Travis County, TX Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Austin Water rebate
- 1 dollar per square foot
- Austin cap
- 3,000 dollars residential
- Native plant cover
- 50 percent minimum
- Pre-approval
- Typically required
Summary
Turf replacement is voluntary in Travis County. Several water providers including Austin Water and WTCPUA offer rebates between one and two dollars per square foot of converted lawn to drought-tolerant landscaping or hardscape that meets program criteria.
Sec. 202.008. LIMITATION ON FINES DURING RESIDENTIAL WATER RESTRICTION. (a) For the purposes of this section, "residential watering restriction" means a temporary restriction of water use to irrigate residential vegetation or turf that is mandated by a municipality, water utility, or other wholesale or retail water supplier as part of a strategy to conserve water during a period of drought.(b) A property owners' association may not assess a fine against a property owner for a violation of an applicable restrictive covenant that requires the owner to plant or install grass or turf or maintain green vegetation or turf or prohibits discolored or brown vegetation or turf on the property.
Full Breakdown
Travis County does not run a turf-replacement program directly, but most retail water utilities serving the county offer WaterWise or similar incentives. Austin Water provides rebates of one dollar per square foot of converted St. Augustine or Bermuda turf, capped at 3,000 dollars per residential property. West Travis County Public Utility Agency, Travis County WCID districts, and Aqua Texas operate parallel programs with varying caps. Approved replacements include native plant beds with at least 50 percent live cover, decomposed granite paths, and rainwater catchment basins. Pre-approval inspection is typically required before turf removal to qualify for the rebate.
Violations & Fines
No penalty for keeping turf. Rebate forfeiture is the only consequence if pre-approval is skipped or the replacement landscape fails to meet program coverage standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove my lawn?
Can I replace turf with artificial grass?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Travis County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Travis County to another location·View the Texas water use rules overview
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