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LEEP

Landscape Equipment Exchange Program

May contain: grass, plant, device, person, and lawn

There is currently a total of $34,136.80 available for residential funding and a total of $219,883.69 available for commercial funding.

Para español, use la traducción de Google arriba.

ATTENTION! RESIDENTIAL LEAF BLOWER replacement grants are NOT ELIGIBLE in cities with an active ban on leaf blower use. Commercial applications are still eligible in all areas. Cities with active bans:
  • City of Carmel
  • City of Monterey
  • City of Pacific Grove
  • City of Santa Cruz after July 1, 2025
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The Monterey Bay Air Resources District is pleased to offer the Landscape Equipment Exchange Program (LEEP) to residents and commercial operations of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. This program will provide financial incentives to replace old, combustion landscaping equipment with new, cordless, electric, zero-emission landscape equipment. In California, small off-road engines used in landscape equipment are a larger contributor to smog forming emissions than passenger cars. Exchanging old, combustion landscaping equipment with new, zero-emission replacements will help ensure healthier, quieter communities.

Complete Program Guidelines

 

Basic Guidelines:

  • Complete LEEP guidelines are available in the application.
  • Applicants must have currently owned and operated the existing combustion landscape equipment in California for the past two years.
  • New, comparable, cordless, zero-emission landscape equipment must be purchased only after Pre-Approval.
  • A rebate incentive of 80% of purchase price is available to residential and commercial applicants.
  • Residential Applicants: Max $2,000 incentive. May replace up to one piece of equipment per equipment category per calendar year.
  • Commercial Applicants: Max $15,000 incentive. May replace up to 10 pieces of equipment + 1 ride-on or sit/stand-on mower.
  • Only purchases from commercial operations with local brick-and-mortar stores in Monterey, San Benito or Santa Cruz counties will be accepted. In-store purchases are encouraged.
  • Existing combustion landscape equipment must be transferred to an Approved Disposal Facility after Pre-Approval.
  • Complete applications are reveiwed in the order they are received.

 

May contain: grass, lawn, plant, device, lawn mower, tool, advertisement, and poster

 

LEEP Three-Step Pre-Approval, Exchange and Reimbursement Process

     1. Pre-Approval

  • Complete the Landscape Equipment Exchange Program Pre-Approval Form.
  • Be prepared to upload a copy of a valid government issued ID, a utility or cable bill from within the last 90 days,  pictures of the existing combustion landscape equipment including serial numbers if possible and a picture of the quoted/listed price of the proposed new, zero-emission equipment. 
  • Wait to receive the Pre-Approval Email. Do not purchase the new, cordless, zero-emission landscape equipment before receiving the Pre-Approval Email . Equipment purchased before being Pre-Approved will not qualify. Do not lose, delete or misplace the Pre-Approval Email. This email will contain a unique link to the Reimbursement Form.

     2. Exchange

  • Once Pre-Approved, participants must surrender existing combustion landscape equipment to an Approved Disposal Facility by presenting their unique LEEP ID found on the Approval Email.
  • Take pictures of the surrendered equipment at the Approved Recycling Facility.
  • Participants may now purchase the comparable replacement, new cordless, zero-emission landscape equipment.
  • Take pictures of the new equipment out of the box and fully assembled.
  • Retain a copy of the purchase receipt.

     3. Reimbursement

  • Follow the unique link provided in the Approval-Email and complete the Reimbursement Form.
  • Be prepared to upload pictures of the surrenderd equipment at the Approved Disposal Facility, the, pictures of the new equipment and a copy of the purchase receipt.
  • Once the completed Reimbursement Form is submitted, it will be reviewed by the MBARD LEEP Team and reimbursement checks will be mailed to the mailing address provided.

 

 

Please feel free to contact the MBARD Landscape Equipment Exchange Program Team with any questions. Thank you for your interest in the Landscape Equipment Exchange Program!