Decorative grass is no longer optional. The deadline is 2027.

Nevada law AB356 — the first law of its kind in the country — bans the use of Colorado River water on nonfunctional turf at commercial, HOA, and apartment properties starting in 2027. Nonfunctional turf means grass that is only for looks: street medians, entrance strips, and the green band between a parking lot and a wall. If your property has grass like that, removing it is now a legal requirement with a deadline. This page is the detailed explainer; the overview and commercial calculator are here.

You are still being paid to comply — for now

Commercial and HOA conversions still qualify for the Water Smart Landscapes rebate: $5 per square foot on the first 10,000 square feet, $1.50 after that, and $100 for each new tree. Rebate funds come from a yearly budget, and contractors will only get busier as the deadline approaches. Boards that act in 2026 collect the money and choose their crews. Boards that wait until 2027 will compete with everyone else who waited.

What counts as "nonfunctional"?

• Nonfunctional — must be removed: medians, street frontage, entry features, buffer strips. Grass that exists to be looked at, not used.
• Functional — can stay: parks, sports fields, playgrounds, dog runs. Grass people actually use. Single-family home lawns are not covered by the law at all, though the rebate still makes converting them worthwhile.
• Edge cases — get evaluated: courtyard lawns, pool surrounds, event lawns. These are judgment calls, and a professional assessment settles them before the deadline forces a rushed answer.

The five steps for boards

• 1 — Inventory. Map every square foot of grass on the property and mark it functional, nonfunctional, or edge case.
• 2 — Apply before removing anything. The same rule as residential: removal before approval makes the project ineligible for the rebate.
• 3 — Phase large conversions. The $5 rate covers the first 10,000 square feet per fiscal year. Large properties that convert in stages across years collect the higher rate more than once.
• 4 — Plan enough plants. Plants must cover at least half the converted area at full-grown size, so the result is a landscape residents like, not a bare gravel lot. The coverage rule, explained.
• 5 — Document everything for the board minutes, the reserve study, and the rebate file.

Estimate your property's rebate Or have a licensed pro run the whole project

This page summarizes public information about AB356 and SNWA programs; it is not legal advice. Deadlines and program terms are set by statute and the water authority — verify current requirements at snwa.com. Xerisave is not affiliated with any water district.