Maximum daily water use for non-residential land uses
A zoning text amendment making permanent a temporary rule capping non-residential uses at 200,000 gallons of water per day in all zones, with exemptions for agriculture, schools, government social-service facilities, places of worship and hospitals. The Council adopted it as Ordinance 48 of 2026 on September 15, 2026 and asked for a report within nine months on whether the cap can be lowered.
- Where it stands
- Approved
- Type
- Code change
- Location
- Citywide
Every hearing and vote
November 16, 2021 · City Council
Consent agenda: hearing dates set and board appointment
Approved · 7-0
The council approved the consent agenda, setting December 7 public hearings on a citywide limit of 300,000 gallons a day of culinary water for commercial and industrial uses, a master plan amendment and rezone for a 65-unit rooming house on East Bueno Avenue, a rezone at Redwood Road and Indiana Avenue, alley vacations in the 1200 block of Kensington and Bryan avenues and north of Victory Road, rooftop commercial uses in the FB-SE zone, and city consent to a sublease at The Leonardo. It also appointed Angela Dean to the Art Design Advisory Board for a term ending November 16, 2024.
November 16, 2021 · City Council work session
Significant water-consuming land uses zoning text amendment
Discussed
A proposal would cap City culinary water use by commercial and industrial land uses at 300,000 gallons a day, affecting multiple zones citywide and clarifying related definitions. A six-month temporary ordinance with the same limits expires Jan. 4, 2022. The Council and staff discussed grandfathering current businesses, uses that exceed the cap, inviting the Northwest Quadrant and the University of Utah to join conservation efforts, and how the program would be regulated. A hearing was planned for Dec. 7.
December 7, 2021 · City Council
Significant water-consuming land uses text amendment
Approved · 6-0
The council adopted Ordinance 69 after lowering the proposed cap from 300,000 to 200,000 gallons of potable water per day: any new commercial or industrial use averaging more than 200,000 gallons a day is prohibited. The motion also started legislative actions asking the administration to study further conservation policies (zoning, rates, supply and demand) and to seek commitments from parties to existing Northwest Quadrant development agreements. Nine speakers supported the ordinance and asked for a lower limit and a pause on water permits; one opposed it, saying it could keep businesses from upgrading systems and that the University of Utah should be covered.
- Petition: PLNPCM2021-00635
- Ordinance 69 of 2021
- Limit: 200,000 gallons of potable water per day (annual average), down from 300,000 proposed
August 18, 2026 · City Council
Hearing on maximum daily water use text amendment
Continued · 7-0
The Council heard an ordinance to make permanent a March 24, 2026 temporary rule that caps non-residential land uses at 200,000 gallons of water per day in all zones, limiting exemptions to agriculture, schools, government facilities that mainly provide social services, places of worship and hospitals. One resident supported conservation and suggested a lower cap because many businesses already use less. The hearing was closed and action deferred.
- Cap: 200,000 gallons per day for non-residential uses
- Applies to all zoning districts
September 15, 2026 · City Council
Maximum daily water use text amendment
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 48 of 2026, making permanent a temporary rule that non-residential land uses are limited to 200,000 gallons of water per day, with exemptions only for agriculture, schools, government facilities that mainly provide social services, places of worship and hospitals, in all zones. The motion also adopted a legislative action asking the Administration to analyze usage data once the cap is in effect and report within nine months on whether it can be lowered, and to explore incentives for smart irrigation controllers and other ways to cut outdoor water use. Council Member Alejandro Puy stressed smart irrigation incentives; Council Member Daniel Dugan stressed protecting the Great Salt Lake and cutting water use across all customer types.
- Cap: 200,000 gallons per day, non-residential
- Ordinance 48 of 2026