This could be your front yard! LADWP’s free LEAP program transforms thirsty lawns into beautiful, water-saving gardens.
The Landscape Efficiency Assistance Program Offers Free California Friendly® Landscaping for Eligible Customers in Disadvantaged Communities
LOS ANGELES (January 5, 2026) — Looking ahead to a sustainable new year, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) encourages eligible customers to take advantage of its no-cost Landscape Efficiency Assistance Program (LEAP), The program helps single-family residential customers in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) transform their front yards to water-saving gardens that reduce their outdoor water use, lower their water bills, and beautify their neighborhoods — all at no cost.
LEAP provides single-family residential customers with a professionally installed California Friendly® front yard transformation that includes turf removal, installation of efficient irrigation systems, California Friendly plants, and other water-saving upgrades. The program is designed to remove financial barriers that often prevent residents in DACs from executing landscape improvements.
“Water conservation and sustainable landscapes should be for all Angelenos, and the LEAP program helps make California Friendly lawns accessible to everyone,” said Janisse Quiñones, LADWP Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer. “By providing no-cost landscaping transformation services, we are helping LADWP customers save water, lower their bills, and contribute to the region’s overall environmental resilience.”
To complete the front yard transformations, LADWP partners with certified private contractors trained in water-efficient landscape construction. Contractors work directly with participants to remove existing lawns, install or upgrade irrigation systems, and plant drought-tolerant, California Friendly landscapes designed to thrive in Southern California’s climate.
Funded by a $14.6 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), LEAP aims to convert approximately 1.03 million square feet of turf into water-wise gardens by December 2026. The initiative is projected to save over 85.5 million gallons of water annually, enough water for 1,052 households.
Program Eligibility
Participants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a single-family residential LADWP customer living in a Disadvantaged Community, as defined by DWR
- Have a living (green) front lawn; transformations apply to front yards only
- Turf removal area must be between 1,000 to 3,000 square feet
- Property must have rain gutters installed in the front
- Applicant must be the property owner or have documented permission from the owner
LEAP funds are limited. Customer participation is on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. For more information and to check program eligibility, visit ladwp.com/LEAP.
Additional Water-Saving Opportunities
Customers who do not qualify for LEAP can still pursue a California Friendly® landscape through LADWP’s $5 per square foot Turf Replacement Rebate, available to all single-family residential customers. Pre-approval is required. Eligible participants may receive up to $25,000 in rebates, depending on lawn size. To date, LADWP’s Turf Replacement Rebate program has incentivized the replacement of 55.4 million square feet of turf, saving the equivalent amount of water used by 29,928 homes annually.
LADWP also offers many rebates and incentive programs to help customers make household changes and upgrades to make water conservation a lasting part of their daily lives.
LEAP was previously featured in a press release by L.A. Mayor Bass
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