Break the city’s watering rules, and you get a fine. Rip out your grass, and you might get a check. In Tampa, both come out of the same pot.

The city’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping Incentive Program, known as FLIP, pays for part of the cost when homeowners replace irrigated turf with native, drought-tolerant plants. The money comes from fines collected from residents who violate Tampa’s watering restrictions.

The Tampa Water Department recently marked the program’s first year. Under FLIP, homeowners can replace up to 500 square feet of irrigated lawn. To qualify, they must finish three guided workshops run by the Hillsborough County UF/IFAS Extension Office and install a city-approved landscape design. They can then apply for a rebate covering half of eligible costs, capped at $3,000.

Julia Palaschak, an environmental specialist with the water department, said the city has issued 12 rebate checks totaling $14,000 across seven zip codes in the first year. That works out to about $1,170 per check. She said the spread of participants shows residents across the city are embracing the idea.

The city did not say how much it has collected in watering fines or how many residents have been cited.

On Tuesday, city officials delivered a $1,654 rebate to South Tampa homeowners Chris and Stephanie Kern. The couple tore out the St. Augustine grass in their front yard, tired of constant watering and brown patches. They planted native species that now attract bees, birds, and other wildlife.

Chris Kern said they went all in and love the result. He also acknowledged the program returned some of his money, since the household was cited for a water violation a couple of years ago.

The couple did the work themselves over several weekends, Stephanie Kern said, and she urged others to try it. Their advice for the hesitant is to start small, perhaps with the grass around a mailbox or along the edge of the house.

The Kerns say the savings are showing up on their utility bill. Their monthly water use has dropped from roughly 10,000 to 12,000 gallons to about 4,000, Chris Kern said. A rain barrel helps, and he estimated they watered the yard only once in September.

City officials say outdoor irrigation accounts for about half of many Bay Area homeowners’ total water use. They hope programs like FLIP will ease the strain on the region’s water supply.

The next FLIP workshop is scheduled for March 13, 2027. Details are on the City of Tampa’s water conservation website.

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