If you have been thinking about replacing your grass/turf with drought tolerant landscaping, now might be a good time. A turf removal rebate of $1 per sq. ft. is currently available to Fountain Valley residents through the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC). For complete details, visit www.ocwatersmart.com.
To be eligible for the turf removal rebate program, applicants must NOT remove their existing grass/turf until they have had a pre-inspection and received a Letter to Proceed from MWDOC. Projects that are started prior to this will not be funded.
Fountain Valley residents who are removing grass/turf in their front yards or parkways (the area between the sidewalk and curb) will also need to be aware of the City’s landscape requirements in addition to the rebate requirements. For example, the City limits or prohibits the use of certain hardscape materials, such as cement, crushed rock, pebbles/stones and pavers, in these areas. The City also has requirements for how much of the landscaping must be living material. To make sure that your turf removal project goes smoothly, visit the City’s Turf Removal page at http://www.fountainvalley.org/489/Turf-Removal to find out what you need to know before removing your grass/turf.
Residents should also note that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, who provides the funding for the turf removal program, is considering excluding backyards and projects that involve the installation of synthetic turf from the rebate program. If approved, these changes could go into effect as soon as July 1, 2018.