Water-Wise Landscaping Rebates in Colorado: 2026 Guide

Colorado Springs Utilities offers rebates up to $1 per square foot and free native grass seed valued at $150 for homeowners converting turf to drought-tolerant landscaping in 2026.

Key Takeaways

• CSU Native Grass Program provides $150 free seed + $100 sprinkler nozzles per household.
• New Home Landscape Incentive pays $1/sq ft; 1,500 sq ft yard = $1,500 rebate.
• Pre-approval required before work begins; post-installation applications are denied.
• Blue grama and buffalo grass establish slowly but need fraction of irrigation water.

The upfront cost of a xeriscape conversion stops a lot of homeowners from getting started. What most people do not know is that Colorado's water utilities pay you to do it.

Programs across the Front Range offer rebates, discounts, and free materials for replacing turf with drought-tolerant landscaping. This guide covers the main programs available in 2026, with detailed steps for applying to Colorado Springs Utilities programs specifically, since that is the utility serving the Pikes Peak region where we work.

The single most important rule for every program on this list: apply before you start work. Starting your project without pre-approval is the most common reason applications get denied, and no program will back-pay a project that is already done.

What water-wise landscaping programs does Colorado Springs Utilities offer?

Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) runs several programs that directly reward water-wise landscaping. They are separate programs with different eligibility rules.

Native Grass Lawn Program

This program is available to existing CSU water customers who want to convert traditional turf to native or low-water grass alternatives. CSU provides free native grass seed, valued at up to $150, and free high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles, valued at up to $100. You also get access to expert guidance and CSU's educational workshop series.

The seed blends are selected for Colorado Springs conditions: altitude, clay soil, and the short growing season. Blue grama and buffalo grass are the most common options. These establish more slowly than bluegrass but require a fraction of the irrigation once they are in.

How to apply for the Native Grass Lawn Program:

1. Visit csu.org and navigate to Rebates and Incentives
2. Complete the pre-registration form before purchasing seed or removing existing turf
3. Attend a CSU Water Wise workshop (required for seed distribution)
4. Receive your seed and nozzle kit at the workshop
5. Install according to CSU's guidelines and keep your receipts

Spots fill during spring registration. Apply as early in the year as possible.

New Home Landscape Incentive

If you are building a new home or buying newly constructed property in the CSU service area, this program offers $1 per square foot for qualifying water-wise landscape installations. A 1,500-square-foot yard earns a $1,500 rebate.

To qualify, your install must use CSU-approved plant species, efficient irrigation equipment (drip or rotating nozzles), and meet their installation standards. Your contractor documents the work and CSU inspects before issuing payment.

How to apply for the New Home Landscape Incentive:

1. Contact CSU before breaking ground: 719-448-4800
2. Download the program specifications from csu.org to share with your contractor
3. Submit your landscape plan for pre-approval
4. Complete installation per the approved plan
5. Request a CSU site inspection
6. Receive your rebate check after inspection sign-off

This program is limited to new construction. Existing homes converting their turf are not eligible for this specific rebate, though the Native Grass Program and nozzle rebates remain available.

High-Efficiency Irrigation Rebates

CSU also offers rebates for irrigation upgrades independent of full yard conversions. Switching from standard spray heads to rotating multi-stream nozzles reduces application rate and cuts runoff on clay soils. The nozzle rebate can be stacked with other programs if you are doing a full irrigation conversion as part of your xeriscape install.

Visit the xeriscape rebates page on this site for the current CSU rebate schedule and links to application forms.

Denver Water Programs

Denver Water serves the Denver metro and runs its own suite of water-wise incentives under the ColoradoScape program.

Turfgrass Removal Discount

In 2026, Denver Water offered residential customers discounts of up to $750 toward Resource Central's professional turf removal services. The minimum project size is 200 square feet. Artificial turf does not qualify. You must provide before photos and a plan for the replacement planting.

The 2026 allocation sold out before summer. If you missed the window, Denver Water typically opens applications again in early spring the following year on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up for Denver Water's email list to get notified when applications open.

Garden In A Box Discounts

Denver Water offers $25 discounts on Resource Central's Garden In A Box kits, which are pre-assembled bundles of drought-tolerant perennials suited to Front Range conditions. These are a lower-cost entry point for homeowners who want to start small before committing to a full conversion.

Aurora Water (GRIP Program)

Aurora Water's Grass Replacement Incentive Program pays $3 per square foot for converting turf to water-wise landscaping, including shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses with mulch. Native or low-water grass alternatives qualify at $0.50 per square foot.

Aurora Water runs two application windows each year: Spring (March 1 through July 1) and Fall (November 1 through January 1). Pre-approval is required before any work starts. Payment comes as a one-time check after inspection.

For a 500-square-foot conversion, that is $1,500 back in your pocket. Aurora's program is one of the most generous in the region on a per-square-foot basis.

Castle Rock and Other Municipal Programs

Castle Rock Water runs one of the highest rebate rates in Colorado at $3.25 per square foot, with two application windows per year mirroring Aurora's schedule.

Fort Collins Utilities offers a base rate of $0.75 per square foot with a $0.25 per square foot bonus for native plants specifically.

If you are outside Colorado Springs or Denver, check your municipality's water utility website. Almost every major Front Range city has some form of turf replacement incentive, and many also offer irrigation efficiency rebates separately.

What Qualifies and What Does Not

Across all programs, a few rules apply consistently:

Qualifies: Native grasses, drought-tolerant perennials, shrubs, ornamental grasses, rock mulch, wood chip mulch, drip irrigation, low-water lawn alternatives like buffalo grass or blue grama.

Does not qualify: Artificial turf (rejected by Denver Water and most programs), bare soil or concrete, decorative-only projects with no water savings component, work completed before pre-approval.

Gray areas: Decomposed granite and gravel-only designs without plants may be rejected by some programs. Check with your specific utility before planning a full gravel install. Our rock and gravel landscaping guide covers what combinations typically satisfy program requirements.

Timing Your Application

Spring is the best planting window in Colorado Springs and Denver, but it is also when programs fill fastest. The sequence that works:

• January or February: Research your utility's current program, download the application
• February or March: Submit pre-approval application before the season rush
• April: Receive approval, schedule your contractor
• May through June: Complete installation during optimal planting window
• June through July: Request inspection and receive rebate

Waiting until May to start the application process often means missing the season entirely, either because programs fill or because the installation window closes before plants can establish before summer heat.

If you are in Colorado Springs, our team can walk you through the CSU application process as part of your project planning. We know what inspectors look for and how to document the install correctly so your rebate goes through without issues.

Ready to start? Call (719) 631-2371 or get a free estimate. We serve Colorado Springs, Briargate, Fountain, Monument, and the surrounding Pikes Peak region.