General Plan Elements: Water Use + Preservation

Updated March 31, 2023

In 2022 the Utah State Legislature passed Senate Bill 110 (S.B. 110), which modified the content requirements of general plans to address water as a required element. Specifically S.B. 110:

• Requires a water use and preservation element to be part of a municipal or county general plan (with exceptions);
• Outlines how a water use and preservation element is integrated into a general plan and what steps are to be taken in developing a water use preservation element;
• Provides for action related to the general plan by the legislative body of a municipality or county;
• Addresses assistance to be provided by the Division of Water Resources; and 
• Makes other technical changes. 

They later passed Senate Bill 76 (S.B. 76) during the 2023 legislative session with additional clarification, including the requirement for consultation with the Division of Water Resources for information and technical resources regarding regional water conservation goals, implementation strategies, including those effects on the Great Salt Lake, and more.

Special Note:  The Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman has provided funding for this training program from the 1% surcharge on all building permits in the State of Utah.