Many Las Vegas homeowners replace thirsty lawn with desert landscaping: gravel, boulders, drought-tolerant plants and drip irrigation. The Southern Nevada Water Authority runs a Water Smart Landscapes program for these conversions, with conditions that affect how you plan and schedule the work. The most important one is simple: get approval before you remove the grass.
Key takeaways
- Apply to the Water Smart Landscapes program before touching the lawn.
- Removing the lawn before approval makes the conversion ineligible.
- Plan plant cover and drip irrigation to meet the program’s conditions.
The rule that trips people up
The program’s residential conditions say not to remove the existing lawn until the Authority completes a pre-conversion inspection and authorizes you to proceed. Starting without approval makes the conversion ineligible. If you are hiring a landscaper, make sure they know this before they bring equipment.
Program conditions to plan around
- At least 400 square feet of lawn or water surface must be converted.
- Converted areas must reach at least 50 percent living plant cover at maturity, using the Authority’s plant list.
- If you use a watering system, it must be drip irrigation with a filter, a pressure regulator and low-flow emitters.
- A pre-conversion site visit is part of the process.
Conditions can change, so read the current terms on the Authority’s website before you plan.
Lawn vs. desert landscape
| Lawn | Desert landscape | |
|---|---|---|
| Water use | High | Much lower |
| Irrigation | Spray | Drip to each plant |
| Maintenance | Mowing, frequent watering | Pruning, drip checks |
| Surface | Grass | Rock or mulch with plants |
| Summer heat | Needs heavy watering | Plants suited to heat |
Order of work
- 1. Apply to the program and wait for the pre-conversion inspection and approval.
- 2. Design the layout and choose plants from the approved list.
- 3. Remove the lawn and cap or convert old spray heads.
- 4. Install drip irrigation to the plants.
- 5. Plant, then add rock or mulch.
- 6. Complete any final program steps.
Permits and landscaping
Most planting and gravel work does not need a building permit. Some related work can, such as walls, electrical work for lighting or pumps, and water features. The City of Las Vegas exempts walls up to 30 inches in height and fountains filled by a hose up to 18 inches deep, with conditions, and says adding to or altering an irrigation system with an approved backflow device is permit-free. Taller walls need permits. Check with your building department. See When You Need a Building Permit in Las Vegas.
Tip: Photograph the lawn and yard before the program inspection and again when the work is complete. Keep the photos and the approval letter together in your project binder.
Hiring a landscaper
The Contractors Board licenses landscaping as a specialty trade in Classification C. Check that your landscaper holds an active license in the right classification and that the contract is within the monetary limit. See How to Check a Nevada Contractor License.
HOA rules
Many HOAs have landscaping standards and require architectural approval for yard changes. Get HOA approval before work begins, and make sure the design meets both the HOA’s rules and the program’s conditions.
Choosing plants
Pick plants from the Authority’s approved list, and group them by water needs so each drip zone serves plants that like similar watering. Leave room for mature size: the program measures plant cover at maturity, not on the day of planting, so a sparse-looking new yard can still meet the requirement as plants grow. Place larger shrubs and trees where they will shade windows or walls that get strong afternoon sun.
Drip irrigation basics
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to each plant through emitters instead of spraying the whole area. The program requires, where a watering system is used, drip with a filter, a pressure regulator and low-flow emitters. Check the system after installation and seasonally for clogged or broken emitters, and adjust the watering schedule as the seasons change.
Shade and heat
Rock surfaces can get hot in summer. Plan trees or shade structures where people will sit or walk, and keep rock away from walls where reflected heat is a concern. For shade over a patio, see Planning a Patio Cover in Las Vegas.
Common mistakes
Removing the lawn before approval is the costly mistake. Others include choosing plants not on the approved list, leaving old spray heads that waste water and forgetting HOA approval.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do the conversion myself?
Many homeowners do. Follow the program conditions and get approval first.
Does the program apply to front and back yards?
Read the current program terms for what qualifies on your property.
Do I need a permit for drip irrigation?
The City of Las Vegas guide lists adding to or altering an irrigation system with an approved backflow device as permit-free.
More desert-home upgrades: Attic Insulation vs. Duct Sealing in a Desert Home.