Non-Residential Grass Removal Rebate

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Non-Residential Grass Removal Rebate Program

Gilbert has launched a new grass removal rebate program for HOAs, businesses and other non-residential water customers.

Thanks to contributions from SRP, qualifying customers can now earn up to $6,000 in rebates for replacing their grass landscapes with desert-friendly landscapes.

As we face a future with less water from the Colorado River, it is critical to find new ways for Gilbert to conserve water and use it more efficiently.

Transforming grass landscapes, which require high amounts of water, into desert-friendly landscapes can help Gilbert customers:

Drastically reduce their outdoor water usage
Lower their water bill
Save on maintenance costs

Non-Residential Rebate Program

Grass removal projects that were completed prior to the launch of the program are not eligible for a rebate.

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Program Rules

Program Rules

Gilbert is offering a limited supply of rebates for non-residential customers who convert qualifying grass landscapes into low-water-use landscapes.

The goal of the program is to help Gilbert reduce outdoor water use and minimize waste.

Non-residential customers are eligible to receive $2 per square foot of removed qualifying grass up to a maximum of $6,000. Qualifying grass that is removed must be converted into a low-water-use landscape in order to qualify.
Rebate will be issued as a bill credit to the Town of Gilbert water account owner and applied toward any subsequent utility bills. Refunds will not be issued for any resulting credit. Bill credits may take up to two bill cycles to appear.
Applicants must be the owner of the property, or have the permission of the owner, to implement the specific conversion and to apply for and receive rebate funds; please include authorization letters, as necessary. If the applicant is an HOA, it must be authorized by the HOA Board, and the applicant must be the Property Manager or Homeowner Association President. Tenants who wish to participate should contact their property owner or manager.
Only one incentive is allowed per organization, per property, per fiscal year. Organizations and their individual properties may not receive a grass removal rebate more than twice in their lifetime. Organization means one operating entity per location. For example, a business may be eligible for up to one rebate at each distinct operating site. A property management company may manage multiple property sites and each separate property site would be eligible for one rebate. For more information about incentives your organization may qualify for, please contact water.conservation@gilbertaz.gov.
Reclaimed water customers must go through Maricopa County's Approval to Construct and Approval of Construction application processes again, which includes cross-connection checks.
For more information on the inspection process for reclaimed water customers, please contact Mike Bertrand, Gilbert's Reuse Utility Supervisor, at Mike.Bertrand@gilbertaz.gov. A final inspection by Gilbert engineering, reuse, and backflow teams will be required after all landscape changes are complete.
Gilbert Water Conservation will track water consumption of program participants to analyze water conservation savings associated with our program. All customer information will be kept anonymous and data will be aggregated before being shared.
A limited amount of rebate funds are available each year. Applications will be processed in the order they are received for as long as rebate funds are available. Program rules may change at any time.

All rebate applications must provide a completed W9 form for the same entity listed on the Gilbert utility account.

Program Eligibility

Must be a Gilbert water customer with an active water account that is in good standing. This includes customers who receive either potable or reclaimed water from Gilbert for their landscape water use.
Rebates are for future grass conversion projects only.
A preliminary inspection of the customer's current grass landscape is required before a rebate can be conditionally approved. No project is eligible for a rebate if the grass removal process started before the initial inspection by a Gilbert Water Conservation Specialist.
New construction projects are not eligible for the grass conversion rebate.
Customers must have at least 1,000 square feet of qualifying grass to remove to be eligible for a rebate

Rebate Amount

Current Landscape Requirements

*Grass that is eligible for a removal rebate, herein defined as “qualifying grass”

Grass must be routinely and permanently irrigated by an active and functioning landscape irrigation system
Qualifying grass must be healthy. The landscape's health is based on actively growing with at least an average coverage of 50% density.
A minimum of 1,000 square feet of qualifying grass must be removed to be eligible for rebate. Multiple areas can be combined to meet the minimum square footage requirement. This minimum requirement is waived if a property is removing all grass on the property.

Examples of Eligible Grass

Examples of Ineligible Grass

Future Landscape Requirements

Qualifying grass must be converted to a low-water-use landscape that meets the following minimum qualifications in order to be eligible for a rebate:

A minimum of 60% of the converted landscape must be replaced with low-water-use plant materials.
Within this area, planting density should be at least 40% when plants are fully mature.
For plants to qualify as low-water-use, they must be listed on the Low-Water-Use/Drought-Tolerant Plant List from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Water-intensive plants in the any portion of the converted area is prohibited. Water-intensive plants are any plant material not listed on the Low-Water-Use/Drought-Tolerant Plant List from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Water features, including fountains and pools, may not be installed in the converted area.
If an existing tree is impacted by the conversion, then the tree must be maintained or replaced with a tree from the Low-Water-Use/Drought-Tolerant Plant List from the Arizona Department of Water Resources. An allowance to preserve an existing, mature water-intensive may be made if the tree is watered on a separate zone from the rest of the low-water-use landscape.
The living areas of the new landscape must be covered with a minimum of a 2” deep layer of organic or inorganic mulch (e.g., granite or rock); non-pervious materials (e.g., black plastic sheeting) are not permitted.
All new irrigation systems must be efficient irrigation systems. Spray irrigation is prohibited in converted area.
Converted landscape must be operated by a US EPA WaterSense labeled smart controller. Additional rebates may be available to help with the cost of a qualifying smart controller; learn more here.
In the process of converting the landscape, retention basin volumes and drainage to basins must be maintained.
All landscapes must be regularly maintained in accordance with Gilbert's Land Development Code, Section 5.4.9. Maintenance shall include pruning, trimming, watering, removal and replacement of dead plant material, or other required improvements. Landscaping shall be maintained at the level shown on the original approved landscape plan. Any dead plant material must be replaced with plants from ADWR low water use plant list.
The landscape must continue to comply with all other applicable municipal codes and regulations.

This includes all provisions from Gilbert's Land Development Code, specifically:

- Section 5.4.4 Landscape Standards
- Section 5.4.5 Side and Rear Landscape Areas
- Section 5.4.8 Streetscape Theme Trees
After the 60% requirement for a living, low-water-use landscape is met, the remaining landscape area may contain:

- Hardscaping materials such as concrete patios and paved walkways, OR
- Artificial turf limited to 20% of total landscaped area.

Design Examples

Living, low-water-use landscaping for the entire conversion area with 40% planting density.

Future Design Example - 1

Living, low-water-use landscaping was utilized for the required minimum amount of 60% of the conversion area. Hardscaping was utilized up to its maximum allowance of 40%.

Future Design Example - 2

Living, low-water-use landscaping was utilized for the required minimum amount of 60% of conversion area. Artificial turf was utilized for maximum allowance of 20% and the remaining area is hardscaping.

Future Design Example - 3

Design Review Requirements

Design Review Process

The plan review timeline is estimated to be about 1-2 months from submittal.

All non-residential landscapes designs will be reviewed by Gilbert's Water Conservation Team and may be subject to further review by Gilbert’s Planning Department if the proposed plans show significant changes to landscape grading.

Reviews may take longer if they require an engineering review or include reclaimed water operation changes.

A final inspection by Gilbert's engineering, reuse, and backflow teams will be required after all landscape changes are complete.

Reclaimed water customers must go through Maricopa County's Approval to Construct and Approval of Construction application processes, which includes cross-connection checks.

For more information on the inspection process for reclaimed water customers, please contact Mike Bertrand, Reuse Utility Supervisor, at Mike.Bertrand@gilbertaz.gov.

Required Documents

In order to submit a complete application, you will need to have the following documentation prepared to accompany your submittal.

2-3 photos of the qualifying grass in different areas where the removal is proposed.
Information on current irrigation controller, including make, model, number of stations served, and photo.
Proposed landscape plans for the grass removal area. Landscape plans must be to scale. Please clearly identify the boundaries of the grass removal and conversion area and include information on the irrigation controller.
If the application is being submitted by someone who is not the direct owner of the property, then an authorization letter from the owner is required.
A completed W9 form must be submitted by the same entity that the Gilbert water account is listed under. Once your initial application has been approved, Gilbert will reach out to the applicant to collect a completed W9 through DocuSign.

Why am I being asked for to complete a W9 form?

Any individual or organization that receives more than $599 in total rebate value in a calendar year, is required to provide a completed W9 form. Gilbert must collect this completed form before approving and processing your rebate. By providing a completed W9, Gilbert will be able to send you a 1099 form for the calendar year that your rebate was issued. This is in compliance with federal tax reporting requirements.

Application Checklist

Step 1
Prepare and submit your application and required documents.
Step 2
Your application will be reviewed by Gilbert's Water Conservation Team and also by Gilbert’s Planning Department if proposed plans show significant changes to landscape grading. If it is determined that the application meets the minimum program requirements, a member of our staff will reach out to schedule a site inspection.
Step 3
After the initial site inspection, written confirmation of project approval will be provided and rebate funds will be reserved for 90 days.
Step 4
Within 90 days from receiving written project approval, final site inspection(s) must be scheduled.
Step 5
If all requirements are met at the final site inspection, a bill credit will be applied to the Gilbert water account associated with site.