General Information

Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Moab

Public Body

Notice of Ordinance Adoptions

Notice Information

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Notice Title

Ordinance 2026-15

Notice Type(s)

Notice

Event Start Date & Time

July 30, 2026 08:00 AM

Description/Agenda

CITY OF MOAB ORDINANCE #2026-15 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING SECTION 13.20.030 OF THE MOAB MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCLUDE DAYTIME IRRIGATION RESTRICTIONS RECITALS The following findings describe the reasons for this ordinance and explain its purpose: a. On May 21, 2026, Spencer J. Cox, Governor of the State of Utah, issued Executive Order 2026-02, declaring a state of emergency throughout Utah due to ongoing and persistent drought conditions. b. In Executive Order 2026-02, Governor Cox recommended that impacted cities should consider 'taking other steps to promote water conservation for the upcoming irrigation season in order to protect drinking water supplies.' c. The City of Moab owns and operates a municipal culinary water system that supports the protection of public health, safety, and welfare. d. Drought, low snowpack, warmer temperatures, increased demand, infrastructure limitations, and other conditions may reduce the availability or reliability of the City's water supply. e. In 2025, the Moab City Council adopted the Water Shortage Response Plan to establish a staged approach for responding to conditions that may affect the City's ability to meet water demand in short-term shortage due to a system disruption. f. Implementing conservation measures before a shortage develops may protect the reliability of the culinary water system, and preserve water for drinking, fire protection, and other essential uses. g. The City Council finds that clear, consistent, and enforceable water use requirements will support community participation and the effective administration of the City's water system. h. Utah Code § 10-7-14 authorizes the City to enact ordinances and restrictions in their water service area; and i. This ordinance will update the Moab Municipal Code by repealing and replacing Section 13.20.030 to include daytime irrigation restrictions. NOW, THEREFORE, MOAB CITY COUNCIL ORDAINS as follows: 1. Enactment. Section 13.20.030 of the Moab Municipal Code is hereby repealed and replaced with the language set forth in Exhibit 1. 2. Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any part of this Ordinance is unconstitutional or invalid, then such portion of this Ordinance, or specific application of this Ordinance, shall be severed from the remainder, which shall continue in full force and effect. 3. Direction to Staff. Staff are authorized and directed to take such steps as may be needed: (a) for this Ordinance to become effective under Utah law, including but not limited to compliance with the requirements of Utah Code § 10-3-711; and (b) to revise the Moab Municipal Code to include the ordinance, including but not limited to making non-substantive edits to correct any scrivener's, formatting, and numbering errors. 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance will take effect on August 10, 2026, following its posting pursuant to Utah Code § 10-3-711. PASSED AND ADOPTED by a majority of the Moab City Council this 28th day of July 2026. MOAB CITY COUNCIL ___________________________ By: Jason Taylor, Mayor Pro Tempore ATTEST ___________________________ Sommar Johnson, Recorder EXHIBIT 1 Section 13.20.030 of the Moab Municipal Code is repealed and replaced in its entirety to state: 13.20.030 Daytime Irrigation Restrictions A. This section shall apply to the control of all water uses and operations that the City provides through waterworks systems or water rights the City owns and operates or otherwise controls. B. No person shall operate, or permit the operation of, any automatic or manually controlled landscape sprinkler irrigation system between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except as otherwise provided in this section. 1. Restrictions include, but are not limited to, above-ground delivery methods such as: a. Pop-up spray heads b. Rotor sprinklers c. Oscillating sprinklers d. Impact sprinklers e. Above-ground sprinklers f. Temporary irrigation systems or methods C. The following methods, systems, and sources shall be exempt from the restrictions identified in this section. 1. Efficient irrigation methods, specifically including: a. Drip irrigation b. Subsurface irrigation c. Bubblers d. Watering cans e. Tree watering bags 2. Seed Germination and Vegetation Establishment. a. Newly installed seed, trees, shrubs, sod, or other landscaping materials may be irrigated outside of the permitted watering hours for up to thirty (30) days following installation. Authentication of installation and/or establishment shall be required and verified to observe this exemption. 3. Required Mitigation Methods. a. When and where specifically required by adopted standards for construction mitigation, above-ground water delivery methods and systems may be exempt. D. The City may grant exceptions to the restrictions established in this section for the following methods, systems, and sources, where compliance with the restrictions is inconsistent with the purpose and intent of this section, or where a countervailing public interest exists to preserve the health, safety, welfare, or public assets. 1. Exceptions. a. Fire Fuel Mitigation. i. Where and when necessary to protect and prevent high-risk fire fuel vulnerability. b. Construction Mitigation and Dust Control. i. Where and when necessary to protect and prevent nuisance impacts caused by construction or dust control outside of those exempted by this section. c. Public Asset Management. i. Where and when necessary to protect and preserve public assets from irreparable damage. 2. Petition. a. Petition requests for exception from this section shall be submitted in writing with appropriate documentation and justification to the City Manager. Exception requests must, at minimum, contain the following: i. Standards under which the applicant seeks an exception; ii. Justification for not complying with the standards and what counter compelling public interest the exception advances; iii. Proposed alternate criteria or standards to comply with the intent of this chapter; iv. Duration of the exception and findings to support that duration; v. Supporting documentation, including necessary calculations if applicable; and vi. The proposed exception's potential adverse impacts. b. Upon receipt of a complete petition for an exception, the City Manager shall prepare a statement that the exception be approved or denied or recommends a modification to the proposed exception. c. The City Council shall act as the authority to approve or deny, or amend exception requests. SUMMARY OF MOAB CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2026-15 On July 28, 2026, the Moab City Council enacted Ordinance No. 2026-15 to repeal and replace Section 13.20.030 of the Moab Municipal Code to include daytime irrigation restrictions. _______________________________ By: Jason Taylor, Mayor Pro Tempore ATTEST _______________________________ Sommar Johnson, Recorder A complete copy of Ordinance No. 2026-15 is available in the Moab City offices located at 217 E. Center Street, Moab, UT 84532.

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations during this meeting should notify the Recorder's Office at 217 East Center Street, Moab, Utah 84532; or phone (435) 259-5121 at least three (3) working days prior to the meeting.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

N/A

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

217 E. Center St.
Moab, UT 84532
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Contact Name

Sommar Johnson

Contact Email

sommar@moabcity.org

Contact Phone

(435)259-2683

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

July 30, 2026 07:28 AM

Notice Last Edited On

July 30, 2026 07:28 AM

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