Program Overview and Rebate Rates
All customers must submit an application and receive written approval in the form of a Notice to Proceed before starting any work on their project or purchasing any qualifying equipment. Projects that have been started or projects that have already been completed prior to the Notice to Proceed are not eligible.
Sites that have been denied participation in the Landscape Rebate Program for not meeting the initial program eligibility requirements will not be allowed to re-apply for the same rebate project within three (3) years of the initial pre-inspection or denial date, whichever is the latter.
Participants must own the property to be eligible.
New construction does not qualify as the Landscape Rebate Program is aimed at encouraging retrofitting of existing facilities.
All applications issued a Notice to Proceed will be held to a total lifetime rebate cap (for the Landscape Conversion Rebate, Irrigation Equipment Upgrade Rebate, and Rainwater Catchment Rebate combined) of $3,000 for Single-Family and small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) sites and $100,000 for all Commercial and large Multi-Family (5 or more units) sites.
Landscape Conversion and/or Rainwater Capture Rebates within cost-sharing agencies may be eligible for additional funds up to $3,000 for Single-Family and Multi-Family (4 or fewer units) and $35,000 for all Commercial sites and Multi-Family (5 or more units), for a total cap of up to $6,000 and $135,000 respectively.
Rebates of $600 or more may qualify as taxable income, and participants will need to provide a W-9 form signed within the calendar year of the rebate. A 1099 tax form will be mailed to participants during the following tax season. Valley Water and participating water agencies are not responsible for any taxes that may be imposed as a result of the receipt of any rebate.
To ensure water savings are achieved, all converted landscapes and irrigation hardware upgrades must be maintained for a period of at least five years. If this requirement is violated, the applicant may be required to refund all or a portion of the rebate.
- CREATE A USER ACCOUNT to submit your online application. Customers who do not have the ability to submit an online application should call (408) 630-2554 for assistance.
- PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT EXISTING SITE: We need to know about the current condition of your yard. Include photos, the estimated size of the project area (square footage), and/or existing equipment information.
- PRE-INSPECTION: Once we receive your initial application, we will contact you to schedule a pre-inspection, whether file or on-site, as needed.
- SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL: Share the details on your dream yards! Tell us what you are planning to do with your project, what plants you will use for Landscape Conversion Projects, and how you will upgrade your irrigation system (please include quantity, make and models of the new efficient equipment).
- GET THE GREEN LIGHT: After we issue your “Notice to Proceed”, you will have 90 days to complete your project. Remember not to start your project before receiving approval!
- FINAL REVIEW: Your project is done! Submit your completed project photos and/or receipts and we will contact you to schedule a post inspection if needed.
- CASH YOUR REBATE CHECK: Your rebate check will be sent to you 4-6 weeks after the post-inspection is approved.
REMEMBER! To qualify for the rebate, you must receive the Notice to Proceed BEFORE starting to remove your lawn/pool or buying the materials for your project.
Valley Water’s Landscape Rebate Program offers rebates to single-family, multi-family, commercial, institutional, and industrial sites located with the boundaries of Santa Clara County. For a breakdown of Valley Water’s base rebate rates and site caps, please see below:
| Rebate Type | Single Family/Small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) | Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and large Multi-family (5 or more units) |
| Landscape Conversion | $2.00 per square foot | $2.00 per square foot |
| Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch | Not Available | $1.00 per square foot |
| Irrigation Equipment | ||
| High-Efficiency Nozzles | Up to $5/nozzle | |
| Rotor Sprinklers or Spray Bodies with Pressure Regulation and/or Check Valves | Up to $20/body | |
| Rain Sensor | Up to $50/sensor | |
| Dedicated Landscape Meter, Flow Sensor*, Hydrometer* | Up to $1,000/meter | |
| Weather Based Irrigation Controller, 1-12 Stations** | Up to $300/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 13-24 Stations** | Up to $1,000/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 25 Stations Or Greater** | Up to $2,000 per controller | |
| In-line Drip | $0.25/sqft | |
| Rainwater Capture | ||
| Rain Barrel (40-199 gals) | Up to $35 per barrel | |
| Cistern (200 gals min) | $0.50 per gallon | |
| Rain Garden | $1.00/sqft (up to $300) | |
| Total Lifetime Combined Rebate Per Site Type | $3,000 | $100,000 |
Certain cities and/or water retailers within Santa Clara County have partnered with Valley Water to offer increased rebates on various components of the Landscape Rebate Program. Customers within the following qualifying cities and/or water retailers may click below to view their eligible rebate rates and site caps (all other sites not within these cost sharing agencies will be eligible for the Valley Water base rebates listed above):
The City of Cupertino has partnered with Valley Water to offer cost sharing for various components of the Landscape Rebate Program. For Single Family and small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) sites, City of Cupertino adds up to an additional $1,000 for Landscape Conversion projects and up to $1,000 for Rainwater Capture projects. The City of Cupertino adds up to an additional $10,000 for Commercial, Institutional, Industrial (CII) and Multi-family (5 or more units) sites for Landscape Conversion and Rainwater Capture projects combined. These are lifetime per site cost sharing caps, not per project. The total rebate rates for City of Cupertino, including Valley Water's base rate and the additional cost sharing, are reflected below.
**The City of Cupertino cost-sharing funding is available through June 30, 2024, or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first. A Notice to Proceed must be issued on or before June 30, 2024, to be eligible for the increased cost-sharing rates. Applications that receive a Notice to Proceed on or after July 1, 2024, will not be eligible for the increased cost-sharing rates below and will be eligible only for Valley Water base rebate rates, as listed above under the “Valley Water Landscape Rebate Program Rates and Caps” section**
| Rebate Type | Single Family/Small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) | Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and large Multi-family (5 or more units) |
| Landscape Conversion | $3.00 per square foot for the first 1,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter | $3.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter |
| Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch | Not Available | $1.00 per square foot |
| Irrigation Equipment | ||
| High-Efficiency Nozzles | Up to $5/nozzle | |
| Rotor Sprinklers or Spray Bodies with Pressure Regulation and/or Check Valves | Up to $20/body | |
| Rain Sensor | Up to $50/sensor | |
| Dedicated Landscape Meter, Flow Sensor*, Hydrometer* | Up to $1,000/meter | |
| Weather Based Irrigation Controller, 1-12 Stations** | Up to $300/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 13-24 Stations** | Up to $1,000/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 25 Stations Or Greater** | Up to $2,000 per controller | |
| In-line Drip | $0.25/sqft | |
| Rainwater Capture | ||
| Rain Barrel (40-199 gals) | up to $70 | |
| Cistern (200 gals min) | $1.00 per gallon | |
| Rain Garden | $2.00/sqft (up to $600) | |
| Total Lifetime Combined Rebate Per Site Type | $5,000 | $110,000 |
The City of Milpitas has partnered with Valley Water to offer cost sharing for various components of the Landscape Rebate Program, adding up to an additional $2,000 for Single Family and small Multi-family sites (4 or fewer units) sites for Landscape Conversion projects and up to an additional $1,000/SF site for Rainwater Capture projects. These are lifetime per site cost sharing caps, not per project. The total rebate rates for City of Milpitas, including Valley Water's base rate and the additional cost sharing, are reflected below. The rebate rates below are available to applications that receive a Notice to Proceed on or after January 1, 2022.
| Rebate Type | Single Family/Small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) | Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and large Multi-family (5 or more units) |
| Landscape Conversion | $4.00 per square foot for the first 1,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter | $2.00 per square foot |
| Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch | Not Available | $1.00 per square foot |
| Irrigation Equipment | ||
| High-Efficiency Nozzles | Up to $5/nozzle | |
| Rotor Sprinklers or Spray Bodies with Pressure Regulation and/or Check Valves | Up to $20/body | |
| Rain Sensor | Up to $50/sensor | |
| Dedicated Landscape Meter, Flow Sensor*, Hydrometer* | Up to $1,000/meter | |
| Weather Based Irrigation Controller, 1-12 Stations** | Up to $300/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 13-24 Stations** | Up to $1,000/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 25 Stations Or Greater** | Up to $2,000 per controller | |
| In-line Drip | $0.25/sqft | |
| Rainwater Capture | ||
| Rain Barrel (40-199 gals) | Up to $70 per barrel | Up to $35 per barrel |
| Cistern (200 gals min) | $1.00 per gallon | $0.50 per gallon |
| Rain Garden | $2.00/sqft (up to $600) | $1.00/sqft (up to $300) |
| Total Lifetime Combined Rebate Per Site Type | $6,000 | $100,000 |
The City of Morgan Hill has partnered with Valley Water to offer cost sharing for various components of the Landscape Rebate Program, adding up to an additional $1,000 for Single Family (SF) and small Multi-family sites (4 or fewer units) and $10,000 for Commercial, Institutional, Industrial (CII) and Multi-family (5 or more units) sites for Landscape Conversion projects. These are lifetime per site cost sharing caps, not per project. The total rebate rates for City of Morgan Hill, including Valley Water's base rate and the additional cost sharing, are reflected below.
| Rebate Type | Single Family/Small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) | Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and large Multi-family (5 or more units) |
| Landscape Conversion | $3.00 per square foot for the first 1,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter | $3.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter |
| Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch | Not Available | $1.00 per square foot |
| Irrigation Equipment | ||
| High-Efficiency Nozzles | Up to $5/nozzle | |
| Rotor Sprinklers or Spray Bodies with Pressure Regulation and/or Check Valves | Up to $20/body | |
| Rain Sensor | Up to $50/sensor | |
| Dedicated Landscape Meter, Flow Sensor*, Hydrometer* | Up to $1,000/meter | |
| Weather Based Irrigation Controller, 1-12 Stations** | Up to $300/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 13-24 Stations** | Up to $1,000/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 25 Stations Or Greater** | Up to $2,000 per controller | |
| In-line Drip | $0.25/sqft | |
| Rainwater Capture | ||
| Rain Barrel (40-199 gals) | up to $35 | |
| Cistern (200 gals min) | $0.50 per gallon | |
| Rain Garden | $1.00/sqft (up to $300) | |
| Total Lifetime Combined Rebate Per Site Type | $4,000 | $110,000 |
The City of Palo Alto has partnered with Valley Water to offer cost sharing for various components of the Landscape Rebate Program, adding up to an additional $2,000 for Single Family (SF) and small Multi-family sites (4 or fewer units) and $20,000 for Commercial, Institutional, Industrial (CII) and Multi-family (5 or more units) sites for Landscape Conversion projects, an addition $10,000 for CII and Multi-family (5 or more units) for Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch projects, and up to an additional $1,000 for SF and small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) and $5,000/CII/Multi-family (5 or more units) sites for Rainwater Capture projects. These are lifetime per site cost sharing caps, not per project. The total rebate rates for City of Palo Alto, including Valley Water's base rate and the additional cost sharing, are reflected below.
| Rebate Type | Single Family/Small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) | Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and large Multi-family (5 or more units) |
| Landscape Conversion | $4.00 per square foot for the first 1,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter | $4.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter |
| Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch | Not Available | $2.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet and $1.00 per square foot thereafter |
| Irrigation Equipment | ||
| High-Efficiency Nozzles | Up to $5/nozzle | |
| Rotor Sprinklers or Spray Bodies with Pressure Regulation and/or Check Valves | Up to $20/body | |
| Rain Sensor | Up to $50/sensor | |
| Dedicated Landscape Meter, Flow Sensor*, Hydrometer* | Up to $1,000/meter | |
| Weather Based Irrigation Controller, 1-12 Stations** | Up to $300/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 13-24 Stations** | Up to $1,000/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 25 Stations Or Greater** | Up to $2,000 per controller | |
| In-line Drip | $0.25/sqft | |
| Rainwater Capture | ||
| Rain Barrel (40-199 gals) | up to $70 | |
| Cistern (200 gals min) | $1.00 per gallon | |
| Rain Garden | $2.00/sqft (up to $600) | |
| Total Lifetime Combined Rebate Per Site Type | $6,000 | $135,000 |
The City of Santa Clara has partnered with Valley Water to offer cost sharing for various components of the Landscape Rebate Program, adding up to an additional $2,000 for Single Family (SF) and small Multi-family sites (4 or fewer units) sites for Landscape Conversion projects. These are lifetime per site cost sharing caps, not per project. The total rebate rates for City of Santa Clara, including Valley Water's base rate and the additional cost sharing, are reflected below. The rebate rates below are available to applications that receive a Notice to Proceed on or after September 1, 2022.
| Rebate Type | Single Family/Small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) | Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and large Multi-family (5 or more units) |
| Landscape Conversion | $4.00 per square foot for the first 1,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter | $3.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter |
| Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch | Not Available | $2.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet and $1.00 per square foot thereafter |
| Irrigation Equipment | ||
| High-Efficiency Nozzles | Up to $5/nozzle | |
| Rotor Sprinklers or Spray Bodies with Pressure Regulation and/or Check Valves | Up to $20/body | |
| Rain Sensor | Up to $50/sensor | |
| Dedicated Landscape Meter, Flow Sensor*, Hydrometer* | Up to $1,000/meter | |
| Weather Based Irrigation Controller, 1-12 Stations** | Up to $300/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 13-24 Stations** | Up to $1,000/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 25 Stations Or Greater** | Up to $2,000 per controller | |
| In-line Drip | $0.25/sqft | |
| Rainwater Capture | ||
| Rain Barrel (40-199 gals) | City of Santa Clara residents are not eligible for this rain barrel rebate and instead must apply through the City of Santa Clara directly to participate in their Rain Barrel Rebate program. | |
| Cistern (200 gals min) | $0.50 per gallon | |
| Rain Garden | $1.00/sqft (up to $300) | |
| Total Lifetime Combined Rebate Per Site Type | $5,000 | $110,000 |
The San Jose Municipal Water System has partnered with Valley Water to offer cost sharing for various components of the Landscape Rebate Program, adding up to an additional $1,000 for Single Family (SF) and small Multi-family sites (4 or fewer units) and $10,000 for Commercial, Institutional, Industrial (CII) and Multi-family (5 or more units) sites for Landscape Conversion and Rain Barrel projects combined. These are lifetime per site cost sharing caps, not per project. The total rebate rates for San Jose Municipal Water System, including Valley Water's base rate and the additional cost sharing, are reflected below. The rebate rates below apply to applications issued a rebate check between January 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024.
| Rebate Type | Single Family/Small Multi-family (4 or fewer units) | Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and large Multi-family (5 or more units) |
| Landscape Conversion | $3.00 per square foot for the first 1,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter | $3.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet and $2.00 per square foot thereafter |
| Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch | Not Available | $2.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet and $1.00 per square foot thereafter |
| Irrigation Equipment | ||
| High-Efficiency Nozzles | Up to $5/nozzle | |
| Rotor Sprinklers or Spray Bodies with Pressure Regulation and/or Check Valves | Up to $20/body | |
| Rain Sensor | Up to $50/sensor | |
| Dedicated Landscape Meter, Flow Sensor*, Hydrometer* | Up to $1,000/meter | |
| Weather Based Irrigation Controller, 1-12 Stations** | Up to $300/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 13-24 Stations** | Up to $1,000/controller | |
| Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, 25 Stations Or Greater** | Up to $2,000 per controller | |
| In-line Drip | $0.25/sqft | |
| Rainwater Capture | ||
| Rain Barrel (40-199 gals) | Up to $70 per barrel | |
| Cistern (200 gals min) | $1.00 per gallon | |
| Rain Garden | $2.00/sq ft (up to $600) | |
| Total Lifetime Combined Rebate Per Site Type | $4,000 | $110,000 |