Whether a new off-grid home can legally get its own water in Utah: the state well and water-rights rules, then the 19 counties where a specific groundwater basin adds a catch — each cited to the state water agency.
Utah water rules
Household well
Permit required — restricted
Utah has NO exempt domestic well — you must own a water right to drill any well, including a household well. In an open area you file a new appropriation, but because much of Utah is closed to new appropriation a newcomer typically must PURCHASE an existing water right and file a change application to move it to the new well.
Closed to new supplyBeaver CountySevier River Basin (closed to new groundwater since 1997)49
Closed to new supplyCache CountyGroundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)56
Closed to new supplyDavis CountyGroundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)33
Closed to new supplyGarfield CountySevier River Basin (closed to new groundwater since 1997)41
Closed to new supplyIron CountyIron County over-drafted valleys (Cedar, Parowan, Beryl-Enterprise)50
Closed to new supplyJuab CountySevier River Basin (closed to new groundwater since 1997)37
Closed to new supplyMillard CountySevier River Basin (closed to new groundwater since 1997)34
Closed to new supplyPiute CountySevier River Basin (closed to new groundwater since 1997)50
Closed to new supplySalt Lake CountyGroundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)35
Closed to new supplySanpete CountySevier River Basin (closed to new groundwater since 1997)60
Closed to new supplySevier CountySevier River Basin (closed to new groundwater since 1997)50
Closed to new supplySummit CountyGroundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)58
Closed to new supplyTooele CountyGroundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)34
Closed to new supplyUtah CountyGroundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)59
Closed to new supplyWasatch CountyUpper Provo River Valleys / Heber Valley Ground-Water Policy58
Closed to new supplyWashington CountyGroundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)41
Closed to new supplyWayne CountySevier River Basin (closed to new groundwater since 1997)39
Closed to new supplyWeber CountyGroundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)64
Actively managedSan Juan CountyMonticello Mill Tailings Groundwater Management Plan49
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
