HOA common area conversions
Cut the largest recurring line in your landscape budget, without making the entry look like a gravel lot.
Cut the largest recurring line in your landscape budget, without making the entry look like a gravel lot.
Common area irrigation is one of the biggest recurring costs an association carries, and in Scottsdale it buys turf that looks acceptable in March and stressed by July. Every year the water rate goes up and the result does not.
Unlike some neighbouring states, Arizona has not imposed a statewide deadline forcing associations to remove ornamental turf. Conversion here is a budget decision rather than a compliance one — which means you can do it on your own timeline, and do it properly.
Genuine recreational lawn where residents actually gather is a different conversation, and we will say so rather than quote it.
Full desert conversion is cheaper. It is also what a lot of Scottsdale already looks like, and the entry is the thing residents judge the community by and buyers see first.
Our usual recommendation is honest about the trade-off: turf where presentation matters and people see it daily, rock and desert planting everywhere else. That balances budget against curb appeal instead of pretending one answer fits every square foot.
Worth raising with your board directly. Conversions that simply cut irrigation to a turf area often kill the mature trees that were drinking from the same system. In Scottsdale that canopy is decades old, it is worth real money in property value, and residents notice its loss immediately.
We design conversions to keep existing trees on properly configured drip rather than orphaning them.
Scottsdale Water’s removal rebate has historically been open to community managers and HOA board members representing common areas, with a substantially higher cap than residential — up to $50,000 per project when the program last ran.
The program is currently between years, and requirements are under review. The critical rule is the same as residential: a pre-inspection is required by ordinance before anything is removed. Turf already removed is not eligible. Confirm current status with the Scottsdale Water Conservation Office on 480-312-5650. Rebate detail here.
Worth knowing before it comes up at a meeting: Arizona Revised Statutes §33-1819 prevents planned community associations from prohibiting artificial turf where natural grass is already permitted, once declarant control has ended. Boards retain authority over reasonable appearance and installation standards.
Associations that get ahead of this — publishing a clear approved specification and submission process — have far fewer disputes than those that resist and end up litigating. The statute explained here.
Common area conversions are quoted per property. Square footage, access, caliche depth, irrigation redesign and phasing all move the number. Call and we will walk the property with you or your management company and put together something board-ready.
Most estimates are scheduled within 48 hours.
Images are representative of the work we do.
Tell us the space and we’ll give you a firm, written price. No pressure, no obligation.
