Lawn replacement cost calculator

The cost ranges reflect 2026 San Diego market rates for labor + materials on typical residential installs. The water-savings estimates are based on published UC Cooperative Extension and SDCWA numbers (native plants use roughly 60-80% less water than cool-season lawn). Rebate estimates use the current MWD SoCalWater$mart base rate of $2/sq ft. Your actual numbers vary with site conditions, existing irrigation, and current water district — we quote the real number after a site walk.

Access to the yard, soil condition, existing irrigation, grading needs, and the specific plant palette all move the cost. A flat 600 sq ft front yard with existing valves ready for drip runs at the low end. A sloped 1,200 sq ft lot with compacted builder clay and no existing irrigation runs at the high end.

If you're in SD County and have a live, maintained lawn, you almost certainly do. MWD SoCalWater$mart requires at least 100 sq ft of live turf removed, replacement with 3+ plant species at 40% mature-coverage density, efficient irrigation (drip or low-volume), and permeable groundcover. Dead/dirt-only lawns don't qualify — you'd need to re-establish turf first, which is rarely worth it. Call us and we'll pre-qualify the project for you.

3-5 days for a front yard (600-1,000 sq ft), 5-10 days for a full property with grading and hardscape. Rebate inspections (pre and post) add about 2-4 weeks to the overall timeline but don't slow install.

Yes, and the rebate applies to DIY projects too. The tricky parts are the pre-inspection paperwork, the plant density requirement (40% mature coverage), irrigation conversion, and proving the permeable groundcover spec to pass post-inspection. Most DIY projects succeed; they take longer and usually end up at 70-80% of the pro install cost.