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XIP is available to Fort Collins Utilities residential water customers only.
The Xeriscape Incentive Program (XIP) is a comprehensive, education-based incentive program offering Fort Collins Utilities residential water customers a post-project rebate in return for transforming a high-water use area to a water-wise landscape. Participants receive a $0.75/square foot rebate up to 1,000 square feet, or up to $750, per approved project, per address.
The 2020 program is full. Prepare for 2021 by signing up for a class below.
Interested in an attractive, water-wise landscape?
Swap your grass for some cash. Here's how:
- Attend an upcoming XIP training. The 2020 program is full. Prepare for 2021 by signing up for one of the following:
-
Enroll for the program when you’re ready for a project.
- The enrollment link will be sent once your training is complete.
- Enroll in the session that works for your schedule (see table below for details).
- The training requirement is good for one year from your attendance date.
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Sit down for one-on-one help.
- Click here to sign up for a one-on-one (once you receive program enrollment confirmation)
- Discuss your landscape design and/or irrigation system with our experts.
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Get your design approved.
- Submit your designs for approval by your session due date (see table below).
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Install a sharp, new landscape.
- Install your landscape
- Click here to sign up for an inspection
- Submit all required paperwork during your inspection.
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Receive your rebate!
- Look for your bill credit 6-8 weeks after your inspection.
|
Session |
Designs Due |
Installation/Inspection Due |
|
Session A
|
Mid-March |
End of June |
|
Session B
|
End of July |
Mid-October |
XIP: What to Expect
- Landscaping is a home improvement project and it costs time and money!
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But consider the benefits! Swapping out grass for low-water requirement landscape can save as much as 14 gallons of water per square foot per year. Converting half a typical front yard would save an estimated 14,000 gallons or 175 bathtubs of water a year!
- Do-it-yourself vs. hiring it out
-
- There are pros and cons to each:
- DIY projects cost an average of $2/square foot of area converted but require several hours of labor and trips to the hardware store.
- Professional projects cost an average of $5/square foot but are completed in a shorter timeline by a professional.
- Mix and match:
- Draw up your own design and hire someone to install it, or hire a landscape designer and install the project yourself.
- You could also have a professional move the earth and install the hardscaping and then install the plants and mulch yourself.
- There are pros and cons to each:
- Working with a professional?
-
- We suggest chatting with a handful of landscape designers to find a professional who is compatible with your landscape vision.
- Request quotes from three different contractors to determine the best fit for you and your budget.
- For spring installations: contact landscape contractors in the fall.
- For fall installations: contact landscape contractors in the previous fall or spring.
- HOA approval
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It's up to you to know your HOA requirements and get approval if necessary. Did you know? By state law, HOAs cannot require grass on landscapes (Colorado Revised Statute 8 §38-33.3-106.5 (1)(i)).
- City approval
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Some parkway strips require approval from City of Fort Collins Zoning. We will help you figure out if you need to get City approval.
- Irrigation
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When you change your landscape, you must change the way it’s watered. Whether watering by hand or using an automatic system, attend a XIP training session to learn how to make a water-wise decision about irrigation.
- Front yard landscapes
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Per XIP rules, plant material must cover 50% of the front yard. If you are planning on wall-to-wall rock, this program is not for you. That’s what we call “zero-scape.” Xeriscape is a set of guidelines to follow for a beautiful, low-water landscape. Learn more about the Seven Principles of Xeriscape.
Contact Information
Fort Collins Utilities Water Conservation
Program manager: Katie Collins
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970-416-4378