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Council adopts ordinance setting conditions for culinary water hookups outside Mount Pleasant limits
Summary
The Mount Pleasant City Council approved Ordinance 2025-2 to allow culinary water connections for properties outside city limits but inside the designated buffer zone under a set of conditions including higher rates, minimum pipe standards, sewer connection, and a recorded annexation agreement provision.
Mount Pleasant City Council on Monday approved Ordinance 2025-2, establishing detailed requirements for culinary water connections to properties located outside city limits but within the city-designated buffer zone.
The ordinance requires property owners seeking city culinary water outside the limits to accept several conditions: service will be limited to properties inside the buffer zone; rates for those customers will be set separately and will be higher than in-city rates; new lines must meet Utah Division of Drinking Water standards (minimum 8-inch diameter, looped lines and fire hydrants every 500 feet for new installations); and connecting properties must also hook into city sewer systems where feasible. Applicants must obtain city council approval for each connection and recorded agreements will include a statement that the property owner “will not fight annexation” if the city later seeks to annex the parcel.
Why it matters: The change replaces a one-year moratorium the council had imposed while it drafted rules and is intended to give the city technical standards and a clear approval process for future out-of-limits connections. Staff told the council the city’s water supply can sustain about 2% annual growth for roughly 20 years under current sources, and the ordinance is intended to protect system capacity and fire flow.
Council discussion focused on balancing service for existing outside connections with long-term capacity and annexation planning. A staff presenter summarized the package of requirements and said, “If you agree to receive the city services, then you’re also agreeing that you will not fight annexation if the city does determine to annex you into the city,” language the ordinance puts on county record. Several council members pressed for clarity on rate setting, sewer uphill feasibility, and a one-year window for approved projects to show substantial progress before approvals lapse.
The ordinance was moved for approval and seconded; council members recorded in the roll call as voting yes included Lynn, Russ and Kate. The motion passed and the ordinance was adopted.
The city attorney and public works staff will now finalize ordinance language and the city will publish the separate schedule of rates and impact fees that apply to outside-buffer connections.
