Marin Water increases rebates for lawn replacement program

Customers in Marin Water’s service area contemplating replacing their grass may qualify for increased rebates.

For a limited time, Marin Water is offering a rebate of up to $4.68 per square foot for replacing grass landscapes. Homeowner reimbursements will be capped at 1,000 square feet, and business owners capped at 5,000 square feet. The ongoing base rebate of $2.18 per square foot has fewer requirements to provide customers with more flexibility while still achieving water savings. A best practices, $3.68 per square foot is available to customers who follow best management practices to optimize long-term water savings, including:

• Sheet mulching in place versus physical removal of lawn
• Installation of mostly California native low water use plants over at least 50% of the project area based on mature plant size
• Installation of an alternative water source or stormwater capture feature such as a rain garden, rainwater harvesting cistern, or graywater system
• Customers who install a rain garden fed by a disconnected downspout may be eligible for an additional $1 per square foot for a limited time (through June 30, 2025).

Turf replacement rebates exempt from State income tax requirements!

As an added benefit, Assembly Bill 2142, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2022, ensures that turf replacement rebates issued in 2022 and beyond will be exempt from state income tax requirements. (Federal tax rules do still apply). An IRS W-9 Form will be needed for tax filing.

Pre-approval is required to participate in the Cash for Grass program; the first step is to submit a rebate application. For more information visit marinwater.org/Cash4Grass.