• All landscape conversions must first be approved by the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) or the Solstice Architectural Control Committee (SACC).
• Rebates are not retroactive.
• Projects must be converting a minimum of 250 square feet to qualify for rebate, with a maximum of 2,000 square feet eligible for rebate.
• Areas must contain at least 50%  healthy, irrigated turf. A percentage of landscape area will be deducted for dead, declining or unhealthy turf areas.
• Applications are accepted Mar. 1 through Oct. 1.
• All landscape conversions must be completed by Nov. 1 of the current program year.
• An initial site inspection and a final inspection will be scheduled with you by the program administrator.
• An online application must be submitted before a landscape conversion can begin. A project without an initial site inspection by a representative of Highlands Ranch Water, regardless of HRCA or SACC approval, will not be eligible for a rebate.
• Plant material must cover at least 75% of converted area at mature size if installing ColoradoScape. Projects that do not meet this criteria will not be eligible for the maximum rebate.
• Irrigation in the converted area must be removed or redesigned to appropriately meet the water needs of the new plant material. New plant material must be watered separately from turf grass.
• Participants will not receive additional water budget for the establishment of new plant materials. Please contact program administrator for suggested irrigation schedules during establishment period.  
• Applications are processed in the order received and rebates are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding is limited. Only one rebate per customer per season.
• All expenses are the responsibility of the applicant.
• Rebates will be sent upon final approval and completion of the project.
• By accepting a rebate, you acknowledge that your water usage prior and post program participation will be monitored by the program administrator. This is for the purpose of quantifying program outcomes only.

• ColoradoScape is a natural landscape, comprised of low to very-low water use plant material, which blends in with the native Colorado landscape. Plant material must be maintained in its natural, native form. This landscaping utilizes a combination of hardscape and landscape materials, providing a variety of colors, textures, sizes, shapes, and seasonal interest.
• If you are not able to work with a landscape company, visit our ColoradoScape page for a list of recommended organizations that can assist you in finding the right plants.
• Plant material installations are strongly recommended to take place May 15 to June 30 and/or Sept. 1 to Oct. 15.
  • July and August are historically Colorado’s hottest months. As our goal is to reduce water usage, it is not advised to install new gardens during these months. Hot conditions also drastically increase the risk of transplant shock and plant loss. Alternately, a hard frost in the fall could also put your plant’s life at risk. Winter hardiness for plants is determined assuming an established root system. Plants need six weeks to establish before the first hard frost. The dates listed above give your plants the best chance of survival. Please be mindful of early spring and early fall frosts.
• Remember that drought tolerant perennials and shrubs still require regular watering during their establishment period (the first three years). Gradually reduce irrigation each year as plants mature. Colorado native species require very little water once mature. They are worth the investment!
• Mulch your new garden to improve soil health, keep weeds at bay and retain soil moisture. Uncolored bark mulch is an organic mulch option that will decompose overtime, enriching your garden with organic matter. Drip irrigation installed at or below soil level is strongly recommended before applying bark mulch. Pop-up sprinkler systems are not recommended for bark mulched gardens. Inorganic mulches, such as squeegee gravel and pea gravel, help support water infiltration in gardens, and can be used with both drip and pop-up sprinkler systems. Certain areas of your yard may be better suited to different mulches (i.e. bark mulch in a shady area, pea gravel in a hot spot).
• Consider groundcover perennials or native seed mixes for sloped areas. Please note that native wildflower seed is recommended only AFTER native grass seed has successfully established.
• Landscape fabric is not recommended for perennial and shrub gardens.
• Drip irrigation is the most effective and water efficient irrigation system for perennials, shrubs, and trees in Colorado when used correctly. Many garden centers and home improvement stores sell equipment for converting pop-up sprinklers into drip irrigation. Drip irrigation is exempt from Highlands Ranch Water’s day time watering restrictions and Stage 1 drought restrictions.
  • Drip Irrigation Rebate Application, linked below
• Please consider our high-efficiency nozzle and smart controller rebates. Visit our rebate and incentive page to learn more.
• New and established gardens still require the occasional drink during the winter. Highlands Ranch Water provides a small outdoor water budget during the winter to supplement precipitation when it is dry. 
  • Residential customers, in addition to their indoor water budget, receive 1000 gallons of water per billing cycle for outdoor use. Commercial accounts receive an additional water budget based on their meter size. This wintertime water budget is intended to keep trees, shrubs and other vegetation (non-grass) healthy during dry spells. Please contact the program administrator for suggested winter watering guidelines.

Rebates for the turf replacement program are currently closed. The application will open again March 1, 2025.

An online application must be submitted before a landscape conversion can begin. A project without an initial site inspection by a representative of Highlands Ranch Water, regardless of HRCA or SACC approval, will not be eligible for a rebate.

Applications are processed in the order received and rebates are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.