The City of Santa Maria Utilities Department (“City”) Smart Landscape Rebate Program provides incentives to residential and commercial customers to replace water-thirsty landscapes with inefficient irrigation with water-wise plants and irrigation.

The program is for residential and commercial City water customers (separate applications for each) and covers a portion of the cost of pre-approved design, irrigation equipment, and landscape materials. Projects must be pre-approved and landscapes for new construction are not eligible. The program is not retroactive, and sale receipts and/or contractor invoices are required for all rebates.

How To Apply

1. Email the following items to watersmart@cityofsantamaria.org with the Subject: “WaterSMART Landscape Program Application – [ Insert Project Address ]”
   1. An electronic copy of the Smart Landscape Rebate Program application with page one (applicant information) completed. Do not sign page two of the application yet.
   2. In the email, include a written description of your project, including what high-water-using plants will be removed and how the project will result in water savings. Include the specific items that you would like rebates applied to.
   3. “Before” pictures of the entire area in which the landscape retrofit is proposed to take place. Include the square footage of irrigated turf to be removed, if applicable.
   4. Do not begin your project until a dated Authorization to Proceed is issued by City staff.
2. City staff will confirm receipt of your email, review the items submitted, and inform you if additional items need to be submitted. A mandatory, free Pre-Qualifying Irrigation and Site Assessment will be scheduled at the project site to confirm minimum eligibility requirements and to determine whether removal and/or conversion of the landscape is possible given the existing conditions of the Applicant’s irrigation system and property.
3. City staff will return an electronic copy of the Smart Rebate Landscape Application to the applicant with all eligible items outlined in the table on page 3 of the application.
4. The applicant will then sign the Smart Landscape Rebate Application and email to City staff.
5. The applicant will receive a dated Authorization to Proceed from City staff, which is the start date for the project. Receipts for work dated prior to the Authorization to Proceed date will not qualify for rebate. The applicant has 90 days from the Authorization to Proceed date to complete the pre-approved upgrades to their landscape.
6. The applicant must submit Post-Installation Items including:
   1. Itemized receipts for the pre-qualified items.
   2. “After” photos documenting the installation of qualified items by the Electronic Submittal Deadline date.
7. City staff will have approximately 45 days to review the itemized receipts and will submit a request for a rebate check for the customer for the approved pre-qualifying items. The City reserves the right to conduct a physical post-installation inspection and/or request additional photos or video of the project to confirm eligible rebate items.

Rebate Incentives

Costs associated with any combination of pre-approved landscape design, irrigation equipment, plant, and other supplies found in the Pre-Qualified Items table of the Smart Landscape Rebate Application may qualify for a one-time rebate of up to $1,500 for single-family residential customers and up to $2,500 for multi-family, commercial, and dedicated landscape irrigation meter customers.

• Landscape Design:  50 percent of the cost of landscape design, up to a maximum of $250 for design services. Design costs will only be rebated in combination with other approved materials.
• Irrigation Equipment:  50 percent of the cost of drip irrigation parts, sprinkler system efficiency retrofits, sprinkler nozzles (delivering 1”/hour or less with proper pressure).
• Water-Wise Plants, Mulch, and Permeable Landscape Materials:  50 percent of the cost of water-wise plants, mulch, and permeable landscape surfaces. Permeable landscape surfaces include gravel, cobbles up to 4”, flagstone, or similar with a minimum of 4” spacing. Planted areas must be covered with a 3-inch layer of mulch. Hardscapes and pathways, including decomposed granite, are not eligible.
• Smart Irrigation Controller:  50 percent of the cost of the smart irrigation controller. Smart irrigation controllers that provide appropriate watering schedules; automatically adjust for weather changes; and irrigate based on the needs of your plants.

Questions

For more information, call the City of Santa Maria Water Conservation Specialist at 805-925-0951 ext. 7235 or email watersmart@cityofsantamaria.org.

Applications

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES: Click here to download the Smart Landscape Rebate Program Single-Family Residential Application.

COMMERCIAL, MULTI-FAMILY, OR LANDSCAPE PROPERTIES: Click here to download the Smart Landscape Rebate Program Commercial, Multi-Family Residential, and Landscape Application.

WATER RESTRICTIONS & REBATES

Water Restrictions

• NO use of potable water on driveways or sidewalks
• NO runoff when irrigating with potable water
• NO free-flowing hoses; all hoses must have a shut-off nozzle
• NO use of potable water in a non-recirculating, decorative water feature
• NO outdoor irrigation form 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• NO application of potable water to outdoor landscapes during or within 48 hours after measurable rainfall

In addition to the above restrictions, irrigating turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, such as grass in front of or next to industrial or commercial buildings, is banned. This ban does not apply to watering turf that is used for recreation or other community purposes, water used at residences, or water to maintain trees.

There may be rebate programs available through the County of Santa Barbara's WaterWiseSB Program. To determine rebate availability and eligibility, visit:

County of Santa Barbara - WaterWiseSB - Rebates

Email or call the Water Conservation Hotline at (805) 925-0951 ext. 2802 to report water misuse or suspected leaks, to request more information, or to schedule a complimentary home water conservation visit.

Email Water Hotline