HB 400 Landscaping Water Amendments
HB 400 strengthens Utah’s approach to water-efficient landscaping by requiring municipalities and counties within the Great Salt Lake basin to adopt and enforce water-efficient landscaping standards for new development by November 2027. By reducing the amount of irrigated lawn and turf in favor of plants suited to Utah’s climate, the bill directly lowers outdoor water demand, one of the largest drivers of consumptive water use along the Wasatch Front. Less outdoor irrigation means more water can remain in rivers and tributaries that ultimately feed the Great Salt Lake, supporting lake levels and long-term basin health. Consumptive use = water that is no longer available for reuse in the same watershed.
From an air quality perspective, the bill plays an important preventive role. As the Great Salt Lake declines, exposed lakebed becomes a growing source of wind-blown dust that contributes to PM₂.₅ pollution along the Wasatch Front. By conserving water at the development level and helping stabilize inflows to the lake over time, HB 400 helps reduce future dust emissions before they become a larger public health threat. This connection between land-use decisions, water conservation, and particulate pollution is increasingly recognized as essential to protecting Utah’s air quality.
The bill also improves consistency and accountability by requiring local governments to report their landscaping ordinances to the Division of Water Resources, with public tracking of compliance and technical assistance available to support implementation. This creates a transparent, basin-wide approach rather than a patchwork of local rules, ensuring that growth in the Great Salt Lake basin does not continue to increase water demand in ways that undermine both lake health and air quality. Overall, HB 400 represents a proactive, cost-effective strategy that addresses air quality risks upstream by reducing water consumption, protecting the Great Salt Lake, and minimizing future dust pollution tied to development.
Sponsors
Rep. Doug Owens
Position
Support
Status - Failed to advance
1/28 Introduced
2/18 House Political Subdivisions. Passed. Favorable Recommendation 7-3-2
2/24 House 3rd Reading. Circled.
3/4 House 3rd Reading. Returned to Rules.
