Flip-Strip | Sandy, Utah Water-Wise Park Strip Conversion

Choose your transformation

Four Options. Every Budget.

Each package is JVWCD rebate-eligible. Rebate can offset 25–50% of your total project cost.

Rip & Rock

$4–$6 /sq ft

~$1,500–$3,000 for a 300 sq ft strip

Clean, permanent, zero-maintenance. Decorative gravel with weed barrier. Perfect for homeowners who want it done and done.

Sod removal & disposal
Weed barrier fabric
2–3" decorative rock
Steel edging
Sprinkler cap & remove

💰 Rebate: up to $3.00/sq ft from JVWCD

⚠️ HOA Homeowners — Read This Before Designing Anything

Many Sandy HOAs written in the 1980s–2000s have turf requirements in their CC&Rs. Utah Code 57-8a-226 (2022) may make minimum turf requirements legally unenforceable in Sandy — but navigating the HOA process proactively is faster and cheaper than any dispute. A JVWCD rebate approval does not override an HOA covenant.

Step 1 — Before designingPull your CC&Rs. Look for 'landscaping standards,' 'turf requirements,' or 'approved plant materials.'

Step 2 — Check height limitsPark strip plants must be under 24" per JVWCD. Some HOAs are stricter. Design to the most restrictive standard.

Step 3 — Get written approvalSubmit to your HOA's ARC before submitting to JVWCD. Some ARCs meet monthly — miss a deadline and wait 6–8 weeks.

Step 4 — Document everythingWe can advise on HOA language and help you structure the approval request. Ask us when scheduling your quote.

How it works

Five Phases, One Seamless Project

Site Assessment

Free

on-site quote

We measure, inspect sprinklers, check soil, access, and slope. Note: sod must still be living at the time of your JVWCD pre-conversion site visit.

No trip fee if you book

Sod Cut & Remove

$1.00–$1.50

per sq ft

Machine sod cutter for flat strips. Add $0.50/sq ft for slopes, difficult access, or hand-work areas. Includes loading.

Min. job: $800

Disposal & Hauling

$250–$450

flat (avg. strip)

Green waste facility disposal — SL County charges ~$12/ton for clean sod. Included in base price. One haul covers most park strips.

Included in base

Sprinkler Work

$500–$2,000

flat — see options

Required to prevent leaks and qualify for rebates. Drip conversion needs its own zone — cannot share with lawn sprinklers.

Rebate-qualifying

Material Install

$2.50–$20

per sq ft

Weed barrier + your chosen material. Soil amendment included for xeriscape packages. Edging and final grade included.

Rebates apply here

Irrigation

Sprinkler Options — Pick the Right Level

Sprinkler work is the most important technical decision in this project. Get it wrong and your rebate application fails or your plants die.

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Rock / no-plant jobs

Basic Cap & Remove

$500–$800

Remove pop-up heads, cap risers, adjust timer. No irrigation needed for gravel or DG. Simplest option.

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Plants included — recommended

Drip Conversion

$1,000–$1,500

Convert existing zone to drip. Requires 25–30 PSI pressure regulator + 155-mesh Y-filter at each valve — without these, emitters fail within 1–3 seasons. Qualifies for $1.00/sq ft Switch to Drip rebate.

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Full build

New Drip Zone Add

$1,500–$2,000

New dedicated zone + controller upgrade if needed. Best for maximizing plant diversity and qualifying for the highest rebate tier. Includes smart controller installation (eligible for $100 rebate).

Material costs

Side-by-Side Comparison

Material	Cost / sq ft	500 sq ft job	Cost vs. Time	Maintenance
Crushed rock / pea gravel Decomposed granite, crusher run, pea gravel	$3–$6	$1,500–$3,000	Low cost · Permanent	Occasional weed spray. Lasts indefinitely.
River rock / decorative stone Rounded, natural look; multiple colors	$4–$8	$2,000–$4,000	Mid cost · Permanent	Debris cleanup. Lasts indefinitely.
Xeriscape — rock + plants + drip Native/adaptive plants, decorative gravel, drip irrigation	$8–$12	$4,000–$6,000	Higher cost · Max rebate	Annual trimming. Highest rebate qualification.
Wood / bark mulch Shredded hardwood or cedar, 3–4" depth	$3–$5	$1,250–$2,500	Lowest cost · Refresh every 1–2 yr	Replenish annually. Note: voles nest in mulch — pull back 6" from plant crowns.

Utah Water Rebates

The Full JVWCD Rebate Stack

Sandy homeowners qualify for the highest incentive tier in Utah. Multiple programs can be combined on the same project.

Turf Replacement

$3.00/sq ft

Max $50,000/application. Living lawn replaced with qualifying waterwise plants + drip irrigation. Min. 200 sq ft (park strip exemption may apply).

Switch to Drip

$1.00/sq ft

Existing overhead spray converted to point-source or inline drip. Beds must have 50% canopy at maturity. Cannot combine with turf on same sq footage.

Treebate

$50/tree

Up to 10 trees/year ($500 max). Must be in-ground, 1" caliper min., drip irrigated, minimum 12 ft mature height. Verify excluded species list annually.

Smart Controller

$100 flat

WaterSense-labeled smart controller. Apply within 60 days of purchase. 1 per property. Stackable alongside landscape rebates at utahwatersavers.com.

How to Apply — Key Steps

Apply early in the year

JVWCD funds run out before season end. Applications open in May — prepare in Feb–March to submit on day one.

Create Utah Water Savers account

Go to utahwatersavers.com. You need your Sandy City water account number from your water bill.

Do NOT remove sod yet

Lawn must be living and maintained at the time of your JVWCD pre-conversion site visit. Dead lawn = disqualified.

Take before photos — many angles

10–15 photos per zone from multiple angles with date/location metadata. Poor photos are the #1 reason applications are sent back.

Design to 50% canopy at maturity

Plant plan must mathematically demonstrate 50%+ shrub/perennial canopy at mature size. Trees and annuals do NOT count.

Download the Full Guide

Our complete Sandy, UT Water-Wise Landscape Conversion Guide covers the full rebate stack, HOA risk assessment, soil amendment by neighborhood, step-by-step drip installation, plant selection for park strips, and the final inspection checklist.

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Sandy, UT Water-Wise Conversion Guide 2026

34-page planning reference — rebates, HOA, soil types, plant lists, drip installation, inspection checklist

⬇ Download Free PDF

Rebate amounts and program details subject to change. Verify at utahwatersavers.com before applying.

Plant selection

Proven Park Strip Plants for Sandy, Utah

Every plant below stays under the 24" JVWCD height limit, tolerates Sandy's alkaline soil and reflected pavement heat, and is JVWCD rebate-qualifying.

Ice Plant

Delosperma spp.

Very low water4–6" tallFull sun

Succulent groundcover. Handles reflected pavement heat better than almost any other plant. Spreads quickly. Requires excellent drainage — amend clay soil before planting.

Meadow Sage

Salvia nemorosa

Low water18–24" tallFull sun

Most reliable and versatile waterwise plant for Wasatch Front park strips. Deep purple-blue blooms spring–summer. Cut back by half after first bloom for strong rebloom. Deer resistant.

Catmint 'Walker's Low'

Nepeta faassenii

Low water12–18" tallFull sun/part shade

Stays reliably under 18" — the best catmint for park strips. Lavender-blue blooms repeat all summer. One of the few perennials that works in both full sun and part shade.

Globemallow

Sphaeralcea spp.

Very low water18–24" tallFull sun

Utah native. One of the toughest, most drought-tolerant plants for any park strip. Thrives in heat, poor soil, and alkaline conditions. Orange or pink blooms summer through fall.

Sedum / Stonecrop

Sedum kamtschaticum, S. spurium

Very low water3–12" tallFull sun

Handles compacted, poor soil better than almost anything else. Multiple species: spreading yellow flowers, dense pink mat, or blue-gray foliage. Rake out dead inner blades each spring.

Blue Fescue

Festuca glauca

Low water8–12" tallFull sun

Blue-gray mounding foliage provides year-round texture. Pairs beautifully with orange Globemallow or purple Salvia. Divide every 3 years when center dies out.

Compact Yarrow

Achillea millefolium (compact var.)

Very low water12–18" tallFull sun

Use 'Moonshine,' 'Paprika,' or 'New Vintage' series only. Flat flower heads beloved by pollinators. Thrives in poor, alkaline soil — do not heavily amend or it becomes floppy.

Blue Grama Grass

Bouteloua gracilis

Very low water10–18" tallFull sun

Utah native prairie grass. One of the most drought-tolerant grasses in North America. Distinctive eyelash-shaped seed heads provide winter interest. Mow to 4" in early spring.

Sandy soil note: Soil type varies significantly by neighborhood. Heavy clay west of I-15 requires sand + compost amendment before planting xeric plants. East bench sandy/loam soil is ideal for most xeric plants. Park strip soil is often compacted fill — we break compaction to 12" depth as part of xeriscape packages. See the full soil guide →

Final inspection

JVWCD Inspection Checklist

A failed inspection adds 3–6 weeks to your rebate timeline. We use this checklist on every project before scheduling.

Drip system operational — every emitter drippingInspector walks every zone. A zone that doesn't run or emitters that aren't dripping = automatic failure.
25–30 PSI pressure regulator + Y-filter at each zone valveMust be physically present and visible. Cannot be waived. Combined regulator/filter units accepted.
Only compliant drip emitters — no micro-sprays or bubblersAll emitters 5 GPH or less. One type per zone (point source OR inline — not both).
50% shrub/perennial canopy coverage per planLandscape plan must show plants at mature size with canopy circles. Trees and annuals do NOT count.
All park strip plants under 24" mature heightHave plant tags or USU Extension spec sheets available. Inspector may ask for any plant.
No turf strip narrower than 8 feet (if turf retained)Narrow strips are explicitly prohibited. Must be 8 ft minimum at every point.
Hardscape within 50% of total landscaped areaWood chip mulch and permeable gravel count as permeable surface, not hardscape.
4" mulch depth throughout — pulled 6" from all plant crownsMulch against stems creates crown rot. Inspector checks mulch depth directly.
After photos uploaded to Utah Water Savers portalUpload before scheduling the final inspection. Include close-ups of drip components.
Treebate: original plant tags retained, trees on dripMissing tags = no Treebate for that tree. No exceptions.

Pricing factors

What Adjusts Your Quote

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Square footage

Larger strips cost less per sq ft. Mobilization and equipment is largely fixed regardless of size.

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Equipment access

Tight street parking or narrow access adds $0.25–$0.50/sq ft. Call 811 (Blue Stakes) required before any sod removal work.

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Soil type

Heavy clay (west of I-15) needs amendment: coarse sand + compost + gypsum. Sandy/loam east bench adds compost only. Compacted park strip needs subsoiling.

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Sprinkler complexity

Multiple zones, old/complex systems, or mixed head types on one zone increase irrigation scope and cost.

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Material choice

Premium stone (Mexican beach pebble, flagstone) costs 2–3× basic crushed granite. Plant variety affects cost — native species in 1-gal are most economical.

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HOA requirements

Some HOAs restrict material colors or require ARC approval. We can advise before quoting. Get HOA written approval before JVWCD application.

Flip Your Strip.
Save Water. Earn Rebates.