Several King County water utilities offer turf replacement and natural lawn rebates, encouraging homeowners to swap thirsty grass for native, drought-tolerant landscaping that protects salmon streams.
Programs like Cascade Water Alliance's Lawn Be Gone and Seattle Public Utilities' RainWise complement statewide water conservation goals. Rebates typically pay per square foot for converting lawn to mulched beds with native or low-water plants, with extra incentives for adding rain gardens or cisterns. Properties draining toward critical salmon habitat such as the Cedar River, Green River, or Lake Washington tributaries often qualify for the highest tier. Utility customers must apply before starting work.
Rebates are voluntary incentive programs, not mandates; failure to maintain converted areas can require repayment of the rebate but not code enforcement penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Seattle, WA
Seattle's Land Use Code allows residential lawn ornaments, statuary, and yard art without permits provided structures do not exceed accessory-structure heigh...
Seattle, WA
Seattle does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. Standard Noise Ordinance (SMC 25.08) limits apply to blower-motor noise...
Seattle, WA
Seattle has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. The general Noise Ordinance SMC 25.08 applies to any amplified ou...
Seattle, WA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Seattle require building permits from SDCI when they include new electrical, plumbing, gas piping, or a structural roof under Se...
Seattle, WA
Backyard wood and pellet smokers in Seattle are allowed at single-family homes but are subject to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) Regulation I, Section ...
Seattle, WA
Seattle Fire Code Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas containers larger than 1 lb on combustible balconies of multi-family buildi...
See how Seattle's turf replacement rebates rules stack up against other locations.
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