Rainwater laws / Utah
Is it legal to collect rainwater in Utah?
Checked at Utah's own statutes and agencies, November 2026. Not legal advice.
Allowed, with limits
Yes, up to two covered containers of 100 gallons each without registering, or up to 2,500 gallons once registered with the Division of Water Rights.
What the rules say
- Utah Division of Water Rights: "A person may collect and store precipitation without registering in no more than two covered storage containers ... if neither covered container has a maximum storage capacity of greater than 100 gallons."
- "The total allowed storage capacity with registration is no more than 2,500 gallons." The water must be used on the same parcel.
Before you buy a big tank
State law is only one layer. Cities and counties can set their own rules, especially for tanks plumbed into the house, and an HOA can limit where a barrel sits. Drinking rainwater needs treatment everywhere. For a barrel or two on a downspout for the garden, the state rule above is usually the one that matters.
Where the numbers come from
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