Step 1: Apply for the Rebate

The first step is applying for the rebate on the SNWA website under the Water Smart Landscape Rebates section. This application is open to both homeowners and business owners. Once your application is submitted, SNWA will reach out within approximately 14 days to set up a pre-conversion visit.

Step 2: Pre-Conversion Inspection

This is where the SNWA team will assess your property to ensure it qualifies for the rebate. The inspection focuses on measuring the square footage of your existing grass. It’s crucial to note that the rebate only covers living, maintained grass. If your grass is dead when they inspect it, it will not qualify for the rebate. The square footage of the living grass at the time of the inspection will determine the rebate amount.

Step 3: Conversion Requirements

Several rules govern what qualifies for the rebate:

• The area must be irrigated by a Las Vegas Valley water provider (Las Vegas Water District, North Las Vegas, or Henderson).

• The grass must be living and well-maintained during the inspection.

• At least 400 square feet must be converted unless the total grass area is smaller, in which case the entire area must be replaced.

Additionally, your new landscape must cover at least 50% of the area with living plants. To help with this, SNWA has provided a list of approved water-smart plants that qualify. You can use trees and other mature plants already present in your yard towards meeting this coverage requirement.

Step 4: Choosing Plants

One key to a successful rebate conversion is selecting the right plants. For example, if you have a Moga Acacia tree, it can account for 133 square feet of coverage. Desert Willows and Chitalpa trees can cover an impressive 200+ square feet each, making them excellent choices for maximizing your plant coverage while minimizing new plant installations.

SNWA has a comprehensive list of approved plants to help you select vegetation that thrives in our desert climate while meeting their coverage requirements. Keeping existing healthy plants is an economical way to meet the program’s conditions while keeping costs low.

Step 5: Installation and Irrigation

Once your landscape design is finalized, installation begins. One essential requirement is that your new landscape must use a drip irrigation system with a filter, pressure regulator, and emitters rated at 20 gallons per hour or less. This system ensures your new plants receive just the right amount of water without wasting this precious resource.

Your new landscape must also have a permeable surface treatment, such as mulch or rock, to allow rainwater to filter into the ground. Impermeable materials like concrete do not qualify and will disqualify any areas covered with such materials from receiving the rebate.

Step 6: Post-Conversion and Final Approval

Once the conversion is complete, SNWA will conduct a final inspection to ensure your landscape meets all program conditions. If everything checks out, they’ll issue your rebate check within a few weeks.

Pro Tip: Use a Smart Start Contractor To expedite the process, you can authorize a Smart Start contractor—like Clean and Green Landscape—to apply on your behalf. We’re trained and certified by SNWA, allowing us to handle much of the paperwork and streamline the approval process for you.