Water conservation has long been a hot topic in Arizona (pun intended), including efforts to reduce the amount of water used to maintain lawns and landscaping. According to Tim Smedley in his book, The Last Drop, lawns are the largest irrigated ‘crop’ in the United States. Yet when you drive around the Valley, there is an astonishing amount of plush, green lawns.

While green and grassy lawns are attractive for several reasons, including aesthetics, they undoubtedly use a large share of Arizona’s water. While water use dedicated to community association lawns pales in comparison to agriculture throughout the state, city planners have started looking at lawns as an opportunity for cutting back on water use.

One example of this is the City of Scottsdale’s water rebate program. Through the program, homeowners and community associations can earn up to thousands of dollars by removing their lawns and replacing them with desert landscaping. Since 2016, the program has awarded $3.3 million in rebates. Currently, the program is offering rebates to community associations for grass removal, installing a smart controller, installing more efficient technology for water management, and replacing existing showerheads and toilets with updated appliances that use less water.

It is important to note that the program has several requirements, including a minimum square footage of eligible grass that must be removed and obtaining Planning & Development Services approval before April 30, 2025, but the rebate program remains an opportunity for community associations in Scottsdale to change their landscaping and reduce water usage. The advantages for community associations extend beyond the initial rebate, as water costs will decrease in the long run and overall maintenance may become easier as well.

There are several factors to consider when making such a big decision regarding the aesthetics of the community. It is important for the association to communicate with membership to determine what the homeowners value most. Cost and aesthetics are perhaps the factors that carry the most weight, but associations should listen to everything homeowners have to say if looking into making a landscaping change. We encourage associations outside Scottsdale to check with your planning and development services team to see if there are similar programs available.

For more information on water conservation strategies or the City of Scottsdale’s water rebate program, please reach out to us at info@mulcahylawfirm.com. Additionally, Scottsdale communities can check out this resource for more information on their rebate program HERE.