Replacing some turf with Florida-Friendly Landscaping earned one homeowner a $1,654.51 rebate, showing how Tampa's water-conservation efforts can also pay off financially.
The program's money comes from fines paid by people who break the city's watering restrictions.
Here's what to know
Under the program, eligible customers can receive a dollar-for-dollar matching rebate for plants and labor used to convert parts of turfgrass lawns. The Tampa Water Department says the initiative is lowering participants' water bills, according to the City of Tampa.
Chris Kern, a Tampa resident and one of the earliest participants, received a rebate check for $1,654.51 after finishing his lawn-conversion project.
Because irrigation often makes up about half of the water many Florida homeowners use, the city is focusing on one of the state's biggest sources of household water demand. A landscape that needs less water can also mean lower monthly utility bills.
In other words, Tampa is using revenue from watering-rule violations to incentivize drought-tolerant landscaping and reduced water use.
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More background
Tampa has year-round watering restrictions, and the city can tighten those limits during droughts. That makes lawn irrigation both a homeowner budget issue and a city water-management concern.
According to the City of Tampa, the program launched in partnership with Hillsborough County Water Resources and UF/IFAS Extension.
The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program encourages residents and business owners to create appealing yards with less traditional turfgrass and more suitable plants. The idea is to cut irrigation needs while supporting a healthier, more sustainable environment.
In Florida's climate, turf-heavy lawns often need frequent watering. The rebate helps reduce the upfront cost of switching to a more water-efficient landscape, and yards that use less water can lower bills over time.
What's being done?
To qualify, eligible customers must complete three educational workshops, get their landscape design approved, and pass a final evaluation after the project is finished.
The process is meant to create a lasting, water-efficient yard that meets the program's standards.
The City of Tampa says 25 participants are currently working on converting portions of their lawns, while 12 have already completed their projects.
Plans are underway to continue the program and help more Tampa residents build sustainable, low-water landscapes.
For Tampa Water Department Director Rory Jones, that combination of curb appeal and lower water use is the goal: "We all understand the importance of making the most of our drinking water. Programs like this help our community see that they can have attractive, head-turning landscapes in front of their homes while still being water efficient."
Where can I learn more?
Tampa is part of a broader push by cities to pay residents to swap out thirsty lawns for lower-water landscaping. Here are a few examples of how other communities are using rebates to cut outdoor water use and lower household costs.
• In Bend, Oregon, residents can use turf rebate program money to replace lawns with xeriscapes.
• In Phoenix, homeowners can earn cash for replacing grass with water-saving desert landscaping.
• In Santa Barbara, officials created a cash-back lawn program that helps residents save water and money.
• In Kyle, Texas, the city launched a native lawn rebate pilot for water-smart yards.
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