Is this the same as the SNWA grass removal rebate?
Yes. Many people call it the SNWA grass removal rebate, lawn replacement rebate, turf removal rebate, or Cash for Grass. The official SNWA program name is Water Smart Landscapes Rebate.
SNWA Cash for Grass
Cash for Grass Rebate Help for Las Vegas Grass Removal & Xeriscape Projects
Plain-English help understanding the Southern Nevada Water Authority Water Smart Landscapes Rebate workflow — current rebate amounts, pre-conversion inspection, drip irrigation and plant coverage, post-inspection, and how add-on incentives fit. The consultation line connects property owners with local providers familiar with this workflow.
Last reviewed May 3, 2026. Source: SNWA Water Smart Landscapes Rebate.
Do not remove grass before approval. SNWA requires a pre-conversion site visit for rebate eligibility. Removing qualifying grass before approval can make the conversion ineligible for the rebate.
Current Rebate Amounts
What SNWA Currently Lists
Rebate amounts, eligibility, required inspections, and water-provider add-on incentives can change. Verify current rates and program rules directly at snwa.com before relying on any number for project planning.
Single-family residential
$5 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet of qualifying grass removed. $2.50 per square foot thereafter.
Business, HOA & multifamily
$5 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet of qualifying grass removed. $1.50 per square foot thereafter.
Note: SNWA explicitly states that payment of the rebate does not, on its own, constitute AB 356 compliance for non-single-family properties — confirm functional / nonfunctional turf classifications separately.
Add-On Incentives
LVVWD, City of Henderson & Tree Canopy Add-Ons
Some Las Vegas Valley water providers list supplemental incentives on top of SNWA's base Cash for Grass rebate. Eligibility, timing, funding, and stacking rules can change — verify directly with your water provider and SNWA before relying on any add-on for project budgeting.
LVVWD residential add-on
Las Vegas Valley Water District lists an additional $2 per square foot on top of the SNWA rebate for qualifying residential customers — bringing the listed combined total to $7/sq ft for the first 10,000 sq ft and $4.50/sq ft thereafter. Eligibility, timing, and program terms should be verified before budgeting.
City of Henderson supplement
Some City of Henderson single-family residential customers may qualify for a supplemental $575 rebate plus $50 for each new qualifying tree, after applying for SNWA's Water Smart Landscapes rebate first. Eligibility depends on City of Henderson requirements, service area, account standing, project approval, and available funding.
SNWA Tree Canopy program
SNWA's Tree Canopy Enhancement Program may pay $100 per new qualifying tree for eligible Water Smart Landscapes participants, subject to tree species, size, canopy at maturity, drip irrigation, and other program requirements.
Basic Eligibility
What a Qualifying Conversion Generally Looks Like
The list to the right summarizes program-level conditions repeatedly referenced in SNWA's Water Smart Landscapes documentation. Specific project conditions, exceptions, and measurement rules are confirmed during the SNWA application and pre-conversion site visit.
- Live grass currently in place with active irrigation
- Pre-conversion site visit completed before any turf is removed
- Drip irrigation in the converted area (no overhead spray)
- Living plant cover at maturity meeting SNWA program conditions
- Permeable surface treatment (no impermeable plastic / concrete-style coverage)
- Conversion completed within SNWA's required timeline after pre-inspection
- Post-conversion inspection completed and documented
- Conservation easement on the converted area
Common Disqualifiers
What Can Make a Project Ineligible
SNWA, LVVWD, and the City of Henderson have published conditions that, if not met, can disqualify a conversion from receiving the rebate or add-on incentives. Final eligibility is determined by the program administrator — not by this consultation request line.
- Grass removed before SNWA authorization
- Grass not living or maintained at the time of pre-inspection
- No active irrigation on the qualifying turf area
- Water account not in good standing
- Project below SNWA's minimum size unless an exception is accepted
- Converted area lacks required living plant coverage at maturity
- Irrigation does not meet drip / efficiency requirements
- Impermeable plastic, concrete, or non-qualifying surface treatment
- Required HOA / municipal approvals not obtained
- Project not completed within SNWA's required deadlines
- Conservation easement or required documentation not completed
- Property transferred before required easement / payment steps
Scope of This Line
What the Consultation Line Does — and Does Not Do
What the line does
- Helps connect property owners with a local provider familiar with the rebate workflow
- Routes scope, location, and timeline to a provider with available capacity
- Surfaces what to have ready before submitting a full SNWA application
What the line does NOT do
- Administer the SNWA Water Smart Landscapes Rebate
- Guarantee rebate approval, payout amount, or processing time
- Replace SNWA program rules or substitute for SNWA documentation
- Provide legal advice to HOA boards or property owners
Rebate FAQ
Common Questions About the Cash for Grass Rebate
Can I get paid to remove my lawn in Las Vegas?
Possibly, if the grass, property, water account, inspection timing, and final landscape meet current program conditions. Do not remove grass before SNWA authorization.
Can I replace my lawn with desert landscaping and get a rebate?
That is the basic purpose of the program, but eligibility is not automatic. Qualifying grass, pre-conversion approval, drip irrigation, plant coverage, permeable surface treatment, post-inspection, and required documents all matter.
Is this the same as water-smart landscaping?
Yes, in common language. SNWA uses Water Smart Landscapes for the rebate program, and many property owners describe the finished project as water-smart landscaping, water-wise landscaping, desert landscaping, or xeriscape.
Can I apply for the rebate before hiring a landscaper?
Yes — SNWA accepts applications directly from property owners. Many property owners apply once they have selected a provider so the pre-inspection, conversion work, and post-inspection can be sequenced together. Confirm the current process directly at snwa.com.
Can my designer or landscaper handle the rebate paperwork?
Often yes. Providers familiar with the Cash for Grass workflow can sequence the application, pre-inspection, post-inspection, and conservation-easement documentation alongside the design and installation. The exact division of paperwork is confirmed during your consultation.
What if I already removed the grass?
SNWA generally requires a pre-conversion site visit before turf is removed. Removing grass before approval can make the conversion ineligible for the rebate. If grass has already been removed, eligibility may still be reviewable in some cases — confirm directly with SNWA before assuming the project is disqualified.
What if my grass is dead?
Eligibility for the Cash for Grass rebate generally requires qualifying live turf with active irrigation at the time of pre-inspection. Dead or dormant grass may affect eligibility — confirm with SNWA directly.
Is artificial turf eligible?
Artificial turf is typically not the qualifying conversion target on its own under SNWA program conditions, which generally require living plant cover at maturity and permeable surface treatment. Specific allowances can change — verify directly with SNWA.
Is my HOA common area required to convert?
Beginning January 1, 2027, AB 356 prohibits use of Colorado River water delivered by SNWA member agencies to irrigate nonfunctional grass on properties not zoned exclusively for single-family residences. Many HOA common areas fall in this scope. HOA boards should consult their own legal counsel for interpretations affecting their specific community.
What happens after the pre-inspection?
After the pre-conversion site visit, qualifying conversion work proceeds within the program's required timeline. SNWA then performs post-conversion inspection. Following post-inspection and required documents/easement steps, SNWA processes payment according to program rules.
How long does payout take?
Payout timing is set by SNWA's processing workflow and depends on documentation completeness, post-inspection timing, and program volume. Confirm current processing timeframes directly with SNWA.
See the full site FAQ for more on AB 356, costs, plants, drip irrigation, and provider routing.
Cash for Grass by City
Cash for Grass & Rebate Guides by City
Each city guide covers local water providers, rebate eligibility, HOA requirements, and community-specific details for Cash for Grass and xeriscape projects.
Henderson, NV →
SNWA rebate + City of Henderson supplemental programs — Green Valley, Anthem, Inspirada
Summerlin →
LVVWD water, Cash for Grass planning, HOA ARC submittal support
North Las Vegas →
LVVWD water, Aliante, Centennial Hills — Cash for Grass eligible
Spring Valley, Enterprise & Paradise →
Mountain's Edge, Southern Highlands, established residential — Cash for Grass eligible
Xeriscape Cost & Free Estimate →
How the rebate reduces net project cost — cost factors and free estimate process
Find a Xeriscape Contractor →
Cash for Grass-familiar Las Vegas xeriscape providers — C-10, Water Smart Contractor
Get Started
Talk to a Local Provider About Your Project.
Free, no-obligation consultation. The provider sequences the SNWA pre-inspection on qualifying turf — call before you remove anything.
(702) 555-0100