How much does the Long Beach Lawn to Garden program pay?

The program pays $3.00 per square foot of lawn removed, up to 5,000 square feet, plus a design reimbursement of $500 for projects under 1,000 square feet and $0.50 per square foot above that, up to $1,500. Confirm current terms with the Long Beach Water Department.

Can I hire a landscape designer for the Long Beach L2G program?

Yes. Hire a designer from the Water Department's certified list to qualify for the design reimbursement, and keep a dated, detailed receipt. The design must still be approved and built as approved.

Long Beach Lawn to Garden (L2G) Program: Rebate, Rules & Design Guide

The program

What is Lawn to Garden?

L2G began in April 2010 and is run by the Long Beach Water Department. It pays residents to replace water-hungry lawn with a California-friendly landscape, per square foot of turf removed, up to 5,000 square feet.

The current incentive is $3.00 per square foot, plus a design reimbursement if a certified landscape professional draws your plan: $500 for projects under 1,000 square feet, and $0.50 per square foot above that, up to $1,500. Terms change, so check the official page for today's amounts: lblawntogarden.com.

Lawn you plan to remove (sq ft)

Estimated rebate

$1,800

Estimate at $3.00 per sq ft, up to 5,000 sq ft (a $15,000 maximum). A design reimbursement is separate (see "Hiring a landscape designer"). Terms change, so confirm the current amount with the Water Department before you plan.

Process

The order matters

Homeowner on a porch applying online with a laptop, a Long Beach street and palm trees behind

Step 1

Apply and get initial approval

Submit the online application and wait for the Water Department to confirm it. Do not touch the lawn.

Hand-drawn landscape plan on a wooden table with pencils and a coffee cup

Step 2

Take the class and design

Attend the program's landscape design class, then submit your plan within 90 days of approval. A certified designer is also an option.

Man removing lawn strips inside a string-lined bed, with rolled turf stacked on a pallet

Step 3

Get approval, then build

Only after the Water Department approves your drawing, kill the lawn and build exactly what was approved.

Same house split diagonally between a plain lawn and a finished native garden

Step 4

Inspection and payment

Return your W9, pass the final inspection, and the program pays the incentive.

Based on the program's published project checklist. Exact forms and current steps are on lblawntogarden.com.

Design rules

What your garden has to include

Top-down view of a garden bed with dense plants on one side and young plants on mulch on the other

65% plant coverage

Plants must cover at least 65 percent of the landscaped area.

Illustrated California-friendly plants including salvia, yarrow, deer grass, lavender, sedum and poppy

The right plants

California natives, or plants rated low or very low water use. Look up ratings at WUCOLS.com.

Rain soaking into a shallow basin beside a river-rock dry creek bed

Stormwater retention

A swale, basin or similar feature that keeps rain on site.

Gloved hands installing a drip emitter on black tubing beside a young plant

Efficient irrigation

Drip or other high-efficiency watering, not spray heads over a garden.

Hummingbird at a purple salvia flower and a bee on yellow yarrow

Habitat

Plantings that support pollinators and birds.

Gardener mulching around a new plant with a wheelbarrow of wood chips nearby

Mulch and natural materials

Organic mulch and natural surfaces over bare soil.

Designer

Hiring a landscape designer

You can draw your own plan after the class, or hire a professional. A designer from the program's certified list also earns you a design reimbursement.

What you get back

$500 for projects under 1,000 square feet. Above that, $0.50 per square foot toward the design, up to $1,500. It is paid with your incentive check after the final inspection.

Who qualifies

Only designers on the Water Department's certified list. Professionals apply with proof of credentials to be listed. Check the list before you sign anything.

Keep the receipt

You need a dated, detailed receipt for the design. It must match the name and information of the listed professional.

The rules still apply

The design must meet every requirement above and be submitted within 90 days of application approval. You must build it as approved. Parkways must also meet Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 21.42.050.

The class

The official steps list the design class after application approval. I found nothing that waives it when a designer draws the plan, so ask the Water Department.

For designers

Check a design's water compliance at MWELO.com before the plan goes to the client or the city.

This site does not list or endorse designers. Find the official certified list on lblawntogarden.com under Landscape Design Assistance.

Avoid these

Mistakes that cost the rebate

Removing turf early

If the grass is gone before your drawing is approved, the project may not qualify.

Picking plants by looks

A plant that is not native or not low water use can fail the plant rule.

Counting at planting size

Judge coverage by mature size and confirm the layout still reaches 65 percent.

Skipping the water check

Plants, irrigation and area all drive water use. Catch problems on paper.

Building something different

The approved design is the one you must install. If the finished garden differs, the program does not have to pay.

Missing the 90-day window

The plan is due within 90 days of your application being approved. Book the class and any designer early.

FAQ

L2G questions

How much does L2G pay?

The program pays $3.00 per square foot of lawn removed, up to 5,000 square feet, plus a design reimbursement ($500 under 1,000 square feet, up to $1,500 above) when a certified landscape professional draws your plan. Confirm current terms on the official site.

Can I hire a landscape designer?

Yes. Hire one from the Water Department's certified list to qualify for the design reimbursement: $500 for projects under 1,000 square feet, and $0.50 per square foot above that, up to $1,500. Keep a dated, detailed receipt. The design must still be approved and built as approved.

Do I still take the class if I hire a designer?

The official steps list the design class after application approval. Nothing I found waives it for designer-drawn plans, so confirm with the Water Department.

Can I remove my lawn first and apply later?

No. Wait for your application and your landscape drawing to be approved before removing any turf.

Does the rebate cover my whole yard?

The rebate covers up to 5,000 square feet. You can convert more at your own cost.

Can I see finished gardens?

The Water Department has held a free Lawn-to-Garden Tour each spring, with homes open for self-guided visits. Check the official site for the next date.

Do I need MWELO compliance for L2G?

They are separate. L2G has its own design requirements. MWELO may apply depending on your project, so check it before you build.

Is LongBeachL2G.com affiliated with the City of Long Beach?

No. LongBeachL2G.com is an independent educational guide. It is not run by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the City of Long Beach, Long Beach Utilities or the Long Beach Water Department, and it does not accept applications or pay rebates. It is published by the creator of MWELO.com and links to that tool. The information here is general and is not legal, financial or professional advice. Program amounts, rules and deadlines change, so always confirm them on the official program site, lblawntogarden.com, before you apply.

Replace the lawn.
Keep the rebate.