Service area · Glendale, AZ
Landscaping in Glendale, AZ
Landscaping in Glendale, AZ comes down to water: the city pays to swap grass for xeriscape, many downtown lots still get SRP irrigation, and the code limits front yard walls to 3 feet.
Service area
What do Glendale yards look like?
2 kinds, mostly: older lots near downtown and newer planned neighborhoods farther out. Glendale had an estimated 260,572 residents on July 1, 2025 (US Census Bureau, city population estimates (opens in a new tab)).
Near downtown, the city says many lots still receive urban irrigation water (City of Glendale, Water Services, urban irrigation (opens in a new tab)). Only 1 of the city's 10 historic neighborhoods carries the historic preservation overlay, and only in part: the section of Catlin Court generally between Orangewood and Myrtle avenues and 58th and 59th avenues (City of Glendale, historic neighborhoods memo (opens in a new tab)). The overlay properties go through Certificate of Appropriateness and Certificate of No Effect reviews.
Across the city, a front yard cannot be bare dirt: the code compliance guide says the front yard shall not have exposed dirt, and rock or gravel has to be 1/4 inch or larger (City of Glendale, understanding city codes (opens in a new tab)).
Water
Where does Glendale's water come from?
From 4 sources, and surface water from SRP and CAP makes up 87 percent of it. The city lists SRP at 43 percent, the Central Arizona Project at 44 percent, groundwater at 7 percent and reclaimed water at 6 percent (City of Glendale, drought preparedness (opens in a new tab)).
Glendale is in a Stage 1 Drought Watch, with a 5 percent water reduction goal at municipal properties. For a homeowner that means no new watering limits today, and a good reason to plan the yard for the next stage rather than this one.
Costs
What do Glendale's xeriscape rebates pay?
Up to $3,000 for an existing home that converts grass to xeriscape, at $1 per square foot, and up to $250 for artificial grass, at $0.25 per square foot (City of Glendale, water conservation rebates (opens in a new tab)).
The conversion has to remove at least 500 square feet of grass, at least one drought tolerant tree has to be planted, and 75 percent or more of the new plants have to be on the state's low water use list for the Phoenix area. The landscape also has to comply with the HOA, where there is one.
Grass watered by wells, flood irrigation or reclaimed water does not qualify. A separate rebate covers water efficient irrigation technology, up to $750 combined, and rebates are paid first come, first served from the date a complete application arrives.
Water
Is flood irrigation still delivered in Glendale?
On many downtown lots, yes: the city calls urban irrigation a remnant from an earlier era, and says many lots in the downtown Glendale area receive urban irrigation water today (City of Glendale, Water Services, urban irrigation (opens in a new tab)).
On an irrigation day the land is flooded with 2 to 3 inches of water that soaks into the ground, usually within a few hours (SRP, residential irrigation owners manual (opens in a new tab)). A flood irrigated lawn cannot earn the city's grass rebate, so the choice on these lots is between keeping the flood day for trees and turf, and running drip from the city meter instead.
Hardscape
Which walls and fences does Glendale allow?
3 feet in a front yard and 6 feet in a side or rear yard.
The Unified Development Code says no fence or wall within the front yard in any zoning district shall exceed 3 feet, and none in a side or rear yard shall exceed 6 feet unless the code says otherwise (City of Glendale, Unified Development Code, section 35.4.200 (opens in a new tab)).
A wall that holds back 18 inches of soil or more counts as a retaining wall and gets City Engineer review, and terraced walls are required once retaining needs pass 4 feet. Walls over 6 feet, measured from the inside finished grade, need structural calculations.
Near a street corner, the code limits a fence that blocks more than 10 percent of the view within 30 feet of the corner to 30 inches above the street. Ask the city which permit a given wall needs before ordering block.
Ground
Which rivers and washes cross Glendale?
3 of them, and they run mostly after storms. The New River defines the northwest edge of the city, the Agua Fria River crosses its western part, and Skunk Creek crosses the northwest, with flow made of seasonal stormwater runoff (City of Glendale, stormwater management plan (opens in a new tab)).
SRP owns and operates many canals and laterals in the city, including the Arizona Canal and the Grand Canal. Glendale runs its own floodplain management (Flood Control District of Maricopa County, FAQ (opens in a new tab)), and an owner can request a flood zone determination from the city before grading, filling or building a wall near a wash (City of Glendale, flood zone determinations (opens in a new tab)).
Climate
How hot does Glendale get?
Very hot, and the official normals used here come from Phoenix Sky Harbor. The National Weather Service counts 111 days a year at 100 F or higher and 21 at 110 F or higher there, with the first 110 F day around June 11 and the last around Aug 26 (NWS, extreme temperatures (opens in a new tab)).
Sky Harbor averages 7.22 inches of rain a year (NWS, 1991 to 2020 normals (opens in a new tab)). The city's rebate also asks for a tree, and a tree on the west side of a house shades the wall that takes the afternoon sun. Planting in fall gives roots the winter to settle before the first 110 F week.
Costs
What does landscaping cost in Glendale, AZ?
A front yard project runs $1,500 to $5,000 and a full back yard renovation $15,000 to $50,000, according to a national cost guide. The landscaping cost page lists each range with its source.
The same guide puts xeriscaping at $5 to $20 per square foot, and This Old House puts installed artificial turf at $15 to $19 per square foot.
Published market ranges, not a quote: the final price is set after an on-site assessment. On a lawn conversion, the city's rebate can cover part of the cost once the project meets its rules, so settle the rebate terms before any grass comes out.
3 questions
Questions people ask
Still have a question? Call (747) 243-2089 and describe the yard.
Does Glendale pay to replace grass with xeriscape?
The city lists up to $3,000 at $1 per square foot for an existing home, with a 500 square foot minimum and a required drought tolerant tree. Flood irrigated grass does not qualify.
How tall can a front yard wall be in Glendale?
The code caps a fence or wall in a front yard at 3 feet, and at 6 feet in a side or rear yard. Walls over 6 feet need structural calculations.
Can a Glendale front yard be bare dirt?
The city's code compliance guide says a front yard shall not have exposed dirt, and rock or gravel has to be 1/4 inch or larger.
Keep reading
- Landscape Installation: for a grass to xeriscape rebuild.
- Artificial Turf: for base work and the rebate size.
- Irrigation and Sprinkler Repair: for drip after flood irrigation.
- Phoenix: for the city next door.
- Service Areas: for the towns around Scottsdale.
- Xeriscape vs Gravel in Scottsdale:
- Artificial Turf vs Real Grass in Scottsdale:
