Free front-yard landscaping
LADWP Landscape Efficiency Assistance Program (LEAP)
by LADWP
- Single-family home
- LADWP water
- Homeowner or renter
Qualifying LADWP water customers may receive free front-yard lawn replacement and drought-tolerant landscaping.
Free service
Free front-yard landscaping
One-time
What you can get
If you may qualify, LADWP says an assigned contractor can provide landscape design and construction at no cost to you. Actual work depends on the property and the pre-approved template you select. Depending on the site, services may include removing and replacing a traditional front-yard lawn; California Friendly and/or native drought-tolerant plantings; a rain-capture or stormwater feature such as a rain barrel, rain garden, or rock garden; converting an operable irrigation system to drip; a weather-based irrigation controller; smart water monitoring; or high-efficiency sprinklers as an alternative if turf replacement is not preferred. LADWP says not every participant receives every listed improvement. If the property does not have an operable irrigation system, LEAP does not install a brand-new irrigation system.
LEAP is a free LADWP landscape design and construction service, not a cash rebate. LADWP says qualifying single-family sites with LADWP water service in a DWR-defined disadvantaged community may receive front-yard lawn replacement and related drought-tolerant improvements. Front yards need 500 to 3,000 square feet of living grass (parkway may count). Owners or renters with written owner permission may apply. Applications are due October 31, 2026; high demand may create a waitlist. Water service, lawn size, and owner permission are asked as follow-up questions. DAC geography stays unmodeled until address-based resolution exists. Prior or current front-yard SoCalWaterSmart turf-rebate participation is a published restriction and is not deterministically matched here.
Overview
LADWP LEAP: How to Get Free Landscaping in Los Angeles LEAP is LADWP’s Landscape Efficiency Assistance Program. LADWP says qualifying customers may receive free landscape design and construction to replace a traditional front lawn with California Friendly or native drought-tolerant landscaping. This is a free service, not a cash rebate, and LADWP does not publish a dollar value. Who may qualify, according to LADWP: • Single-family property • LADWP water service at the site • A qualifying DWR-defined disadvantaged community • 500–3,000 sq ft of living green grass in the front yard (parkway area may count) • Owner of record, or a renter with written owner permission No general household income limit is listed as a LEAP eligibility rule; the disadvantaged-community requirement is location-based. Address-based DAC eligibility still needs confirmation and is not inferred from ZIP or city alone.
Who may qualify
- LEAP is published for qualifying single-family homes.
Location / service area
Service area needs to be confirmed
How to apply
Gather everything before you start. LADWP says the online application cannot be saved and must be finished in one session. 1. Create or log in to your online LADWP account. LADWP’s page says to call 1-800-DIAL-DWP if you need help setting one up. 2. Review the official LEAP application checklist and How to Apply video on LADWP’s LEAP page. 3. Have owner permission, photos, and a landscape template from your Water District ready. 4. In your LADWP account, open Rebates & Programs, then the LEAP Online Form. 5. Upload the required documents and photos, then submit. After you apply, LADWP says you should receive a confirmation email, then a follow-up after eligibility review. If the application moves forward, a contractor contacts you to schedule a site visit. A paper application is also available; mail it to the address on page 2 of that form.
Preapproval required
Documents you may need
LADWP asks applicants to prepare these items before starting: • Online LADWP account • Official checklist and How to Apply video steps • Written owner-permission letter if you are not the owner of record (a sample letter is posted by LADWP) • Five photos of the existing front-yard landscape • About 3–5 photos of the existing irrigation system and valves • About 3–5 photos of existing rain gutters and downspouts, if applicable, or the existing roof • Your selected pre-approved landscape template for your Water District Estimate front-yard grass square footage before you apply. Legible PDFs and photo files are acceptable.
Important things to know
Already used or started a turf replacement rebate for your front yard? Check LEAP’s rules before proceeding. LADWP lists an application deadline of October 31, 2026. The official page warns that high demand may place applicants on a waitlist. The FAQ says LEAP is estimated to run through Winter 2026 or until grant funding is exhausted, and that work is first-come, first-served. The LEAP Terms and Conditions say the applicant must not have previously participated in the SoCalWaterSmart Turf Replacement Rebate Program for that front yard, or started construction as a current turf-replacement rebate participant for that front yard. That restriction is about prior or current front-yard turf-rebate participation, not a blanket ban on every other LADWP program. Designs come from pre-approved templates for your Water District. LADWP says you cannot choose unique design features or specific plants, and the template cannot be rewritten to match unique HOA rules. If the home is in an HOA, the homeowner is responsible for getting HOA permission. If the property does not have an operable irrigation system, LADWP says no new irrigation system or high-efficiency sprinklers will be installed or converted to drip. This site does not confirm disadvantaged-community status from ZIP or city. Address-based DAC eligibility still needs confirmation.
Last verified: Sep 12, 2026 · Confidence: High
Frequently asked questions
- Is LADWP LEAP really free?
- LADWP describes LEAP as free landscape design and construction for customers who may qualify. The Terms and Conditions say the contractor provides the listed turf-replacement and related work at no cost to the customer. This is a free service, not a cash rebate, and LADWP does not publish a dollar award.
- Who qualifies for LEAP?
- LADWP says customers may qualify if they live in a single-family residence in a DWR-defined disadvantaged community, have 500 to 3,000 square feet of green grass in the front yard (parkway may count), are the owner of record or have written owner permission, and agree to the LEAP Terms and Conditions. The site must currently receive LADWP water service. No general household income limit is listed as a LEAP eligibility rule; the DAC screen is location-based.
- Do I need to own the home?
- You do not have to be the owner if you have written permission from the owner of record. LADWP’s eligibility list is “Owner of Record with LADWP or have written permission from the Property Owner.” The terms also refer to renters with owner permission.
- Can renters apply?
- Yes, renters may participate if they obtain written property-owner permission. LADWP’s paper application includes a “Renter with permission” option and asks for a letter of permission when you are not the owner. Renters are not categorically excluded.
- How much grass do I need?
- LADWP requires 500 to 3,000 square feet of living green grass in the front yard. Official copy says that square footage can include the parkway. The terms say any area above 3,000 or below 500 square feet is outside the agreement.
- Does my property need LADWP water service?
- Yes. The Terms and Conditions require that the site address is currently served by LADWP for water service. Living in the City of Los Angeles or having LADWP electric service is not the published water-service rule.
- How do I know if my property is in a disadvantaged community?
- LADWP uses the Department of Water Resources definition of a disadvantaged community and points applicants to DWR’s DAC Mapping Tool. Enter the property address and see whether it falls in a mapped DAC or SDAC census-tract layer. A ZIP code or city name is not enough. This site does not confirm DAC status; address-based eligibility still needs confirmation. LADWP says you can also call the Water Conservation Hotline at 1-800-544-4498, press 5, or email LEAP@ladwp.com.
- Can I choose my own plants and design?
- No. LADWP uses pre-approved landscape and irrigation templates for your Water District. A contractor adapts the selected template to the existing front-yard layout, but LADWP says you cannot choose unique design features or specific plants, and you cannot pick a template from another district.
- Can I apply if I already used a turf replacement rebate?
- Check LEAP’s rules before you proceed. The Terms and Conditions say the applicant must not have previously participated in the SoCalWaterSmart Turf Replacement Rebate Program for that front yard, or started construction as a current turf-replacement rebate participant for that front yard. The restriction is specific to prior or current front-yard turf-rebate participation. LADWP’s FAQ says you may still apply to other LADWP discount or rebate programs, with separate eligibility rules, except you will not qualify for individual rebates for work LEAP already installed.
- Can I save the LEAP application and finish later?
- No. LADWP says the online application does not automatically save your progress and must be completed in a single session. Gather documents and photos before you start.
- What photos or documents do I need?
- LADWP asks for a letter of permission if you are not the owner, five front-yard landscape photos, about 3 to 5 irrigation and valve photos, and about 3 to 5 photos of gutters and downspouts or the existing roof. You also need an online LADWP account and a selected landscape template. A paper application is available if you do not apply online.
- When is the LEAP application deadline?
- LADWP lists an application deadline of October 31, 2026. The official page warns that high demand may place applicants on a waitlist. The FAQ says the program is estimated to run through Winter 2026 or until grant funding is exhausted, and that applicants are handled first-come, first-served.
- What happens after I apply?
- LADWP says you should receive a confirmation email after submitting. A follow-up email comes after staff review your application and determine eligibility or ask for more information. If you are eligible, you are notified by email and a contractor contacts you to schedule a site visit. The FAQ estimates construction at about 5 to 7 business days once the contractor schedules the work and mobilizes—that is not the total time from application to completion. Paper applicants may receive confirmation by email, letter, or phone.
Official sources
- LADWP · Application(opens in a new tab)
April 2026 paper application and mailing instructions.
- LADWP · Application(opens in a new tab)
Sample owner permission letter for applicants who are not the owner of record.
- LADWP · Eligibility(opens in a new tab)
Official FAQ: DAC definition, first-come first-served, Winter 2026 or funding exhaustion, construction timing.
- LADWP · Eligibility(opens in a new tab)
Terms dated March 27, 2026: LADWP water service, area range, renter pathway, SoCalWaterSmart front-yard restriction.
- LADWP · General(opens in a new tab)
Official LEAP program page: deadline, services, eligibility, and how to apply.
Not sure what you qualify for?
Check your eligibility. We’ll compare your answers with published program rules.
Eligibility is based on published program information and the details you provide. Program rules, funding and availability can change. Always confirm eligibility with the official program administrator.