City of Tempe Water Conservation

Tempe grass removal rebate

$0.50 per square foot of living grass converted, up to $2,000 per home per fiscal year. Pre-approval is required BEFORE removing any grass, and at least 30% of the converted area must be desert-adapted plants at maturity.

Tempe pays fifty cents per square foot for grass-to-desert conversions - up to $2,000 - but only if the project is pre-approved before the first shovel. Most homeowners lose this one to sequencing, not eligibility. We build the approval into the project schedule and file it.

Who qualifies

  • City of Tempe water customers
  • Project pre-approved by the city before grass removal begins
  • Qualifying conversion to low-water desert landscape (30% plant coverage at maturity)

What we handle for you

Tempe pays a real rate but only with pre-approval - miss that step and the rebate is gone. We sequence it into the project schedule, design to the 30% plant-coverage rule, and file everything so the credit arrives without adding a single task to your list.

Pairs naturally with

Home additionsWhole-home renovation

Source: City of Tempe Water Conservation · last verified 2026-07-13 · program terms and funding are subject to change; we re-verify before anything enters your proposal.