CASH FOR GRASS REBATE APPLICATION Complete this application and review the attached terms and conditions associated with the Cash for Grass program. Resources are available at www.scwa.net. Sacramento County Utility Account Number: SECTION A: APPLICANT INFORMATION Business Name (if applicable): Applicant Name (Rebate Check Payable to): Address City Zip Phone Number: Email: What is the total square feet of lawn to be converted? SECTION B: TO QUALIFY FOR A REBATE THE APPLICANT MUST: The applicant s utility accounts must be in good standing. The applicant must be the current property owner of record of a single-family residence or industrial/commercial property, or his or her authorized representative. Submit a completed application. Submit a sketch of the project conversion area along with measurements. Submit current before pictures of your yard showing the area where your lawn will be removed. Submit a Payee Data Record form (W-9) to the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA). Convert lawn/turf in accordance with the terms and conditions of the rebate program. Complete Plant Coverage Worksheet. Schedule and participate in a post-inspection site visit with a Sacramento County Water Agency representative once conversion has been completed in accordance with terms and conditions of the rebate. 1
SECTION C: TERMS AND CONDITIONS The Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) is providing this voluntary program to rebate qualifying residential and commercial customers for converting existing grass/turf with native and drought tolerant landscaping. SCWA residential customers may receive a rebate of $.50/square foot up to a maximum of $1,000 per household or $1.50/square foot up to a maximum of $2,500 for commercial and industrial customers. Rebates will be awarded on a first come, first served basis as projects are confirmed completed. The Sacramento County Water Agency reserves the rights to terminate this program at any time, for any reason. The documents: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), How to Measure Project Area, and How to Take Your Project Photographs, are hereby incorporated as reference as part of the Terms and Conditions. Initial Here The following terms and conditions apply to the Cash for Grass program. Please read carefully prior to submission of any application. Initial next to each item to indicate that you understand and agree to the following: This incentive program is NOT retroactive. Cash for Grass rebates are limited to one qualifying rebate project per household or commercial property per fiscal year. Applicants must be Sacramento County Water Agency customers in good standing and be a property owner of record. The rebate program is subject to available funding. Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, firstserved basis as projects are completed until funding is depleted. Submission of an application does not guarantee a rebate. Applicant has 120 days to complete the project after the Application Acceptance Notice is sent by SCWA. Note: A one-time 30-day extension may be granted if requested by the applicant prior to the end of the 120-day period. Applicant must contact SCWA upon completion of the project and obtain their inspection of the conversion site. Turf may be living or dead at the time of application. Bare earth areas, with no sign of turf, are not eligible. The rebate program s primary focus is front lawns and/or side lawns in front of the fence. At least a minimum of two hundred (200) square feet of lawn must be converted or an entire front yard. Backyards will be acceptable only if the front yard has been or will be entirely replaced with a program compliant yard. Applicant will provide SCWA the measurement of the area of the lawn to be removed. This measurement will be used to determine maximum rebate amount. (See FAQs and Measuring Project Area) After SCWA has approved the conversion square footage based on the provided measurements, the conversion square footage eligible for rebate cannot be increased. Applicant must replace an existing lawn with: drought resistant landscaping that is low to medium water-use (such as native trees, shrubs, succulents, and groundcovers), approved mulch that is at least 3 inches deep and covers 100% of the project area, and a drip irrigation or hand watering system. 2
Initial Here The following terms and conditions apply to the Cash for Grass program. Please read carefully prior to submission of any application. Initial next to each item to indicate that you understand and agree to the following: Drip irrigation systems must be equipped with pressure regulator, filter, and emitters. The pressure regulator must have a rating between 20 and 40 psi. Each drip emitter must be rated at less than 2.5 gallons per hour. The new plant material must provide at least 50% of plant coverage within the converted area when fully mature. Plants outside the converted area are not considered in the calculation even if they are adjacent to, or overhanging into the converted area. Applicant must complete a plant coverage worksheet to show that the project meets this requirement. (See FAQs for details) Commercial applicants will need to submit complete landscape planting and irrigation plans that are consistent with the requirements of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and Zoning Code to the local Planning Department for review and approval. If artificial turf is to be used in any part of the conversion, the artificial turf must be installed by a licensed contractor and in compliance with local codes. (See FAQs for details) Note: Check with your local jurisdiction s zoning codes to confirm that artificial turf is allowed for turf replacements and for other requirements related to using artificial turf in a landscaped area. Permeable treatments (pervious, permeable and/or porous pavers or pervious concrete, or surfaces with decomposed granite or cobble) will qualify as long as the fifty percent (50%) plant coverage requirement is met. Paving stones, pavers, and brick patios are permitted but must be filled with loose material. No concrete or impermeable grouting may be used to affix the pavers in place. (See FAQs for details) Note: Check with your local jurisdiction s zoning codes to see if there are limits on using permeable treatments in landscaped areas. Impervious areas are not allowed as part of the rebated converted landscape area. (See FAQs for details) At least three digital photos must be submitted to SCWARebate@saccounty.net. Photos must be taken within 30 days prior to application submittal. (See FAQs and How to Take Your Project Photographs for details) Submissions of altered photographs are considered a fraudulent use of the program and will result in application disqualification. Photos of yards that have been digitally or otherwise altered, enhanced, embellished or filtered will render an application ineligible. SCWA enforces only the terms and conditions of this agreement. The applicant is solely responsible for complying with any and all laws, regulations, policies, conditions, covenants and restrictions that may apply and for any and all liabilities arising out of a conversion project. Applicants are encouraged to consult any applicable covenants, conditions and restrictions ( CC&Rs ) or neighborhood Homeowner s Association ( HOA ) regulations that may apply to an anticipated conversion project prior to submitting an application with SCWA. Applicants must also comply with all state and local laws relating to landscape maintenance. The quality, maintenance and appearance of the conversion are the exclusive responsibility of the applicant. Rebates may be considered taxable income. Any tax consequences arising out of the receipt of a rebate are the exclusive responsibility of the applicant. Applicants are solely responsible for understanding the rights and responsibilities of adjacent property owners and the impacts that their anticipated conversion project may have on drainage or discharge of water, boundary lines, fences, encroachments, trees, subjacent and lateral support, and other related items. 3
Authorization and Release SECTION D: AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE In addition to the foregoing qualifications, I declare that I have read the Cash for Grass Program Terms and Conditions (hereinafter Conditions ). I have read, understand and agree to the Conditions which are incorporated herein by reference. I irrevocably authorize the County of Sacramento, the Sacramento County Water Agency ( SCWA ), or anyone authorized/designated by the County or SCWA, to use or reproduce any and all photographs which have been taken of my landscape as part of the Cash for Grass Program by the County, SCWA, or their authorized agent(s) for any purpose determined by the County or SCWA without compensation or further notice to me. SCWA makes no representations or warranties as to the condition, quality, effectiveness, operability or cost of installing or maintaining landscapes subject to this program, or of removing or disposing of any landscape or irrigation equipment in the course thereof. I assume all risks associated with this program, including without limitation, all risks associated with purchase, installation and maintenance of landscape material and irrigation system equipment (including without limitation the risk of not realizing cost savings as a result of converting to low water use landscape), and the removal and disposal of any landscape materials, irrigation system equipment, and landscape debris in connection thereto. I understand and agree that, to the extent allowed by law, in no event shall SCWA or the County of Sacramento, their officials, officers, employees or agents be liable for any claimed or actual damages or losses of any kind, however caused and regardless of the theory of liability, related in any way to this Cash for Grass rebate program, and in consideration for my participation in this Cash for Grass rebate program, I hereby release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue SCWA and the County of Sacramento, their officials, officers, employees and agents from any and all claims for damage or death or injury to any persons or property thereby arising from any negligent acts, errors or omissions of SCWA or the County of Sacramento. Property Owner or Authorized Signature: Dated: Steps for the Cash for Grass Program: 1. Read, sign, and complete all sections of the Application document. 2. Provide a sketch of the project conversion area along with measurements. 3. Complete the Payee Data Record form (W-9). 4. Mail the completed documents to: Sacramento County Water Agency 827 7 th St. Room 301 Sacramento, CA 95814 Attn: Cash for Grass Program 5. Email three current digital photos of the project area to SCWARebate@saccounty.net. 6. Start the project after receiving your approval email from an assigned inspector. 7. Contact your inspector when finished with your project. 8. Provide the completed Plant Coverage Worksheet upon project completion at time of inspection. 9. Subject to available funding, a rebate will be issued within 6 8 weeks after project inspection approval if all terms and conditions have been met. 4
Measurement: Address Square feet to be removed Notes: Sketch of area to be converted: Note: Accuracy in footage is very important. We cannot increase your rebate-eligible footage after your project has been approved, so please strive to provide as accurate information as possible in your application. Please note that the program may review your requested footage and reduce the project area if a discrepancy is noted. A site visit may be also warranted if a discrepancy is noted. 5