Water Efficiency & Rebate Coordination
Utah Landscape Water Rebate Programs
Emigration Canyon front yard renovation — artificial turf, flagstone path, river rock, and low-water planting beds. Projects like this may qualify for turf conversion rebates depending on the water provider serving the address.
Program availability, eligibility, incentive amounts, and requirements are set by water providers and program administrators — not by Black Diamond. They change over time and are not controlled by us. We do not guarantee approval or any specific amount. Homeowners should confirm current terms directly with their provider before beginning any work. Most programs require pre-approval and a pre-inspection before any grass is removed. Starting work first typically disqualifies the application.
Black Diamond never receives rebate money and has no financial interest in the rebate. Rebate funds are paid directly to the homeowner by the water provider or program administrator after project completion and inspection. Our role is to help homeowners understand what may be available, design a project that qualifies, and coordinate the paperwork — if the homeowner wants to pursue it.
Two types of programs: statewide and municipality-dependent
Utah rebate programs fall into two categories. Understanding which type applies to a given address is the first step — and it is not always obvious, because the water provider serving a property does not always match the city the property is in.
Statewide — available regardless of city
Two programs are administered at the state level and are available to most Utah homeowners regardless of which city or water district serves their address:
- Smart controller rebates — Utah's Division of Water Resources has offered rebates for qualifying weather-based smart irrigation controllers. These adjust run times based on evapotranspiration data and reduce outdoor water use without requiring any changes to the landscape itself.
- Toilet replacement rebates — available through the state program for replacing older high-flow toilets with qualifying WaterSense models. Less directly tied to landscape work, but available to most Utah homeowners and worth combining with a landscape project application.
Municipality-dependent — varies by water provider
The larger landscape incentives depend on which water provider serves the property. Two homeowners on the same street can be eligible for different programs — or no program at all — based solely on their water provider:
- Landscape Incentive (turf removal) — per-square-foot incentives for removing existing grass and replacing it with water-efficient alternatives: rock, mulch, low-water planting, or artificial turf. This is typically the largest incentive available for a landscape renovation. Pre-approval and a pre-inspection are required before any grass is removed.
- Drip conversion — some providers offer incentives for converting spray irrigation to drip systems in planting beds. Reduces water use in the converted zones and may be combined with a turf removal application.
- Treebate — some providers and municipalities have offered incentives for planting qualifying shade trees on residential properties. Shade trees reduce heat load and lower the water demand of plants growing beneath them. Eligibility typically depends on species, placement, and the specific provider.
- Localscapes Rewards — Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District administers the Localscapes program, which sets standards for water-wise landscape design and offers rewards for projects that meet those standards. Localscapes standards are required for certain turf replacement bonuses in JVWCD-served areas. Localscapes also offers free professional plan reviews for homeowners planning a conversion. Available at localscapes.com.
Program administration across Utah is fragmented. Some municipalities run their own programs directly. Others participate in statewide programs. Some properties are served by water districts that operate independently of the city. Black Diamond confirms which program applies to a specific address during the design phase — before any work is scoped or priced.
Pre-approval is required before any grass is removed
The most common and costly mistake homeowners make with rebate programs is removing grass before confirming approval. The Landscape Incentive program — and most municipality-dependent turf removal programs — require both a pre-approval step and a pre-inspection before any conversion work begins.
Removing grass first — even if the project would otherwise qualify in every other respect — typically disqualifies the application entirely. The correct sequence is: confirm which program applies to your address → complete pre-approval with your water provider → schedule the pre-inspection → then begin landscape work. Black Diamond works within this sequence as a standard part of the design-build process.
Which cities and areas Black Diamond serves
Black Diamond serves the greater Salt Lake Valley and surrounding areas. The cities and communities below are within our primary service area. Rebate availability within each depends on the specific water provider serving the address — not the city name alone.
Primary service area — Salt Lake County and adjacent
Davis County — extended service area
Utah County — extended service area
Summit County — extended service area
Projects outside these areas are considered on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to confirm whether your address is within our service area.
Water-wise project examples
How Black Diamond coordinates the rebate process
Pursuing a rebate is always the homeowner's decision. Some homeowners prefer to design and build the project they want without the constraints a rebate program may impose on plant selection or coverage. Others want to maximize the incentive and are willing to design around the program requirements. Black Diamond can support either approach.
What Black Diamond does as part of the design-build process
- Identify the applicable rebate program for the property based on the water provider serving that address — not just the city name
- Confirm pre-approval and pre-inspection requirements before any work begins
- Provide the property-specific 2D landscape design that most programs require as part of the application — this is already part of the standard design-build process
- Design to qualifying criteria where the homeowner wants to pursue a rebate: plant palette, coverage minimums, and conversion area
- Coordinate the documentation and sequencing so the project qualifies at inspection
The 2D landscape design Black Diamond produces as part of the standard design-build process is the same document most programs require for the application. In most cases, no additional documentation is needed beyond what is already part of the project. See our 2D vs. 3D landscape design article for more on what programs require.
Current as of August 2026 — confirm with your provider before applying
Typical program parameters (illustrative — not guaranteed)
- Landscape Incentive (turf removal): rates have typically ranged from $0.50 to $2.00+ per square foot depending on the provider, with per-property caps that vary by program. Some providers set annual funding caps that close the program mid-year once funds are exhausted.
- Smart controller rebates: typically $50–$150 per qualifying controller through the state program, with some local providers offering additional incentives on top of the state amount.
- Treebate: typically $25–$100 per qualifying tree, depending on species and provider. Some programs limit the number of trees per property per year.
- Toilet replacement: typically $50–$100 per qualifying toilet through the state program. Available independently of landscape work.
All figures above are illustrative ranges based on publicly available program information current as of August 2026. Actual amounts, caps, and eligibility requirements are set by each provider and change over time. Confirm current terms directly with your water provider before beginning any work or application.
Where to apply and learn more
The links below are the primary resources for Utah homeowners researching or applying for water-efficiency rebates. All link to program home pages — not to specific application forms, which change frequently.
Utah Water Savers
The primary application portal for turf replacement, smart controller, and toilet rebates. This is where homeowners apply. Most important link on this page — if a rebate is available for your address, this is where the money comes from.
utahwatersavers.com
Slow the Flow
Statewide conservation education, seasonal watering schedules, and free sprinkler water checks. The free sprinkler check is a service most homeowners don't know exists — a trained technician visits your property, evaluates your irrigation system, and recommends adjustments at no cost.
slowtheflow.org
Localscapes
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District's water-wise landscape program. Localscapes standards are required for certain turf replacement bonuses in JVWCD-served areas. Also offers free professional plan reviews for homeowners planning a conversion — a useful step before committing to a design.
localscapes.com
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
The district water authority serving much of the Salt Lake Valley south and west. If your water provider is JVWCD, this is the primary source for program details, eligibility, and application requirements.
jvwcd.org
Conservation Garden Park
A free public garden in West Jordan where homeowners can see mature water-wise plantings in person before committing to a design. Also hosts live Localscapes workshops and maintains a plant database of species that perform well in Utah's climate. Worth a visit before finalizing plant selections.
conservationgardenpark.org
Related pages
Program availability, eligibility, incentive amounts, and requirements are set by water providers and program administrators, change over time, and are not controlled by Black Diamond. We do not guarantee approval or any amount. Homeowners should confirm current terms with their provider before beginning work. Most programs require pre-approval and a pre-inspection before any grass is removed.
Ready to start
Find out which rebate program applies to your address.
Black Diamond confirms rebate eligibility as part of the design consultation — at no additional cost. Contact us to discuss your project and we will identify what may be available for your specific address.