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Kane County backs local control to allow septic systems in water‑hauling subdivisions
Summary
The Kane County Commission unanimously adopted Resolution R2026‑2 urging regional health officials to allow septic systems in subdivisions that rely on hauled water, arguing a public‑health rule interpreted to bar septic where lots are accessible more than 180 days a year would disqualify many remote county properties.
The Kane County Commission unanimously adopted a resolution on Jan. 13 urging support for permitting septic systems in subdivisions where water is hauled to lots, a move commissioners said is intended to protect owners of remote properties.
Commissioner Celeste Myers introduced Resolution R2026‑2, saying a provision within the regional public water systems rule had been interpreted to bar septic systems on lots that are accessible more than 180 days a year. "If a subdivision has access more than 180 days a year then septic systems will not be granted under any circumstances," Myers said, adding that the interpretation "is extremely impactful to our county" because many of Kane County's subdivisions — including Cedar Mountain, Deer Springs Ranch and Bryce Woodland — could be rendered ineligible for septic service.
Myers said the county had asked the five‑county Southwest Utah Public Health Board to remove the sub‑regulation; the board planned to revisit the issue at a Jan. 28 meeting. The commission voted to add Grand County to the list of counties cited in the resolution's recitals and approved the resolution unanimously.
Supporters framed the measure as a request for local regulatory discretion rather than a change to statewide law. Commissioners said other nearby counties already allow septic systems where water is hauled to a site and that the resolution would strengthen the county's position ahead of the health board review.
The commission's action is a policy statement; it does not itself change state or regional regulations. The county will continue advocacy at the Public Health Board meeting and with state legislators regarding implementation details and statutory guardrails, commissioners said.
Next steps: the Public Health Board will revisit the sub‑regulation on Jan. 28; Kane County staff said they would circulate the final resolution to appropriate regional partners and the county's legislative delegation.
