Chandler is making several adjustments to its water conservation rebate programs beginning Jan. 1, 2026, aiming to maintain strong participation while ensuring long-term funding stability. The revisions follow a City Council vote to extend the programs and recalibrate rebate amounts as demand has surged over the past two years.
Under the updated structure, the single-family grass removal rebate will remain available but with a lower reimbursement of $1.50 per square foot and a reduced maximum payout of $2,000. The large landscape rebate, used heavily by HOAs and commercial properties, will also continue, though its maximum award will drop from $75,000 to $20,000.
The city’s water efficient technology rebate will be extended as well, now allowing installation costs to be included. Chandler will also revise its grant agreement with the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona to reduce funding to $600,000.
The changes come as participation has climbed dramatically since Chandler overhauled its conservation programs in October 2023. The city says lowering the square-foot minimum and increasing per-foot payouts sparked a 120% increasein single-family turf removal, resulting in the conversion of more than 133,000 square feet of grass to xeriscape since last year.
Commercial and HOA projects saw even greater growth: turf removal in large landscapes jumped 300%, with 371,000 square feet removed and $770,000 in rebates issued since October 2023. Chandler’s relatively new technology rebate initiative has also gained traction, with 13 customers approved for reimbursements totaling $171,000 to install real-time water monitoring tools.
The city says the updated rebate amounts will help keep the programs financially sustainable while continuing to support conservation and drought preparedness goals.
More details on Chandler’s broader water conservation efforts are available through the city’s Water Conservation Office.
