LADWP rebates worth checking before you buy anything

These rebates run through the SoCal Water$mart program with the Metropolitan Water District, for LADWP residential customers and owners of properties with 1–4 units. LADWP says the program can change or end without notice, so treat every figure here as "as of November 2026" and check it before you spend.

Billed by Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Long Beach, Inglewood or Santa Monica? These LADWP amounts aren't yours. Ask your own utility what it offers. Not sure who bills you? Find your neighborhood.

Which LADWP rebates are worth checking first?

The toilet and turf rebates are the largest for most houses, and the free showerheads and aerators cost you nothing. The full list on LADWP's rebate page looks like this.

Some example arithmetic: 15 rotating nozzles at the $6 ceiling comes to $90 (15 × $6), and two rain barrels at the ceiling comes to $100 (2 × $50). "Up to" means the rebate can be less, so check how your receipt is treated before counting on the top figure.

How does the LADWP toilet rebate work?

You get $250 per unit per household for swapping a toilet rated at 1.6 gallons per flush or higher for one rated 1.1 or less. A newer toilet below 1.6 gallons doesn't meet that wording, so the rebate is mainly for older ones. Check the gallons-per-flush figure on the old toilet, if you can find it, and the list of qualifying models on SoCal Water$mart before buying.

A toilet at 1.6 gallons passes California's fixture law and can still earn this rebate, so the two rules are measuring different things. If you're doing the job for a sale, read that story too.

What does the LADWP turf rebate need before you dig?

It needs pre-approval before any grass comes out. LADWP's turf page asks for at least five pictures, the first page of your bill, measurements and a landscape plan. Then you have six months to finish, and the converted area has to stay within program rules for 5 years.

The $5 is two payments: $3 from LADWP and $2 from the Metropolitan Water District. Residential projects run from 250 to 5,000 square feet. As an example, 1,000 square feet comes to $5,000 (1,000 × $5), and the 5,000-square-foot maximum comes to $25,000 (5,000 × $5).

The new yard can use California Friendly plants, mulch, drip irrigation and rain capture features. LADWP says the project may be inspected before the rebate is issued. Replacing a lawn also changes what your watering days look like, and it can keep more of your use in the lower tier blocks.

Do leak monitors earn an LADWP rebate?

Some do, up to $150, but the rebate's wording excludes devices installed on utility meters. It requires a single-family customer, reliable Wi-Fi and a smartphone or tablet. Models that qualify are listed on SoCal Water$mart.

LADWP also runs a separate Flume discount: the device is $24 after the discount, plus shipping and tax, as listed by LADWP. That monitor straps to the water meter, so don't assume it also earns the $150. A monitor only reports a problem. For finding one today, the meter and dye checks are free.

How do you apply for LADWP rebates?

Apply online at SoCal Water$mart, not through LADWP directly. You'll upload a recent LADWP bill and a receipt showing brand, model number, individual price, date of purchase and proof of payment in full. Only the customer of record on the LADWP bill can receive the rebate.

That last line matters for tenants, for a house still billed in a late relative's name, and for anyone about to buy or sell. Sort out the name on the account before you buy. LADWP's page also warns that information on applications may be subject to public disclosure under the California Public Records Act.

This paper couldn't find a stated deadline on LADWP's page for how soon you must apply after buying. Check the current terms on SoCal Water$mart before you buy, not after.

What this means by age of house

1. Before 1930Toilets at 1.6 gallons or more may qualify, whatever the house's age. Have a licensed plumber look at fragile supply pipe before a swap; see before 1930.
2. 1930s–1940sOld galvanized pipe and new aerators can disagree, because rust particles clog screens. Free aerators are still worth having; just expect to clean them.
3. 1950s–1960sWhere a ranch-house lot still has a big lawn, the turf rebate is worth a look, within the 5,000-square-foot cap. See 1950s and 1960s houses.
4. 1970s and newerMany toilets in this group may already be rated at 1.6 gallons or less, so check. Below 1.6, the wording of the rebate isn't met.

Who handles this

• LADWPRebate rules, plus free showerheads and aerators
• SoCal Water$martApplications, qualifying models and rebate questions
• City PlantsFree trees for City of Los Angeles residents

Questions that come up

Are tenants eligible for these rebates?

Rebates go only to the LADWP customer of record listed on the bill. If your name is on the account, read the terms for your item, and ask your landlord before changing fixtures or a yard.

Do a smart controller rebate and a soil moisture rebate stack?

No. LADWP says the weather-based controller and soil moisture rebates can't be combined. Rain barrels and cisterns are also one or the other.

May the lawn come up while the turf application is pending?

No. LADWP says to get pre-approval before removing any grass or starting the project.

Does a turf project need a contractor?

LADWP says you can do it yourself or use a contractor. It also says planting tends to go best from October to March.

Does a duplex qualify?

LADWP's residential program covers owners of 1–4 unit properties. Larger multi-family buildings use a different turf rate and terms, listed on the turf page.

What this was checked against

1. Residential rebate list, limits and how to apply, with the turf page linked above: LADWP
2. Flume monitor discount: LADWP
3. Applications and qualifying models: SoCal Water$mart

Sources read in November 2026. Rules and prices change: check the agency before you act.