El Paso, TX Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Rebate
- Roughly $1 per sq ft
- Pre-approval
- Required
- Run by
- EPWU
- Status
- Voluntary
Summary
El Paso Water offers per-square-foot rebates to homeowners and businesses who replace traditional turfgrass with desert-adapted xeriscape plants, gravel, and permeable surfaces under its long-running Cash for Grass conservation incentive program.
Sec. 202.007. CERTAIN RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS PROHIBITED. (a) A property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from:(1) implementing measures promoting solid-waste composting of vegetation;(2) installing rain barrels or a rainwater harvesting system;(3) implementing efficient irrigation systems, including underground drip or other drip systems; or(4) using drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf.(b) A provision that violates Subsection (a) is void.(c) A property owners' association may restrict the type of turf used by a property owner in the planting of new turf to encourage or require water-conserving turf.
Full Breakdown
EPWU's Cash for Grass program pays a rebate, historically around one dollar per square foot up to a per-property cap, when applicants replace live turf with approved xeriscape plantings, decomposed granite, or permeable hardscape. The program has been in continuous operation for two decades and has converted millions of square feet across the city. Applications must be pre-approved before removal, with a pre-inspection and post-installation inspection. Synthetic turf may be eligible in limited cases. The program complements city per-capita water-use targets that rank among the lowest in the desert Southwest. Participation is voluntary, not mandatory.
Violations & Fines
The program is incentive-based, so there are no penalties for non-participation. Misrepresenting installations on a rebate application can result in rebate clawback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to remove all my grass?
Does artificial turf qualify?
Sources & Official References
- [1]EPWU Rebates
Other rules in El Paso
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