Does the rebate actually cover the cost?
Usually it covers most of the cost. Sometimes it covers all of it, and sometimes there is money left over. The answer depends on three things: your water provider (the $5 or $7 rate), how elaborate the new landscape is, and whether you do the work yourself or hire a crew. Here are the real numbers.
What does a conversion cost?
| Who does the work | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|
| Yourself (rentals, materials, plants) | $1.50–$3.00 / sq ft |
| Crew — standard desert package | $4.00–$6.00 / sq ft |
| Crew — custom design (boulders, lighting, larger plants) | $6.00–$10.00+ / sq ft |
Where is the break-even point?
Here is the comparison at the $7 rate (Las Vegas Valley Water District), using a standard crew job:
| Yard | Rebate | Standard crew job | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 sq ft strip | $5,600 | about $4,000 | +$1,600 |
| 2,400 sq ft front + back | $16,800 | about $12,000 | +$4,800 |
| 6,000 sq ft corner lot | $42,000 | about $30,000 | +$12,000 |
At the $5 rate (outside the Las Vegas Valley Water District), the same jobs come out close to even. Doing the work yourself costs less than the rebate at any size. And the savings continue after the project: a converted yard saves about 55 gallons of water per square foot every year, and water rates in Southern Nevada have only gone up. Each new tree adds $100 on top of these numbers.
Cost ranges are market observations, not quotes; rebate rates as of , subject to approval. Not affiliated with any water district.