Off-Grid Living in Juab County, Utah

I've been digging into Juab County, Utah for anyone thinking about buying raw land out there and going off-grid, and here's where things stand based on what I could actually confirm.

Zoning comes from the county, and it's not a free-for-all. Juab County has a countywide Land Use Code, administered by a Planning Commission and a Zoning Administrator who interprets the ordinance and the zoning map. Historically, the county has required big minimum lot sizes on unincorporated agricultural land, something like 50 acres of irrigated land or up to 160 acres of semi-arid land per home, with 20-acre lots allowed in some zones. So "just buy 5 acres and build a cabin" isn't automatically a thing here; you need to check the zoning designation on the specific parcel. Incorporated towns like Nephi, Eureka, Mona, Levan, and Rocky Ridge can also have their own ordinances layered on top (Nephi actually contracts with the county's planning department for plan review).

Building permits are tied directly to water and wastewater approval. This is the big one. Juab County's own building permit application requires sign-off on acreage/frontage requirements, zoning, "Water Verified," a "Water Liability Release," and a "Waste Water Permit" box, all before the county will issue a Building Permit Fee plus the state's 1% fee. In plain terms: the county won't let you build without proving you have an approved water source and an approved way to deal with wastewater. I couldn't find a specific county page addressing tiny homes, yurts, or RVs as dwellings, so treat that as unconfirmed and inherited from the general state framework, where RVs are typically not treated as permanent dwellings.

Septic, greywater, and rainwater rules are murky at the county level. I could not locate a dedicated Juab County health department page for septic or onsite wastewater permitting, though the wastewater-permit checkbox on the building form confirms some septic approval process exists locally. My best guess is this runs through whatever multi-county health district serves Juab, but I couldn't confirm which one, so call the county Planning office to ask. Greywater and rainwater harvesting rules aren't addressed anywhere I found at the county level either, so those likely default to Utah's statewide rules (a permit through the local health department for greywater, and fairly permissive rainwater collection rules under state law).

Wells run through the state, not the county. Well drilling and water rights anywhere in Utah, including Juab County, go through the Utah Division of Water Rights and the State Engineer's office. The county's building form also wants proof of an approved water source before it'll sign off, so even if your well is state-approved, the county still checks it.

Living fully off-grid (no utility hookups) isn't explicitly addressed, but the building permit's insistence on verified water and a wastewater permit strongly suggests the county won't issue occupancy without those two pieces in place, even if you're generating your own power.

Bottom line: call the county before you buy land.