The SNWA grass-removal rebate, explained.
The Water Smart Landscapes program pays Southern Nevada homeowners to replace grass with desert landscaping. It is one of the most generous water rebates in the country. It also has strict rules, and people lose money by missing them. This page explains the whole program in plain language.
How much does it pay?
The rebate is paid per square foot of grass you convert. The rate depends on who provides your water and how large the area is.
| Property | First 10,000 sq ft | Beyond 10,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Home — Las Vegas Valley Water District (most of Las Vegas) | $7.00/sq ft ($5 from SNWA + $2 from the district) | $4.50/sq ft |
| Home — other SNWA members (Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City) | $5.00/sq ft | $2.50/sq ft |
| Business / HOA / apartment property | $5.00/sq ft | $1.50/sq ft |
- Trees: $100 for each new tree you plant.
- Henderson: the city runs a separate $575 program of its own. Apply to both.
- Well water: limited to 2,500 square feet per fiscal year (July through June).
- Final amounts are set when your application is approved. Treat every number on this page as an estimate.
What are the six steps?
The steps must happen in this order. The first one matters most.
- 1 — Apply first. The application is online and free. Do it before any work starts. If you remove grass before approval, the conversion no longer qualifies. There is no exception.
- 2 — Pre-conversion site visit. SNWA comes out, measures your lawn, and photographs it. The grass must be alive and watered when they see it.
- 3 — Plan enough plants. At least half of the converted area must be covered by plants once they reach full size. The plants must be watered by a drip system with a filter and pressure regulator. Rock or mulch covers the rest. We explain the coverage rule and its math here.
- 4 — Finish the work within 12 months. The clock starts at approval.
- 5 — Final inspection. Usually scheduled within about 10 business days of your request.
- 6 — Sign the conservation easement and get paid. The easement is a recorded legal agreement that the area stays desert landscaping permanently. It is filed with Clark County. Read it before signing, ask SNWA your questions, and involve an attorney if you want one. We explain it in plain English — we do not give legal advice. After it is recorded, your check comes by mail.
How do people lose the rebate?
- Removing grass too early. Any removal before approval makes the project ineligible. This is the most common and most expensive mistake.
- Too few plants. Coverage is measured at full-grown plant size. A yard can look planted and still fail the inspection. The fix is choosing the right plants, not adding more small ones.
- Missing the 12-month deadline. A crew finishes a typical yard in one to two weeks, so this is only a risk if the project stalls.
Is it worth doing?
Usually, yes. A typical 2,400 square foot lawn in the Las Vegas Valley Water District area earns a $16,800 rebate. Landscaping work at that size usually costs $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the design. So the rebate often covers most or all of the cost. After that, the yard saves about 55 gallons of water per square foot every year. The calculator gives you your own number in 30 seconds, and this page walks through the cost math in detail.
Xerisave is not affiliated with or endorsed by SNWA, LVVWD, or any water district. Program terms change — verify current rules at snwa.com before committing.