One mistake can cost you the whole lawn rebate, and you can't undo it. You tear out the grass first and apply second. By then it's too late for that part of the yard.
This page is about that one rule. It matters most if you plan a split yard, with a planted garden that goes through the rebate and turf somewhere else.
The rule, in the program's words
Metropolitan's Turf Replacement Program FAQ says: "Before you begin your project or remove any turf, you must apply for and receive an approval to proceed." The Orange County program asks for the same thing. You get the OK first, then you dig.
The exact steps depend on which program your water agency uses. In general they run like this:
- Apply first. Expect to send photos of the lawn, a simple plan of the new area, and a recent water bill.
- Some programs send someone out to look at the lawn before they approve it.
- Wait for the written approval before any grass comes out.
- Finish the project by the program's deadline, then send in your claim.
Deadlines, wait times and payment times are not the same from program to program, so read your approval letter closely. Measure carefully when you apply, too. The program approves a set area, so don't count on adding to it later.
Why digging first breaks the rebate
The rebate pays you to swap a living lawn for plants. The "before" photos are the proof that a lawn was there. Once the grass is gone, there's nothing to photograph and nothing to approve.
Long Beach spells this out. Its lawn programs are paid from the water fund, so a city memo from May 2026 says they only take homes that still have a living lawn to replace. A yard that is already dirt, or already turf, can't join.
This catches people in a few common ways:
- A crew pulls up the whole yard on day one, including the part meant for the garden.
- The lawn gets left to die months before anyone applies.
Either one can cost you the rebate on the garden area. Neither is something you can undo.
What if the grass is already gone? Then ask the program before you assume anything, since it's their call, not ours. And if the rebate is off the table for that spot, there's nothing left to wait for. Turf, plants, or a mix are all open, and you can pick on what works for the yard.
How to time a split yard
Say the front yard is going to plants and the back yard is going to turf. Artificial turf can't earn this rebate, so the back yard has no rebate paperwork to wait for. The front yard does.
The safe order looks like this:
- Apply for the front yard rebate and wait for approval.
- Keep the front lawn alive and in place until then.
- Book the turf for the back yard whenever suits you. Just make sure nobody touches the front lawn while they're on site.
- Start the garden once you're approved, and finish by the program's deadline.
Picture a family that wants a turf back yard for the dog now, and a planted front yard through the rebate. They would apply for the front, book the back yard turf the same week, and start the garden once the approval comes in.
While you wait, treat the front lawn like it's staying. Keep watering it as usual, and don't spray it or let it go brown. A living lawn is what the programs pay to replace.
Tell your turf installer about the rebate up front, so the plan shows exactly which grass stays put. Ask for the turf area to be marked on the written quote, so the line is clear to everyone on the job.
If the yard is in an HOA, you may also need their sign-off before either job starts. California law limits what an HOA can ban, but it can still have landscaping rules. See HOAs and artificial turf in California.
Still deciding which parts of the yard go where? Start with our turf versus rebate garden guide, then read the full rebate rules. When you know where the turf goes, ask us for a written quote.
Last checked October 22, 2026, on the local rebate pages. Steps change, so check with your water agency before you apply.
