I want to put in a new lawn; if I do, will there be restrictions on how much I can water it?

As we recover from drought, we are mindful of the role climate change has played in these unprecedented periods of drought and our need to adapt to a new climate future, one in which California will experience more frequent and potentially more severe droughts. One of the first restrictions that are adopted during periods of drought are restrictions on outdoor irrigation (e.g. number of days per week  irrigation is allowed for functional lawns). You can prepare your landscape and be drought-ready by converting lawns to water-efficient landscape.

ACWD encourages customers to install water-efficient landscapes and provides a rebate to customers that replace existing lawns with this type of landscape. There are many benefits to installing water-efficient landscape rather than a new lawn:

  1. Water-efficient landscapes are designed to survive dry year conditions and so you can have a thriving landscape year-round and as the climate fluctuates. 
  2. Water-efficient landscape require significantly less water than a lawn and could reduce your water bill. 
  3. You may be eligible to receive a rebate if you have a lawn and replace it with a water-efficient landscape. Please visit acwd.org/rebates to determine if your lawn qualifies for our water-efficient landscape rebate program or contact the Water Use Efficiency Team at 510-668-4218.

If you are an HOA or a commercial, industrial, or institutional customer please see the FAQ: “What is the ban on non-functional turf irrigation for commercial, industrial, and institutional customers adopted by the State of California?”

Show All Answers

1. Does ACWD have enough water?
2. Is drought a result of climate change?
3. How do I take care of my trees?
4. I’m already saving water. What more can I do to conserve?
5. How long will the water shortage emergency last and restrictions remain in place?
6. What is best practice for irrigating my lawn?
7. I have noticed water waste occurring in my neighborhood, at work, etc. How do I report it?
8. What is the ban on non-functional turf for commercial, industrial, and institutional customers passed by the State of California?
9. What is "non-functional" turf?
10. How do you determine if turf is considered functional or non-functional?
11. Are there exemptions to the non-functional turf ban for commercial, industrial, or institutional properties or HOA common areas?
12. What are some recommended actions to reduce water use?
13. What recommendations does ACWD have for landscape irrigation during drought and beyond?
14. Do I need to let my lawn dry out during every period of drought?
15. Why is new development and construction allowed during droughts and even during water shortage emergencies?
16. I am interested in water conservation. What rebates does ACWD offer residential and commercial customers?
17. I want to put in a new lawn; if I do, will there be restrictions on how much I can water it?
18. Why doesn't your lawn removal rebate program cover artificial turf or concrete if replacing my lawn with these saves water?
19. What is ACWD doing to reduce its water use?
20. Why are some fire hydrants open with water discharging?
21. Why doesn't ACWD recapture the water discharged from fire hydrants in the Main Cleaning Program?
22. Does the State of California offer a lawn removal rebate program I can participate in?
23. Will you be raising your $2/square foot rebate amount for your lawn removal program?
24. Does ACWD offer rebates for removal of other types of landscape, like trees to prevent fire risk?
25. If my water supply is terminated, how can I restore it?