Utah water conservation rebates for yards

What you can get paid to remove grass, add trees or install a smart controller, and the rules to know first.

The programs

The amounts for lawn replacement, drip and trees depend on your city or water provider, and Slow the Flow says qualifications are set locally.^[1]^[2] Utah Water Savers handles the controller, toilet and landscape programs through one online portal.^[3]

Amounts as listed by Utah Water Savers and Slow the Flow
Program	Amount	Notes
Landscape Incentive (turf removal)	Up to $3 per square foot (Utah Water Savers); $1.50 to $3 per square foot (Slow the Flow)	Residential and commercial. Paid within 90 days after the project is finished and signed off.
Smart controller	Up to $100	WaterSense-labeled controller that adjusts for local weather and yard conditions.
Treebate	$50 to $100 per tree, up to 10 trees	New shade trees. Set by your city.
Switch to drip	$0.50 to $1 per square foot	Garden and flower beds. Set by your city.
Toilet replacement	Up to $150	Retires November 1, 2026; apply before then.

Smart controllers, drip and trees

The smart controller rebate is the easiest one to qualify for. The controller must be WaterSense-labeled and adjust watering based on local weather and yard conditions, and every Utah residential property is eligible for up to $100, based on what you actually spend, excluding shipping and taxes.^[3] The Division of Water Resources says weather-based controllers can save water when they are programmed correctly.^[4]

Slow the Flow lists $0.50 to $1 per square foot to convert garden and flower beds to drip, and $50 to $100 per tree, up to ten trees, for new shade trees.^[2] Check with your city or water provider before you buy, because amounts and eligibility are set locally.^[2] If you are removing lawn around existing trees, change their irrigation first; USU has a guide to preserving trees during and after lawn removal.^[5]

Planning a lawn replacement

A rebate-ready yard looks a lot like a Localscape: lawn only where it earns its keep, durable paths, and planting beds filled with trees, shrubs and perennials on drip irrigation.^[6] Rock alone will not pass the incentive's 50 percent perennial coverage rule, and park strip plants have to meet a mature-height requirement.^[3] USU's practical turf guidance points to the same targets: skip grass in narrow, small or oddly shaped areas that are hard to irrigate well.^[7]

Because the incentive requires a living lawn at the time you apply, resist the urge to start digging early. Upload photos of the current yard and a unique plan with your application, and wait for the technician's review.^[3]

Landscape Incentive rules

Your area must have adopted the required Water Efficiency Standards.^[3]
You need a current, living, maintained lawn, and you must apply before it is removed.^[3]
The replacement must be at least 50 percent perennial plant coverage at ground level plus approved drip irrigation. Rock alone does not qualify, and artificial turf is not paid for.^[3]
Park strip plants must meet the mature-height requirement.^[3]
Businesses and private institutions can apply; HOA residents may qualify if they own the landscaping, though the HOA may need board approval.^[3]
Rebates are limited to one per property every five years.^[3]

How to apply

Check your area's eligibility on the Utah Water Savers eligibility page.^[3]
Create an account and add your property so the site identifies your water provider.^[3]
Choose Apply Now beside Landscape Incentive. Upload photos of your current yard and a unique landscape plan.^[3]
Wait for a technician to review your application.^[3]

A smart controller rebate needs a WaterSense-labeled model.^[3] The Slow the Flow rebates page lists Salt Lake City, unincorporated Utah County, South Ogden and St. George as places to look for local programs.^[2]

Local guides

Keep reading

Sources

Sources opened and checked October 26, 2026. Dates and zones are averages; conditions, rebate amounts and drought rules change, so confirm with your water provider and USU Extension before you spend money.