within the last year, on a case-by-case basis to consider your eligibility for program participation. However, if you have started or completed the lawn-to-garden conversion, you are not eligible.

5. What types of plants are eligible in the Lawn-to-Garden Program?

There are specific plants suitable for the Fresno Region and the EL2G Program; explore the links below to choose from thousands of water-wise plant options:

6. Is there a requirement for the size of tree to be planted in the converted portion of the landscape?

We recommend a tree large enough to provide some shade in the landscape; select trees that are taller than 15 feet, unless there is a height restriction in the planting areas (Ex. Beneath powerlines). Click here to locate very low, low, or moderate water use trees for the Fresno region.

7. Can I use traditional turf grass as part of my new landscape?

No. Your new landscape cannot contain any turf grasses, artificial or synthetic turf. The Expanded Lawn-to-Garden Program prohibits use of invasive plant grasses or turf-looking grass.

8. How do I effectively kill my lawn?

During your consultation appointment, ask your Landscape Water Conservation Specialist for the best method to kill your lawn. Each turf-type has a different process to kill or remove.

The two most important things to know about killing your lawn are these:

  • You must be certain the lawn is completely dead before planting your new landscape
  • Even after you plant your new landscape, new weeds will continue to establish themselves; you must remove these weeds as they emerge. If you are diligent and you keep the non-plant areas covered with mulch, then over time very few weeds will get established in your new landscape, making the weeding easy and keeping your landscape looking fresh.

9. What are the benefits of adding mulch?

Adding minimum of 3” of mulch suppresses weed germination, retains soil moisture, adds soil nutrients, and reduces the surrounding heat index.

10. I live in a homeowner’s association (HOA) and do not have an individual City of Fresno water account. Can I still qualify for the program?

If you’re looking to convert a landscape in a common area, the HOA must apply directly. However, if the project involves your personal front yard within the complex, you can apply by using your City of Fresno Utility Account number (Sewer and/or Solid Waste). Within the application Consultation Questionnaire you will click on question 9 “Yes” and complete the HOA’s information, such as the name of HOA, contact name, HOA Utility Account Number,  service address, and other requested information in the application..

11. We are a Commercial, Industrial or Institutional (CII) organization. Are we eligible to apply for this program?

Yes. If your business has a dedicated City of Fresno irrigation meter or domestic water service, you are eligible to apply for this program; please provide the utility account number associated with the business when you apply for the incentive. City of Fresno will verify account eligibility before issuing a Notice to Proceed on the project.

12. Is there a State lawn replacement incentive program?

No. Currently, there is no State incentive for lawn to garden conversions; we encourage customers to check the availability of State funds that may become available for turf replacement programs.

13. When will I receive my incentive check?

If approved, participants will receive their incentive within approximately 6-9 weeks after the Water Conservation Team verifies that the landscape installation is complete and meets the post-project requirements.

14. Can concrete be installed in the Lawn to Garden conversion area?

Yes, but the total square feet of concrete installed will be subtracted from the total eligible square feet of converted landscape. Example: 1000 sq. ft. lawn removed, 200 sq. ft. of concrete installed, only 800 sq. ft. is eligible for rebate at $2.00/square foot. Now 33% of 800 sq. ft. will require water-wise plant material at full maturity.

15. Is a tree required in the Lawn to Garden Conversion?

Yes. If there is already a preexisting tree in the lawn conversion area the preexisting tree will satisfy the requirement. If there are no preexisting trees in the conversion area, a new tree must be planted.