Treebate Pilot

What is the Treebate Pilot?

The Treebate Pilot provides a rebate to customers who install a tree as part of their lawn conversion rebate.  Single family and small multi-family customers (2-4 units) are eligible for 1 tree and commercial, municipal, and large multi-family customers (5+ units) are eligible for up to 3 trees.

Why should I install a tree?

Trees are one of the most efficient elements of your landscape. They intercept rainfall, recharge groundwater, reduce soil erosion, and sequester carbon. In addition to shading and cooling structures, trees can increase property value and beautify our community.

When selecting a tree, key considerations may include firescaping strategies, and the placement near foundations, driveways, or other infrastructure. For guidance tailored to your property, we recommend reaching out to a landscape professional or certified arborist.

Since regulations can vary by city, fire district, and insurance provider, we also encourage you to contact your local fire agency and insurance company to understand if specific requirements may apply to your property.  EBMUD's free firescape booklet provides guidelines for landscapes in fire-prone areas. Available as a hardcopy or a downloadable PDF.  

Eligibility requirements

Eligible projects must posess the following:

• Be actively completing an approved lawn conversion rebate.
• Tree(s) must be installed within the lawn conversion rebate area.
• Tree(s) must be 5 gallons or larger in container size at the time of purchase and installation.
• Tree(s) must have low or very low water requirements per WUCOLS.
• Receipts are required; only purchased tree(s) will receive a rebate.

How much is the rebate?  

EBMUD will reimburse up to $100 for the cost of the tree only. The maximum rebate is up to $100 for 1 tree for single family and small multi-family customers (2-4 units) and up to $300 for 3 trees for commercial, municipal, and large multi-family customers (5+ units).

EBMUD will not reimburse costs for the following: 

• Taxes
• Labor, service fees, shipping
• Equipment and materials for installation

How to apply

Step 1. Review the eligibility requirements. Fill out and submit the online rebate application. If a digital application is needed, please email waterconservation@ebmud.com to request one.  

Step 2. Complete installation with approved lawn conversion rebate. Send to EBMUD the completed project documentation: 

• Photo of installed tree in lawn conversion rebate area.
• Copy of nursery receipt or contractor's invoice showing size and species or tree, and material price, exclusive of labor, taxes, and other fees.

Step 3. The tree rebate is issued only after the lawn conversion project is fully completed and approved. The final rebate may not exceed the cost of tree. Rebates are issued as checks payable to the account holder and mailed to the billing address on file within two months of rebate approval. To request an alternate payee, submit a Payee Change Request Form for EBMUD approval.

Note: EBMUD may verify with an in-person site visit.

Choosing a tree

Visit these resources to help find a tree for your landscape.

• Treebate Pilot Trees - Selection of top trees that work well in our service area. 
• SelectTree: A Tree Selection Guide - Interactive website from the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at Cal Poly. 
• Calscape - Search for California native plants - Identify low-water use trees native to your location, use advanced search to narrow results based on your garden conditions, and filter by local nurseries.
• WUCOLS - Database catalogs water use of over 3,500 plants. Applying for the treebate? Make sure your tree is specified as "low" or "very low" water use in WUCOLS.

Installation and maintenance

Learn more about installation, maintenance, and watering your new tree.

Frequently asked questions