REQUIREMENTS & ELIGIBILITY

Read these requirements prior to filling out your application. There is important information that you will need to know.  

  1. The applicant must be the current owner of a single-family home and a City of Mesa water customer.
  2. Complete your application BEFORE you start your conversion project! The incentive is not retroactive prior to the approval date and is not applicable to conversion projects that take place without the approval of the City of Mesa.
  3. Grass must be relatively healthy. Under this program, ‘healthy’ shall be defined as routinely irrigated and manicured with an average coverage of 70 percent. Grass area must be a minimum of 500 square feet.
  4. Two levels of incentives are available: 500 - 999 square feet of grass conversion is eligible for $750, and 1,000 square feet or more is eligible for $1,000. See below for additional Trees are Cool Incentive opportunities. 
  5. The converted area must be replaced with low-water-use plants that, when fully mature, will cover at least 50% of the area. Grass cannot be replaced with just artificial turf or rock.
  6. The trunks and stems of new or existing low-water-use trees and plants must be in the converted area to count towards the coverage requirement. 
  7. Existing high-water-use trees with trunks located in the conversion area may count towards the coverage requirement, 75 sq. ft. for citrus and 100 sq. ft. for ash and ficus.
  8. New plantings of high-water use plants do not count towards coverage. 
  9. No fountains exist on the property unless they are a cascading, or non-spray design.
  10. No body of water exists on the property that has a surface area greater than 1,000 square feet.
  11. Spray irrigation and non-pervious materials such as black plastic sheeting are not permitted in the converted area. A concrete surface cannot take up more than 25 percent of the converted area.
  12. The new landscape must be covered with a minimum of a 2” deep layer of organic or inorganic mulch (such as granite or rock). Other materials may qualify. No black plastic sheeting underlay is allowed.
  13. The grass removal or installation of the Xeriscape must not conflict with other City of Mesa landscaping requirements as prescribed by existing policies, procedures, or ordinances.
  14. Homeowners who are members of a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) must ensure that the new landscape complies with HOA Covenants, Codes & Restrictions (CC&Rs). Approvals may also be required in designated historic districts.
  15. Only one incentive is allowed per property.
  16. A W9 form is required to receive payment once final approval is given.
  17. The City of Mesa will issue successful applicants a 1099 form. A tax advisor can assist with any questions about this.

  18. The following would not be eligible: 

  • New residential homes built within the past year of the application date.
  • Any properties that are not single-family residential, including duplexes, triplexes, and common areas owned by HOAs.
  • Any grass areas that are watered by wells or flood irrigation water.
  • Completed projects.
  • Artificial-turf-only projects. 

INSPECTIONS AND DEADLINES FOR APPLICANTS

  • The property will be inspected via online/aerial imagery and a current photograph must be provided before the conversion/installation takes place.
  • The City will provide applicant with a notice to proceed after the initial inspection. No work can be done before this notice to proceed is given. The applicant then has a six-month period to complete the conversion.
  • If the conversion fails inspection, the applicant will be allowed 60 days or the remaining six-month period, whichever is greater, to fully comply with the program requirements.
  • Upon completion, the property will be re-inspected, either in person or via applicant photographs to ensure compliance with the Grass-to-Xeriscape requirements.
  • Applicants will be required to provide the City with a W9 form for tax purposes, which requires you to submit your social security number or tax identification number. Once your project is complete, email a scanned, signed copy directly to conservation.info@mesaaz.gov.

The Grass-to-Xeriscape incentive program will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Continuation of the program and all requirements and incentive amounts are subject to the availability of funds. Program requirements are subject to change.

TREES ARE COOL REQUIREMENTS

  1. Trees are Cool Incentive is available ONLY to customers who are current applicants for the Grass-to-Xeriscape landscape incentive program.
  2. If applicant does not meet Grass-to-Xeriscape landscape incentive requirements and eligibility, applicant cannot apply for Trees are Cool.
  3. Contact us before you start! The incentive is not retroactive to trees planted prior to the approval date, and is not applicable to tree installations that take place without the approval of the City of Mesa, nor to existing trees on the property.
  4. Only one Trees are Cool application is eligible per property, for up to two trees.
  5. Tree(s) must be on the Arizona Department of Water Resources Low Water Use Drought Tolerant Plant List for the Phoenix Active Management Area. High-water-use trees (such as citrus, ash, or ficus) are ineligible. Check out the online guide, Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert, for help with selecting low-water use trees. 
  6. Tree(s) purchased must be at least one gallon in size. Seedlings and young trees less than two feet tall are ineligible.
  7. Tree placement does not have to be in the area where grass removal occurs. However, if it is planted outside the conversion area, it will not count towards plant coverage requirements of the Grass-to-Xeriscape program.
  8. Tree(s) must be planted in the ground.
  9. Owner must ensure that the tree is planted properly (not too deeply) for it to qualify. See video on proper tree installation. 

HOW TO APPLY & CONTACT INFORMATION

  • COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION HERE. 
  • Find a copy of the W-9 Form required to receive payment.
  • Email us or call (480) 644-3306 for general conservation questions.
  • Visit our website for more water conservation ideas.
  • Did you read the requirements above before completing the application?

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL TREE SELECTION AND PLANTING

There are many resources provided here for helping you get your tree into the right place and keeping it healthy for years to come!

SELECTION & PLACEMENT

  • Consider planting where you will get the most shade to cool your home or desired area of your yard.
  • Be sure your chosen tree(s) are low-water use (see Requirements above).
  • Call AZ Blue Stake 8-1-1 before digging to identify underground utility locations.
  • Choose a tree that will fit in your chosen area – use the information in Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert to see the size of a tree at full maturity. Be aware of buildings, overhead utilities, fences, and neighbors. (Order a copy)
  • Incorporate rainwater harvesting techniques wherever you can to capture free rainwater. Get water to slow, spread & soak.

INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE

  • Proper maintenance, including installation, is highlighted in Xeriscape: Landscaping with Style in the Arizona Desert.
  • It is critical to plant at the right depth – not too deeply. The top of the root ball should be about one inch above the ground – it will settle. Place organic mulch on the surface of the planting area but keep all mulch a few inches away from the tree trunk.
  • Be sure to remove the nursery stake (directly against the tree trunk). Only add staking if needed for no more than one year.
  • Use native soil without fertilizer to backfill the hole dug to plant the tree.
  • Don’t prune your new tree for one year – let it get strong and healthy.
  • Fall and spring are the best times to plant your trees, before the stress of the hot summer.

WATERING

  • Landscape Watering by the Numbers can help you determine watering frequency as the tree gets established and beyond.
  • Trees should be on a separate valve of the irrigation system for optimal watering amounts and frequency.
  • New trees require more water as they get established. You will be able to reduce the watering after about 2 years in the ground.

NEED MORE HELP? Check out our Tree Selection and Tree Care page to learn about: 

  • Hiring a Pro
  • Tree Selection
  • Planting
  • How to videos
  • Irrigation
  • Pruning

LEARN MORE