Levan staff flags new state rule requiring water‑conservation plan and stricter building‑official qualifications

LEVAN — Planning staff told the Levan Planning Commission on May 7 that recent state action will require the town to add a water‑conservation plan to its general plan and to designate a building official who meets new qualification standards.

A staff member said the legislature “passed a rule saying that the planning commissions… have to add a water conservation plan to the general plan,” and that the town must identify a qualified building official before the end of the year. Staff described the change as likely to create extra work for smaller towns, noting the new building official role may require significant training, certifications or professional experience.

Commissioners and staff discussed possible approaches, including contracting with regional engineering firms or sharing a qualified official via interlocal agreements. A staff speaker said their current building inspector may hold relevant engineering credentials but that the town needs to confirm whether those credentials meet the new standard.

No formal action was recorded on the item; commissioners said staff would follow up with the town engineer and report back. The commission did not set a deadline beyond staff's comment that the requirement likely applies by the end of the year.

Commissioners framed the change as a procedural and staffing challenge rather than a local policy choice, and asked staff to seek clarification on specific training or certification requirements and on any model water‑conservation language the town could adopt into its general plan.