The City of Mesa Residential Grass-to-Xeriscape and Tree Bonus Incentive pays a flat amount by project size, not per square foot. The city lists up to $1,100 in total, which includes a bonus for planting trees. You must apply and get a Notice to Proceed before work starts.
Mesa rebate at a glance
| 500 to 999 sq ft converted | $750 |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft or more | $1,000 |
| Tree bonus | Up to 2 trees; the city lists up to $1,100 total |
| Pre-approval | Required. The program is for future projects only. |
| Time to finish | 6 months |
| Status | First come, first served while funds last |
Last checked against the official city page on October 31, 2026. Rebate budgets run out and rules change, so confirm on the City of Mesa rebate page before you remove anything.
Who qualifies in Mesa
- Single-family homeowner and City of Mesa water customer.
- Living, routinely watered grass with about 70% coverage. Dormant Bermuda counts if it is 70% healthy. Weeds do not count.
- Low-water plants from the ADWR Phoenix AMA list must cover at least 50% of the converted area at maturity.
- No spray irrigation in the converted area.
- Rock or artificial turf alone cannot replace the grass, and concrete can be no more than 25% of the area.
- At least 2 inches of rock or mulch, with no black plastic underneath.
- Not eligible: homes built in the past year, HOA common areas, well or flood irrigated grass.
Step by step
- Read the requirements and apply online with a current photo of the yard.
- Wait for your Notice to Proceed.
- Finish the conversion within 6 months.
- Pass a re-inspection, in person or by photos.
- Email a signed W-9 to the conservation office. The city issues a 1099.
How Three Timbers helps with a rebate project
We design and install xeriscapes across the Valley, and design and install work is booking now. The rebate application is yours: the city pays the water customer, not the contractor. Where we help is building a yard that fits the rules.
- We wait for your Notice to Proceed before any grass comes out, so you stay eligible.
- We plan the plant list so mature canopy meets the city's coverage rule, using plants from the ADWR Phoenix AMA low water use list.
- We convert spray zones to drip so new plants get deep, slow water.
- We take before and after photos you can use for your final paperwork.
Want to start with plants only? Order at threetimbersshop.com and add planting at checkout. Delivery is free across the Valley on orders over $150, and we plant the next day.
See what we plant in Mesa on our Mesa xeriscaping page, compare every city on our Valley rebate guide, or price the project with our Phoenix xeriscape cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Mesa pay to convert grass to xeriscape?
$750 for 500 to 999 square feet and $1,000 for 1,000 square feet or more. With the tree bonus, the city lists up to $1,100.
Does Mesa require plants, or can I just use rock?
Plants are required. Low-water plants must cover at least 50% of the converted area at maturity, and rock alone does not qualify.
Can I keep sprinklers in the new desert area?
No. Mesa does not allow spray irrigation in the converted area. Drip is the usual choice.
Can I start before I hear back from Mesa?
No. Mesa requires a Notice to Proceed first, and finished projects are not eligible.
Recent Valley xeriscapes
