Water-Wise Yard Rebates Around Denver (2026)

Colorado's semi-arid climate makes thirsty bluegrass lawns expensive to keep green, and 2026 has been a dry year. Denver Water's Stage 1 drought declaration is in effect from March 25, 2026 through April 30, 2027, or until further notice. If you've been thinking about replacing part of your lawn, several metro water providers will help pay for it. Here's what's available and how to plan.

Rebate programs change often and many have limited funds. Treat everything below as a starting point and check current terms before you remove any grass.

Aurora: Grass Replacement Incentive Program (GRIP)

Aurora Water's GRIP pays a one-time rebate by check:

Key rules from Aurora Water's page:

• Aurora Water must approve all projects before installation. Rebates are not retroactive.
• The area must currently be existing, irrigated and well-maintained grass. Yards with bare soil or many weeds don't qualify.
• Front yards, side yards, backyards and curbside areas can qualify, and projects can be done in phases over multiple years.
• Staff finalize the project area's size and rebate amount.

More on Aurora projects is on its area page.

Castle Rock: ColoradoScape renovation rebate

Castle Rock Water's residential ColoradoScape renovation rebate pays $3.25 per square foot for removing at least 400 square feet, or the entire front yard, of healthy, high-water-use plants such as Kentucky bluegrass, and replacing it with a ColoradoScape design. The program page notes different terms if you replace the grass with concrete, decks or other non-permeable surfaces, so read the rules before you design a patio or deck into the converted area. See Parker and Castle Rock.

Denver Water

Denver Water's conservation page lists residential rebates, including up to $100 on a WaterSense-labeled toilet, along with sprinkler audits, Coloradoscaping guidance and rules for outdoor watering. During the drought declaration, customers are being asked to limit irrigation to areas needed for health and safety. Check Denver Water's current outdoor watering rules before you plant, since new plants need water to establish.

Resource Central

Resource Central, a Colorado nonprofit, runs water-wise programs that are often offered through local water providers: Garden in a Box low-water plant kits, lawn replacement help, Slow the Flow sprinkler evaluations and smart controller programs. Availability and pricing depend on your water provider.

The state grant has closed

The Colorado Water Conservation Board's Turf Replacement Grant Program funded many local programs. CWCB says that as of March 2025 it is no longer accepting applications for it, so rely on your own water provider's current offerings.

Planning a conversion

1. Find your water provider. It's on your water bill. Many suburbs have their own utilities with different programs.
2. Read the rules first. Most programs require pre-approval. Don't remove grass before you're approved.
3. Measure. Sketch the area with dimensions. Programs pay per square foot of qualifying area.
4. Decide on surfaces. Planting beds, mulch, low-water grass, gravel paths, patios and decks may be treated differently.
5. Plan irrigation. Convert spray heads to drip for planting beds. Some programs require it.
6. Check your HOA. Colorado law (C.R.S. 38-33.3-106.5) limits HOAs' ability to prohibit xeriscape or drought-tolerant landscapes, but HOAs can still have design guidelines. Submit plans early.
7. Phase the work. Aurora allows phases over multiple years.

Pairing it with a deck or patio

Many homeowners combine lawn removal with a new deck, patio or path. That can make sense, but rebate programs may not pay for areas converted to hard surfaces. Design the planted areas to meet the rebate rules, and price the hardscape separately. Our decks guide covers deck permits and costs; the Denver area page covers city permit basics.