Managing an HOA or commercial property? Nevada’s AB 356 sets a hard 1 January 2027 deadline for nonfunctional turf —see the AB 356 compliance guide.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority pays Las Vegas homeowners $5 per square foot to replace grass with desert landscaping — for the first 10,000 square feet converted, then $2.50 per square foot, per property per fiscal year. A 1,000 square foot lawn is worth $5,000. Every new tree you plant adds another $100. Nevada’s turf ban does not apply to single-family homes, so this is money on the table, not a requirement.
The mistake that voids your rebate
Do not remove your lawn before SNWA’s pre-conversion site visit. The program requires an inspector to see the existing grass and a working irrigation system before any work begins. Homeowners who tear out the lawn first — or hire a contractor who does — lose the entire rebate, with no appeal.
On a 1,500 square foot lawn, that is $7,500 gone for getting the order of operations wrong.
Apply first. Wait for the site visit. Then start.
What your lawn is worth
| Lawn size | Rebate at $5 / sq ft |
|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $2,500 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $5,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $12,500 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $25,000 |
The $5 rate holds for the first 10,000 square feet converted; anything beyond that is $2.50 per square foot for residential properties. The cap resets each fiscal year, which runs 1 July to 30 June — so a large yard can be split across two years for a better return.
Add $100 per new tree planted, up to full canopy coverage.
What you need to qualify
- An active grass lawn with working irrigation. A dead lawn, or one already removed, does not qualify.
- Plants covering at least 50% of the converted area when fully mature.
- Drip irrigation installed for the new landscape.
- The conversion completed within 12 months of approval.
- A conservation easement signed after the post-conversion inspection — the grass cannot come back later.
The 50% coverage rule is where designs fail
Plenty of Las Vegas conversions get rejected because the plan amounts to a gravel lot with three shrubs in it. The standard is measured at plant maturity, which means the design has to be built around what each species will actually become — a desert willow at fifteen feet, not the five-gallon version at planting.
This is the part worth having designed properly, and the reason we render every conversion in 3D before anything goes in the ground.
What the conversion costs you out of pocket
Replacing traditional grass with a water-efficient landscape is an investment, but the SNWA rebate can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
As a general planning range, a professionally designed and installed turf conversion may cost approximately $7–$15 per square foot, depending on the size and complexity of the project.
For example, a 1,000-square-foot conversion could have an estimated project cost of:
- $7,000–$15,000 estimated conversion cost
- Up to $5,000 in potential SNWA residential rebate at $5 per square foot
- Estimated out-of-pocket cost: $2,000–$10,000
Your actual rebate and project cost will depend on your property, qualifying turf area, project design, and current SNWA program requirements.
See What Your Yard Could Save
The larger the qualifying turf area, the greater the potential rebate. TaylorMade Landscapes can help you evaluate your existing landscape, develop a water-efficient design, and plan your turf conversion around applicable SNWA requirements.
How the rebate process works, step by step
- Apply online through SNWA before anything is touched.
- Pre-conversion site visit — an inspector confirms the existing lawn and irrigation.
- Design and install — the new landscape goes in, meeting the 50% mature coverage standard with drip irrigation.
- Post-conversion inspection once the work is finished.
- Sign the conservation easement, which is recorded against the property.
- Rebate check follows the recorded easement.
We manage the SNWA application and inspections for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
$5 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet converted, then $2.50 per square foot for residential properties, per property per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
Not if you own a single-family home. AB 356’s 2027 prohibition applies to commercial, multi-family and HOA-managed properties.
Only after the pre-conversion site visit. Removing it beforehand disqualifies the conversion entirely.
The cheque follows the post-conversion inspection and the recording of the conservation easement.
No. The conservation easement is recorded against the property.
Find out what your lawn is worth
We’ll measure it, tell you what the rebate pays, and design a conversion that clears the 50% coverage standard — before you touch a shovel or the application.
Last updated: 7 September 2026.
Rebate rates verified against SNWA on this date. Rates are set per fiscal year (1 July – 30 June) and may change.